Extended rear facing

fancynewbeesly · January 2013

I was surprised at my daughter's one year appointment, that our pedi specifically said to rear face the car seat until at least 2. I was planning on it anyway, mostly due to being on here--and knowing about extended rear-facing.

However in my town/work/group of friends--I know about 7 or 8 babies born within a few months of my daughter, and all of them started forward facing around 12-16 months.

I am guessing they don't go to my pedi.

How common is extended rear facing by you? Did you hear about it from your pedi? the bump? online? friends?

I just think it is unusual that no one has a rear facing baby anymore---except for us.

1026pumpkin · January 2013

The rear facing until 2 is a new guideline that came out last year. Pretty much everyone I know keeps their kid rear facing until they just don't fit anymore. DS is very tall, and his legs were all the way up the car seat at about 18-19 months, so after getting approval from his pedi, we flipped him around early. If he was shorter, I would have left him rear-facing as long as possible, because they're much safer that way.

Ruby_Soho · January 2013

1026pumpkin:
DS is very tall, and his legs were all the way up the car seat at about 18-19 months

That's totally normal and definitely not a reason to turn him around if you don't want to. DS#1 is still rear facing, he just bends his knees and flops them out or hangs his feet over the side of the seat. We travel 5 hours to his Grandparents like that and he has no issues.

In response to OP, where I live it's unusual to ERF, most kids are turned around as early as possible. It makes me sad when I see FB posts about big boy & girl seats when babies are only a year

ali26 · January 2013

I've seen the same as you, most people ignore the new guidelines and still turn their kids forward shortly after one.

My pedi recommended rear facing until age 2. I turned my DD around a few weeks before her second birthday. She is also very tall (over three feet) and never minded her legs being scrunched up. Now that she's experienced being forward I don't think she'd like switching back, but I don't think kids really mind rearfacing when they don't know any difference.

ali26 · January 2013

Also want to add, many people I know see the same pedi as me. I think a lot of people just choose to ignore it, which is sad. The main reason I turned dd around when I did is because she reached the weight maximum for her seat. I know there are higher limit seats out there but I figured making it to two is good enough.

lrn327 · January 2013

I agree that height/long legs is not a reason to turn. My DS is almost 26 months and three feet tall and still RFs. He just bends his legs, nbd. But to answer the OPs question, I know mostly about it from here! My pedi didn't really mention it but it is on the sheet they hand out. I don't really know of any one else in my area that still RFs. We sometimes get a few comments, but not much. We'll keep on keeping on as long as we can!

logoz80 · January 2013

I switched my daughter at 13 months. It's recommended until 2, not mandatory. My daughter was at the weight requirement and gets car sick, it was an easy decision for us.

12bailey18 · February 2013

My pedi's (they've had multiple ones since we've moved a few times) have never mentioned it but I've also never asked. Among my friends it's about half and half. Some rear face for an extended time and some switch over between 12 and 18 months. It's never been a heated discussion or anything anyone is real passionate about among our friends. I hear mostly about it on here.

PunkyBooster · February 2013

DS turned 2 in mid-Nov and we just turned the carseat around at Christmas! I would have kept going except that it was seriously killing my back to get him in there.

My pedi encouraged RF until 2 years old OR until he reached the weight (which he did long before he turned 2).

I don't know many people who didn't turn kids around ASAP. Most of my mom friends turned kids around right at a year. Several of them did so because "their kids need to watch a DVD for every car ride" *eyeroll*

PunkyBooster · February 2013

Skye412:

The other thing not many people seem to be aware of is not putting kids in heavy coats in carseats. I always feel like people are looking at me when I open the door in winter and my LO is not all bundled up in his coat (we do warm the car beforehand)

This!! This, this, this!

BelhurstBride · February 2013

My pedi recommended it but it was all over the news when they made they change, which is how I learned about it. Honestly, I think it's something any smart parent should research.

I'm often surprised at the number of parents I see failing to practice safe car seat procedures. Auto accidents are almost always the number one cause of death in children. It's such a huge thing to be careful about!

Disneygeek77 · February 2013

PunkyBooster:
Skye412:
The other thing not many people seem to be aware of is not putting kids in heavy coats in carseats. I always feel like people are looking at me when I open the door in winter and my LO is not all bundled up in his coat (we do warm the car beforehand)
This!! This, this, this!

Oh I hear ya. I get some strange looks for putting on their coats in the car instead of having them already in it.

My pedi said something to me about ERFing, but I already knew about it by then. I don't think I know anyone else IRL who does ERF. I have even had a few people ask why DD hasn't been turned yet. We plan on having the kids rfing until they reach the limits on the seat. DD is 4 and she still isn't close to the 45 lbs or 44 inch limit so she might end up rfing for another year.

stever · February 2013

DS1 RF'd until his knees basically touched his chin because he was so tall - 26/28 months. I think a lot of people turn them because they see it as a rite of passage.

chardonnay24 · February 2013

All of the kids in our play group are still RFing, and they range from 18 months - 24 months. However, I don't know anyone outside of the group that still does it. I see all the kids at the library, music class, and daycare FFing around 12 - 18 months.

Our pedi didn't mention it, other than giving us a handout that had the law in OR (RFing until 1 year and at least 20 lbs).

chardonnay24 · February 2013

PunkyBooster:
Skye412:

The other thing not many people seem to be aware of is not putting kids in heavy coats in carseats. I always feel like people are looking at me when I open the door in winter and my LO is not all bundled up in his coat (we do warm the car beforehand)

This!! This, this, this!

I agree with this, too. He has a light fleece jacket for wearing to and from the car and indoors. He has a heavier jacket that we keep at home for extended outside play. It is in the 30's - 50's here in the winter, but I am constantly getting looks and comments about how he must be so cold. You know, for the 10 seconds it takes to walk from the car to the house.

DreadLoc · February 2013

I heard about ERF online. Everyone I know turned their kid around 1 and don't think it's a big deal. Like PP, I get excited when I see an ERF (hell, just a RF convertible) because it's so rare out here. I know way too many 3 year olds in backless boosters. My kid is 2.5 and still has a long way to go before I flip her. Her spine hasn't ossified yet so why risk it when she's still within the limits?

It's just something that people ignore or don't believe will ever happen to them.

Hopefully when I get certified in a couple of week it's something I can change. Big Smile

Angela814 · February 2013

Extended rfing is not common around here. Our pedi office did update the forms they gave out at well checks to recommend rfing to 2 years, but at the 2 year appointment, the safety portion said "your child should be in a forward facing harnessed carseat." I thought about mentioning that it should say rear facing or forward facing, but honestly, any parent who wants to practice extended rfing already knows about it. I found out about it on the nest when DD1 was young. She rear faced to 2.5 years (~40" and 32 lbs), but that was only because she outgrew the rfing height limit. Back in 2008 there weren't as many options; I don't think there even was a seat out with a higher shell. Now I have a seat that will rear face DD2 until close to 4 years. :-)

But all the misinformation about extended rear facing drives me nuts. No, it doesn't matter if your child's feet touch the back of the car seat. No, it doesn't matter if they "seem squished." A friend told me her pedi said that the carseat should be turning ffing if her son could kick the back of the seat and move the carseat. I told her that would just mean that the carseat wasn't installed tightly enough!

Also, being from Wisconsin I see tons of toddlers/young children being put into the carseat in big bulky jackets. The straps are barely over their shoulders due to the size of the jacket. I get comments on DD2's carseat poncho every time we go out.

There are plenty of people who seem to think the bulky jacket doesn't matter or extended rear facing isn't important. A recommendation from the pedi isn't going to change that.

Bonnesetter27 · February 2013

I intend to to ERF but I have a question. When my lo is 2 we plan to get pregnant again. So I will be pregnant next winter. I am wondering how I am going to carry my lo while pregnant in the snow. Right now we carry him so his feet dont get wet and then get the whole carseat wet. Do you all carry your 2/3 year olds or is there some other way to avoid wet carseat?

BelhurstBride · February 2013

DD hoofs it to the car herself. The seat gets wet/dirty but it's really not all that bad and I'm really not all that worried about it. If you are hung a towel up there or something.

Angela814 · February 2013

Bonnesetter27:
I intend to to ERF but I have a question. When my lo is 2 we plan to get pregnant again. So I will be pregnant next winter. I am wondering how I am going to carry my lo while pregnant in the snow. Right now we carry him so his feet dont get wet and then get the whole carseat wet. Do you all carry your 2/3 year olds or is there some other way to avoid wet carseat?

I usually carry my 2.5 yo. She's 32 lbs right now. That, or I pick her up, take off her shoes, and then put her in the carseat.

brettsmama · February 2013

Sad to say I too know very few parents who keep there LO rear facing until 2. The law still says rear facing until 1, however the new "recommendation" is until AT LEAST 2, but as long as possible. At my DS 1 year old appt our pedi explained exactly that. I think most patents turn their kids forward for convenience. My DS is almost 3 now and still rear facing and will be for probably another year. Safety is always the priority for us, just wish it was for others too.

TriciaandSean · February 2013

It is not common here at all, although I had a few friends who extended RF to 2 or close to 2. I believe I'm probably the only one I know who is still ERF a 2+ old.

Even the fire station, and the safekids event for car seat checks don't have the proper recommendations here. I was so angry when I went to get our seat checked at the fire station and I just about had an argument with the fire fighters because they thought it was dangerous for me to ERF because my toddlers knees might hit his face in an accident. They had no idea this was the "new" recommendation, even though, it's not really that knew anymore. Then I went to a safekids event assuming they would be more educated, nope, they still recommended the 1 year 20 pounds. I told them even on their website it had the correct recommendations, but apparently the individuals that train the techs here suck as well.

jebrmbbeb · February 2013

Only on the bump. No one in real life I know does it for that long. The longest some friends of mine have is about eighteen months and they did know about the reccomendation. Lots of moms I know don't do it just because they think it's ridiculous and unrealistic, mostly moms who are on their last of fourth baby or something. It's hard to change their ways I guess. So yeah. . Seems like a major bump thing to me. My doc told me when dd is one I can get a ff seat but the aap does recommend rf until 2. It was just very matter of fact and nonchalant.

SuperCuteBenz · February 2013

Extended rear-facing really isn't all that new. It is just gaining more "popularity" because of the AAP updated stance. NHTSA has been recommending it for a long time, as well as most car seat manufacturers. If you read your manual it usually says something like "keep your child rear-facing until 1 AND 20lbs (sometimes 22lbs) OR until they meet the height/weight guidelines of the seat"

My DD just turned 5, and we rear-faced til 2, and then from 2.5-3ish. My son is 2.5 and still rear-facing. We plan on going to 3 at least. It might end up being 3.5 because I will probably just stick it out through winter.

As for the poster that asked about winter and shoes. I have kick mats on my seats. One on the front passenger seat for DD, and one on the back of DS's seat. So, their dirty shoes don't get my seats dirty.

BrittKav · February 2013

I have a couple "crunchy" acquaintances that I know ERF, but no one else I know does. I only know about it from being on The Bump (and subsequent research after hearing about it).

My older daughter is still RFing (we turned her briefly after her 3rd birthday since she got too tall, but then decided to get a carseat with a slightly higher height limit). I'm hoping it will last her until age 4- it goes to 40 inches and she's 37.5" right now.

DD2 is still RFing, and will be for a long time because she's really short and skinny. Actually, even though she's 25 months old, she still has to legally be RFing in her carseat because she's only 21 lbs (she has to be 22 lbs to FF).

Angela814 · February 2013

SuperCuteBenz:
Extended rear-facing really isn't all that new. It is just gaining more "popularity" because of the AAP updated stance. NHTSA has been recommending it for a long time, as well as most car seat manufacturers. If you read your manual it usually says something like "keep your child rear-facing until 1 AND 20lbs (sometimes 22lbs) OR until they meet the height/weight guidelines of the seat"

Yes The only new thing about extended rear facing is that people are finally talking about it and practicing it.

alake · February 2013

1026pumpkin:
The rear facing until 2 is a new guideline that came out last year. Pretty much everyone I know keeps their kid rear facing until they just don't fit anymore. DS is very tall, and his legs were all the way up the car seat at about 18-19 months, so after getting approval from his pedi, we flipped him around early. If he was shorter, I would have left him rear-facing as long as possible, because they're much safer that way.

I have four rear facing in my van. My seven year old is forward facing in a harnessed car seat. My five year old is rear facing, and so is Eryn my six month old. I have custody of my niece and nephew. Logan is two and rear facing and Malorie is a month and rear facing. A child isn't too tall unless they are an inch from the top of the seat. Leah and Logan are in RXT car seats by Diono.

Want a personalized experience?

Extended rear facing

Re: Extended rear facing

Choose Another Board

Search Boards