Carseat Position

StokedWifey · September 2013

We've discussed this until we're blue in the face, but I've seen some Facebook pictures that make me curious. Ok, I really only saw one about a month ago from a girl on here that appeared to be forward-facing, but I keep seeing them from others, sooooo....

Are you still rear-facing?

I did the poll option so nobody knows what you choose, but feel free to elaborate if you'd like.

lilahbean13 · September 2013

Rear facing in both mine and my husbands vehicles. She has traveled forward facing ONCE in my father in laws truck because he doesnt have the clips for rear facing and I was irrationally a nervous wreck the whole time they were gone. Momma isn't ready for forward facing and neither is baby

pinkangelmoon · September 2013

lilahbean13 said:

Rear facing in both mine and my husbands vehicles. She has traveled forward facing ONCE in my father in laws truck because he doesnt have the clips for rear facing and I was irrationally a nervous wreck the whole time they were gone. Momma isn't ready for forward facing and neither is baby

@lilahbean13, by clips do you mean LATCH? You can still install the car seat rear-facing without LATCH, that's what we had to do with my mom's car. We read the manual, and just installed using the seat belt and we were able to get it pretty tight.

We will be rear-facing until at least 2 years old, but likely past that.

KarmB · September 2013

Currently shes FF in my car until I can get someone to reinstall her RF in my car. it was, then it came undone somehow. :-\. On the plus side, I havent hod to fight her to get her in lol.

ThePinkSuperhero · September 2013

We rarely ever ride in cars, but when we do, we do forward facing.

lewispm · September 2013

I saw that FB pic too posted by a J12 mom. It makes me wonder when I see things like that whether that person is educated about car seat safety and just choses the unsafe choice or if she honestly doesn't know better.

K will be rear facing until he no longer can due to the height and weight requirements.

SallySunrise · September 2013

PaddyB said:
I thought about doing SS, becuase on our last vacation I could not for the life of me figure out how to install the carseat we brought with us (which we only use for travel) in a rear facing position. I just gave up and did if FF since I knew I got that right and figure that properly installed FF was safer than improperly installed RF.

This is kind of us too, except it's all the time, not on vacation. Em is FF because neither of our seats, even when installed properly, seem secure RF. Idk if it's the angle of our seats or what.. We've tried all kinds of wedges, different angles, read up on our seats and our vehicle and we know we are doing it right... It just doesn't seem half as secure as when it's FF. I'd rather her be securely FF than poorly RF.

FTR, I did not turn her until she was a couple pounds past the weight requirement. I wish I could have waited even longer, but I'm doing what seems safest for my child in our particular circumstances.

beckyjoy8 · September 2013

Still RF here and plan to as long as we can and works for us.

KarmB · September 2013

SallySunrise said:

I thought about doing SS, becuase on our last vacation I could not for the life of me figure out how to install the carseat we brought with us (which we only use for travel) in a rear facing position. I just gave up and did if FF since I knew I got that right and figure that properly installed FF was safer than improperly installed RF.
This is kind of us too, except it's all the time, not on vacation. Em is FF because neither of our seats, even when installed properly, seem secure RF. Idk if it's the angle of our seats or what.. We've tried all kinds of wedges, different angles, read up on our seats and our vehicle and we know we are doing it right... It just doesn't seem half as secure as when it's FF. I'd rather her be securely FF than poorly RF. FTR, I did not turn her until she was a couple pounds past the weight requirement. I wish I could have waited even longer, but I'm doing what seems safest for my child in our particular circumstances.

I once had ours installed RF by a fireman. It looked awesome felt secure then when we were driving and she was kicking it tipped over. I dont know why though. My seats arent too bumpy. Shes been FF for three days now and thinks is amazing. I still want to get it looked at to why it dosent feel secure anymore RF. I just dont get it.

almrkp11 · September 2013

Karsyn is RF facing in both. I was watching a little bit of Teen Mom 3 last night, it was a rerun. But one of them had her little boy FF and he can't be older than 10 months. I wanted to scream at her.

JAck5209 · September 2013

We're rear facing until 2. I'm totally that judgey mom who sees FF toddlers and posts links to car seat safety websites. haha

ETA: I really only do it if the kid is under 1.

DeniseRN · September 2013

Hunter is FF. He would scream bloody murder every trip. He was over one and I was over it. I couldn't even take a 5min trip without an epic meltdown. I kept Caleb RF until 20mon, but he was a peanut and didn't mind RF. I would have kept Hunter RF if he wasn't so upset by it

BubbaJug · September 2013

We will be RFing for a long time. My seat goes up to 6 years (I think)... In my head currently the age I am willing to consider is 4. I would rather bend my "rules" and put a TV on her headrest and have her rear facing than have her neck snap FF. Also, fire departments/police departments/car dealerships know how to install seats correctly and they'll do it for free.

zyas · September 2013

We will RF until she is at least 2, possibly longer.

lnd1031 · September 2013

RF in both cars. It will stay that way until he is at least 2 - plus he's a shrimp, so he won't out-grow it anytime soon.

He's happy as a clam and doesn't know what he's missing by not being FF. He likes to amuse himself in the mirror.

britbratjf · September 2013

We only have the one carseat in my car and its still RFing. I plan to keep her that way until she's 2. She has no objections at the moment - if she starts throwing fits in the seat we may reevaluate (she usually has no problem being in the seat)

lh80 · September 2013

There is growing support here in the UK to change government recommendations and manufacturer options in relation to car seats. Right now the government recommend ff from around 9 months - I'm sure this will shock you all! Most infant carriers (all rf) say they are safe to 28lbs or when the head is over the top. I'm moving Hayden up this weekend as she's getting close to the top, but she'll be ff. she's the last of the babies I know still rf, and most people cannot wait to move their kids forward. There are only a couple of options here for rf beyond infant carriers and they are all super expensive. The cheapest is £300 ($460) and that one is really bulky and apparently difficult to move between vehicles. I'd rather have a safe and securely fitted ff seat than be worried my rf seat is fitted incorrectly. The good rf seats are around £500 ($770ish).

Pandril19 · September 2013

I plan to RF as long as possible, which I think will likely be well past 2, but I'm not making any definite statements.

reinedecajun · September 2013

JennMM said:
My pedi has said to stay rear facing until age 2 and since DD is pretty small, it's not a problem.

same

elizdg · September 2013

We will RF as long as he meets the height/weight requirements. I think he'll be able to RF past 2 since he's a tiny little guy.

WonderJess · September 2013

hijoi said:

@fishybride82 I had Nathaniel on the passenger side. I could keep a better eye on him there. Once we put Veronica's car seat in, I moved him to behind me. He's old enough to tell me if something is wrong, and I can still keep a good eye on Veronica behind the passenger seat. Don't know if it was right, but I can't change it now.

Ha! And we chose the opposite. I have Owen on the passenger side because he can reach to grab things (snack, tissue, etc) and I can see him to chat if we're stopped. Lily is facing the back and too little to reach anyway. I don't think it matters safety-wise...? Just personal preference.

StokedWifey · September 2013

DS is rear facing and I plan to keep him there until it becomes a problem. However, his carseat is installed in the middle in both cars. It's it becoming a HUGE pain to get him into the seat because he's bigger now. I want to bring the cars back to AAA to have them re-installed RF on one of the sides. I know this was talked about to death, but if someone can answer - was it safer on the driver side or passenger side?
Are most people RF in the middle, or did most of you move to a side (I know some people don't have a choice since you have more than one child)?

I have seen on here that people instinctively protect their side, but one of our girls was in an accident and proved that [somewhat] wrong with how she turned to ensure she took the brunt and not the baby. I am much more aware of what goes on on the passenger side because that's where B is.

Right now, as I mentioned, B is RF on the passenger side because in a Grand Cherokee, they can't be in the middle. When he FF, he'll either stay there or go to the middle.

potatoe6 · September 2013

Becca is FF as of last week, I wanted to keep her RF until she was 2, but DH was bugging me everyday to change it, even when I provided the proof about RF until she's 2 (I got tired of arguing about it). She loves FF so much, now that she can see both of us, and she is the size of a 2 year old (30 pds, height unknown but she is the same height as the 2 year olds at the daycare). She is in the middle as my SD doesn't want to sit next to my DS or give up her window.

StokedWifey · September 2013

fishybride82 said:

StokedWifey said:

DS is rear facing and I plan to keep him there until it becomes a problem. However, his carseat is installed in the middle in both cars. It's it becoming a HUGE pain to get him into the seat because he's bigger now. I want to bring the cars back to AAA to have them re-installed RF on one of the sides. I know this was talked about to death, but if someone can answer - was it safer on the driver side or passenger side?
Are most people RF in the middle, or did most of you move to a side (I know some people don't have a choice since you have more than one child)?

I have seen on here that people instinctively protect their side, but one of our girls was in an accident and proved that [somewhat] wrong with how she turned to ensure she took the brunt and not the baby. I am much more aware of what goes on on the passenger side because that's where B is.

Right now, as I mentioned, B is RF on the passenger side because in a Grand Cherokee, they can't be in the middle. When he FF, he'll either stay there or go to the middle.

@StokedWifey Thanks for the info. We have a grand cherokee too and T is in the middle. There is no latch there, but they put him in the with the center seat belt and then anchored it to the front seats. I like the safety of having him in the middle, but getting in the car and sitting down then raising 25lbs over my head (then he bonks his head on the roof) is getting old. My arms can't take it anymore!

Yikes, I can't imagine putting B in the middle. He's so heavy and long! The reason behind no center in the Grand Cherokee is because the flipdown cup holders can fall during a crash and injure the baby. I'm sure it varies by year, but mine specifically said no to center for rear-facing. @fishybride82

StokedWifey · September 2013

fishybride82 said:

@StokedWifey yeah, we don't have flip down cup holders! That makes sense though. We have a 2006 with pretty basic features. And yes, him being in the middle is pretty inconvenient!

OMG I love your siggy!

doggie mama · September 2013

The police officer who installed ours taught me a little trick to getting it in tight. You lift up the fabric and reach in from the inside and pull the strap. That way you're pulling it straight instead of at an angle. She's RF and likes kicking the mirror back there. I will probably turn her at 40 pounds. She's really tall like her dad.

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