When to change from Forward Facing to Rear Facing?

atlcst2@aol.com · February 2013

kalette · February 2013

Keep them rear facing as long as possible. Whatever the weight limit is on your seat RF. FF is more dangerous.

Kristinmo · February 2013

Law most places is at least 20 pounds and 1 year old. American academy of pediatrics currently reccomends at least 2 years but preferably until the limits of the seat are reached.

We turned DS 1 week before his 2nd birthday and I'm hoping to make it longer with DD because she is smaller.

eyenigh · February 2013

I have a Clek Foonf in my car, which I bought so I could keep him rear facing as long as possible. However, in my husband's car, we turn him sooner only because the only time the baby even rides in his car is for day care, which is 4 blocks away on 20mph streets and the gymnastics required to get him into my husband's car while rear facing are starting to get to all of us. That being said, we're lazy, so I assume we'll continue to leave him backwards and just complain about how inconvenient it is. That's more my style.

acaudill75 · February 2013

We turned DD1 at about one. That's what we read as the law, and she was 26 lbs, so ... DH and I have been discussing what to do with DD2. She's really combative and big, and he's in favor of turning her sooner rather than later. I am taking a wait and see approach. Definitely RF until one, and then see how long we can go with that. DD2 is 25 lbs, and I have to step up into a minivan and angle her just right so she doesn't hit her head and it's a mess, all while she kicks and screams. I get the safety concerns, otherwise I would be FF just like I did with DD1. It's a touchy subject here, but I'm being honest.

countrygrl5533 · February 2013

Yes, 20lb and 1yr, but recommended to wait until 2yr. I hadn't planned on waiting that long. But since DD is only 15.5lbs, she will probably be about 18mo before she will be big enough so may wait until about Christmas. Heck, we're still using the infant carrier. She would love to turn around see better though.

LaCally4 · February 2013

You should aim for at least age 2, or until your child outgrows the RF limits on their car seat. We kept DS rear-facing until he was over 2 and would have kept him longer but he started getting car sick on longer trips so we turned him and that helped. I don't have any intention on turning DD until she's at least 2 but hopefully longer.