Forward facing car seat

ladykatie81 · October 2012

When are you facing the carseat forward? My state's law is 1 year if they meet the height/weight requirement which my DD already does. We plan on turning it around when she turns 1.

Rebecca2024 · October 2012

Probably 3 or 4 years old... whenever she hits the height/weight limit for rear facing. It's just generally safer from what all I've read, so we're in no hurry.

It's all that she knows, so she's not complaining. Stick out tongue

uncharch7 · October 2012

when he distracts me too much being RFing or at least 2 years old, whichever comes first. i've always held firm in my belief that if every car ride is a screamfest due to him RFing and FFing will solve that and thus make me a safer, less distracted driver, then we'll turn him.

right now he's over 20lbs and i can't fathom turning him in less than 2 months. he still seems so... small.

ccip82 · October 2012

We are waiting until E is at least two. I have to check with the UK laws. Regardless of what they say, we will keep her RF until two though.

CountingUp · October 2012

Until she exceeds the size limits for her seat. Once she is FF she will use a 5pt harness until at least 6. We will see what recommendation are in 2017

KansasFarmMomma · October 2012

He'll be RF at least until he's 2

MrsT2008 · October 2012

the current recommendation is 2 years or until they hit the size limits for RFing in the seat, so that's what we'll do.

sportsmomma · October 2012

At least until 2 and probably longer if he can stand it.

lageorgiapaperie · October 2012

OP, I highly suggest you do not FF your daughter at 1 year. Extended RFing is one of the best things you can do for a baby, it has proven time and time again to be safer. Little spines are not strong enough to withstand the impact of a crash in the FF position.

Please do a bit more research before you turn the chair around, I have a feeling you will change your mind once you see the statistics (I hope you do!).

hisbeautyalways · October 2012

Since seeing crash test videos and reading up on it, the thought of turning my son around at a year makes me physically ill. I couldn't live with myself if something happened to him because I turned him around too soon than his little body could handle.

The AAP now recommends at least 2 years, so that is my current goal - but if he fits and does OK, I will go longer than that. I take carseat safety really seriously. It's one of the most important things we can do.

OP, please reconsider.

ladykatie81 · October 2012

I am torn. As of right now, her convertible carseat can only fit in my back seat on the side. It won't fit in the middle as a rear-facing seat since I drive a small car. It will fit in the middle once it faces forward. Option 1: Continue to keep her rear-facing after age 1 but on the side. Option 2: Forward-face her after age 1 in the middle of the back seat. ???

[Deleted User] · October 2012

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HisKonstantine · October 2012

We'll be keeping Charlotte rear-facing until she's at least two. It will depend on how big she is then if we'll continue to keep her backwards. It's the safest option and since she doesn't know any different, she won't care either way.

MrsT2008 · October 2012

if one of your main reasons for forward-facing her is to put the seat in the middle, that's not worth it IMO. While the middle is the safest, RFing is even safer and that should trump the location of the carseat. My DD's convertible has always been on the outboard seat (it's behind the passenger).

chasensmommy · October 2012

2+ years or so....

MrsRucinski85 · October 2012

Till she is like 10!

Just kidding - although with the way she is growing she'll probably be 4-5ish by the time she even meets the requirements to FF. But I'm ok with that. I'd like to keep her RFing for as long as possible; like LaGeorgia said - its much safer on their little spines to keep them RFing for a long time.

KeyLime81 · October 2012

I plan to keep DS rear facing until he's 2. FWIW, we have his car seat behind the passenger seat. Like you, it wouldn't fit rear facing in the middle. Our pedi pointed out that families with 2+ kids HAVE to have car seats on the sides.

While the middle may be a little safer than a side position, rear facing is MUCH more safer than forward facing at this point.

Ricola · October 2012

As long as possible, but at least until he's 2.

I would keep him RF and on the side if I were you. :-)

robynlynn83 · October 2012

We've kept the kids RF until age 2 or longer. Mara turned around at 2.5. It is much, much safer to stay RF. Google crash tests, they are scary.

Also, we extended harness. My 7 year old just moved to a high back booster in August. Carseat safety warrents exceeding the recommendation IMO.

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