rear face vs forward facing?

robertson10 · August 2012

My daughter has recently grown out of her baby carrier. We got her a new carset that is rear facing AND forward facing. I have learned that we should keep her rear facing until 2 years old now. My delima is that we installed the new seat (rear faced) but her feet still hit the back of the seat. it was my understanding that once their feet touch the seat, it is 1) uncomfortable for them but mainly 2) unsafe, bc they can push against the seat, lifting them from their carseat. Anyway.....what do i do?

ASmallWonder · August 2012

Do everything you can to keep her rear facing. Most kids won't push off. When you put her in help her bend or cross her legs. Regardless, you likely have to keep her RF until 1 AND 20 pounds like a PP said (it's not the law in all states, unfortunately). They've got to be pretty strong to actually move the seat if you've the them and the seat strapped in like it should be.

Jennikd3 · August 2012

From what I've heard from other moms it's generally safer for their feet to hit the seat than for you to turn them around before 2. In case of an accident broken feet/legs is better than broken neck/whiplash/death.

My LO is quite short so the feet thing isn't an issue for us, but my niece is very tall for her age, and she used to cross her feet "criss cross apple sauce" style until my sister turned her seat around from her outgrowing the height restrictions.

memali26 · August 2012

My 2.5 year old is about 36-37 inches tall (in the 90+ percentile for height), with long legs. She is still RFing, and it's not uncomfortable for her at all (believe me, she'd pitch a fit if it was!). She crosses her legs, throws them over the sides of the seat, props her feet up on the seat back. I've even caught her flipping her feet up by her head

She's pushed against the seat back before, but it's definitely not enough to move her into an unsafe position in her car seat if her straps are done up properly, and no where near enough to budge the car seat if it's installed correctly. I don't remember the exact statistic, but RFing is something like 5 times safer, so we will keep her RFing as close to 3 years as possible.

luvmyducks · August 2012

2 is recommended. It is still completely safe for her to be RF even if her feet touch the seat.

Ivana_Stolichnaya · August 2012

Internal decapitation vs some bent knees.

Watch this video and make your decision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fak6R_K6_YQ

MrsNole · August 2012

Ivana.Stolichnaya:

Internal decapitation vs some bent knees.

Watch this video and make your decision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fak6R_K6_YQ

Great video -- well great video to show how much safer it is to extended rear face.

CurbsideProphet · August 2012

I would keep her rear facing.

ababymaybe · August 2012

I would never turn a child FF before 2. If something (god forbid) were to happen I would never forgive myself. I don't care if DS is pissed or uncomfortable, his safety comes first.

GibsonGirl620 · August 2012

Ivana.Stolichnaya:
Internal decapitation vs some bent knees.

Watch this video and make your decision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fak6R_K6_YQ

Thanks for sharing! Very powerful.

SkyBee · August 2012

CurlingRocks:
2 years is recommended. The law is 1 year and 20 lbs. Do what you feel is best.

This, also.... if they are able to push themselves up out of their seat, then they are not buckled in tight enough IMO.

dragon_chica · August 2012

DD is less than 2 months away from her 3rd birthday and still RF-ing. Her legs constantly kick the back of the seat and I couldn't care less. She hasn't had any problems RF-ing and even if she did I don't really care. I'm the parent and it's my job to determine what's safe and follow it.

I've hard past arguments (not on this post) about how uncomfortable it must be having to sit cross-legged in a carseat and that's just a bunch of BS. A toddler's flexibility is way better than an adult's. As an adult we can't imagine it being very comfortable but then again we can't remember how flexible we were back then. OP, there are some things in life you can't control or fully control when it comes to your child's safety. This isn't one of those things. You have full control over how safe you want to keep your child while in the car. Keep LO RF-ing until the recommended age and longer, if possible.

ms.fisher · August 2012

I agree with ALL of this! We were just installing our new car seat for our almost 12 month old and realized it is only a forward facing car seat. Guess who is going to go out and buy a NEW seat?? This girl. Forward Facing isn't something we will be doing anytime in the near future.

bridein08 · August 2012

Do the research. It is neither unsafe NOR uncomfortable for baby's feet to touch the chair. I have seen 3 year olds with their legs crossed, and they are comfortable.

The reason for the new recommendation of AT LEAST 2 (the law is still 1) is because until 2+, babies spinal cords are longer than their spinal column. If you are in an accident, it doesn't take much power to SNAP their spinal cord (resulting in internal decapitation and paralysis or death).

Once again, do the research. The consequences are terrible.

cottonlily84 · August 2012

Our law says 1 year AND 20 lbs. DD is already 20 lbs and even at 12 months we'll leave her in it til she really can't fit anymore because rear facing is safest for a child who has less neck stability. Having her feet touch the back of the seat may not be the most comfortable position but I doubt being strapped in a 5 pt harness is very comfy anyway. I think my seat belt is uncomfortable but I wear it.

SuperCuteBenz · August 2012

My DS will be 2 next week, and we have no immediate plans to turn him forward facing. His feet definitely tough the seat and more so in some other seats. Ex: We have a Boulevard 70 and he puts his legs up on the seat. I just picked up a crashed True Fit for recycling and put it in my car to see how much leg room he had.... he had a TON more than he does in his Britax. Unfortunately, I don't know if it would be worth it to sell my current seat and get a TF because it has 35lb rear-facing limit, and I think he might be close to that.

Also, if they can really move the seat a lot by pushing on the back seat, then you probably need to have to seat checked.

HisKonstantine · August 2012

No, no, no, and no. Please keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible. I would so much rather have to put my daughter in a cast for a broken leg than bury her because of a broken neck.

Do the research and lots of it. Google internal decapitation in infants/toddlers. Spend some time on youtube watching memorial videos from parents that lost their babies over something as simple as having the carseat facing the wrong way.

They have the rest of their lives to sit forward-facing, keep them rear-facing as long as possible.

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