Car seat turning

alake · July 2014

My 23 month old will rear face until she outgrows the rear facing weight and height limit on her car seat (50 pounds) She will probably make it until grade 2 rear facing. She is only 24 pounds right now.
My almost 7 year old, does not even weigh 45 pounds yet. She has outgrown any car seat height wise for rear facing. She rear faced until 4, and at four and a half asked to go back rear facing. She stayed that way until she outgrew the seat height wise, which was about 6 months ago.

spring_time · July 2014

I just want to say that I sympathize. My DS was like yours and pitched a holy fit every time he was in the car. He would cry hysterically, thrash his whole body, and throw up. We would nearly have to sit on him just to get him in the car seat. Not leaving the house was not an option (was this seriously a suggestion?) Anybody who says that it is not a dangerous and a huge distraction is severely underestimating the hysterics that could go on for up to an hour. I switched DS at 14 months. HOWEVER, this was before all the recent recommendations. I am not sure what I would do if I had to make the decision with all the newest information. I don't have any suggestions or advice, just commiseration. There were times I had to stop, pull over, and get out of the car to get my own wits about me to continue safely on our way. Good luck!

jennip68 · July 2014

I have watched way too many videos and read too much info to let me LO FF before she's two.,.. and it will probably be much after she actually turns two since she's and itty bitty. I guess you will have to pick what works for your kiddo...but so many choose to turn them so early without any information. Do your research and make an informed decision!

MamaBubbles10 · July 2014

My oldest turned shortly after turning 3yrs old. My youngest is nearly 18 months and we will do the same, so long as she is under the requirement for her seat she will RF. It is just the safest way for them to be.

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

We did around 8 mos. She was fine and stopped screaming in the car?

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

Oh... she was in a convertible car seat at 4 mos.
The infant carriers are not working. Awful reflux and severe colic. Screaming would trigger reflux and she'd throw up. U need to decide urself. My patents pastured in the wheel wells on cars, without a seat..they're fine

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

Sry that was to say my parents played..
Don't guilt trip urself. U know what's best.

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

honeydew01 · July 2014

Nicb13 said:

We did around 8 mos. She was fine and stopped screaming in the car?
This is terrifying.

It is terrifying. People like her do exist though. As I said above I get judged for not turning my almost 17 month old by my the SIL who turned her kid at 9 months! She can think I am crazy and I can think she is insane.

ASmallWonder · July 2014

For everyone saying they turned because the screaming was distracting - what would your answer be to screaming forward facing kids? It's not like that never happens and what do we do? We suck it up. Am I supposed to try my 4 year old in no seat in the front when he's screaming to the point of distraction? People turn them because it's technically an option but it isn't one when their safety is at risk.

nanabanana06 · July 2014

HeavenBlessedMom said:

We did around 8 mos. She was fine and stopped screaming in the car?

Hold the phone. That is so beyond illegal. I'm sorry that your kid screaming is more important to you than her safety. Thank goodness you didn't crash during that time. Kids die from being FF too early. More so since seats were not designed for an 8 month old. They were designed to FF toddlers. Even my 99th percentile kid would of been too small at 8 months for FF. Way to go.

CoachAP · July 2014

God, there is so many people peddling their own agenda....

AAP says rear facing until 2, however, not all car seat manufactures are up to date with that height wise, and your toddler may not be able to sit RF due to make of seat, car, etc. If baby is wiggling out of straps or pushing off the seat when RF, my doctor said I should turn him and no issue with being FF (DS is 15mo).

And then lastly there is the issue every child is different. It is a recommendation but it doesn't have to work for everyone and to say a child will or will not be safe just because he is FF before 2 isn't proven.

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

That is why Said my parents.
Since she was colic, we never drove more thAn 5 minutes. another topic government is to in your face about.I would have invited them to come drive with me and see The issue.
Again, I stand by only you know best

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

She also belly slept as I found her choking and blue on her back.
Get your head out of books and party attention to what your individual child needs!

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

And I believe 17 months is insane
Personal beliefs

LittleApple · July 2014

HeavenBlessedMom said:

That is why Said my parents. Since she was colic, we never drove more thAn 5 minutes. another topic government is to in your face about.I would have invited them to come drive with me and see The issue. Again, I stand by only you know best

I disagree. YOU don't know best. You are being foolish and naive.

LittleApple · July 2014

CoachAP said:

God, there is so many people peddling their own agenda....
AAP says rear facing until 2, however, not all car seat manufactures are up to date with that height wise, and your toddler may not be able to sit RF due to make of seat, car, etc. If baby is wiggling out of straps or pushing off the seat when RF, my doctor said I should turn him and no issue with being FF (DS is 15mo).

And then lastly there is the issue every child is different. It is a recommendation but it doesn't have to work for everyone and to say a child will or will not be safe just because he is FF before 2 isn't proven.

Your doctor is wrong. Your doctor is not a child safety technitian and shouldn't be giving out advice he/she knows nothing about. If your baby is wiggling out of the straps, they are not tight enough and there is nothing wrong with the child pushing on the seat.

The AAp didn't just come up with two years out of their heads. It is science. Please read this link:

https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing until a minimum of age two, based on findings published by BMJ Injury Prevention. This study compared injury statistics for 15 years worth of crashes involving children under age 2. Researchers compared the injuries sustained by the children in crashes and found “the odds of severe injury for forward-facing infants under 12 months of age were 1.79 times higher than for rear-facing infants; for children 12 to 23 months old, the odds were 5.32 times higher.” 4

ASmallWonder · July 2014

@heavenblessedmom and @coachAPYeah, no. SCIENCE has PROVEN that rear facing children are 532% safer than their forward facing counterparts (data available until age two). Physics shows us that all vehicle passengers would be safer rear facing. It's indisputable. The law does not reflect what is safest.

The argument that you may not be able to rear face them because the seat YOU CHOSE doesn't fit them rear facing is like saying your kid has to go shoeless because the kind you like doesn't come in wide. There are shoes that come in wide but you made a choice that doesn't work. Talk about not taking each individual child's needs into consideration.

It's also a "recommendation" not to smoke but we know damn well the harm smoking does.

ASmallWonder · July 2014

@pavlovcat that is an EXTREME case you're talking about. And forward facing an 8 month old baby is not ever an option. No car seat has been tested to show it will do any good in saving the life of a child that young and small. To be blunt, vomiting that causes damage to their body is horrible but it is preferable to them being killed.

ASmallWonder · July 2014

And truly, if educating parents and trying to keep children safe is considered mean spirited, I'll take the title. I didn't call anyone a name or cross any lines. I've been blunt, yes, but when it comes to the safety of children, I will bluntly state facts until I'm blue in the face.

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

Actua.lly, I was an editor all through college and currently hold two masters degrees and a law degree. all finished by the Ageof 27. People need to use their brains instead of reading everything. I did read books, but then I had to decide what was safest and keep my child alive instead of chOking on her Vomit. I do not type... I use voice. And this morning, I was feeding one of the triplets while I was using the voice control. What I was trying to get across initially was the original poster needs to take more into consideration instead of one guideline. You have to think on your own or you may make wrong choices.this is a website for information and people can come and ask but no One knows another situation completely. also, thank you to the posters who share my viewpointthat people need to use their brains.if you would like to come on you're in charge you, that's fine, but I will firmly believe you have nothing else to do and just like to argue. No 1 has an open mind to those who scrRem at them.

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

Good for you. Common sense=gathering all facts and making the best decision based onthe circumstance present.

nanabanana06 · July 2014

I guess common sense didn't tell you that doing something illegal is wrong! Turning an 8 month old FF is illegal. You are so unbelievably lucky you didn't get into a crash and either seriously injure or kill your child. Do you know how many other parents didn't get so lucky before we changed the laws to what they are now? How freakishly dense and reckless could you be.

Also, the new recommendations are proven by science. It is the safest thing for my child to be RFing. There is very very little that would ever make me FF before they outgrew their seats. I am trying to make sure my kid is safe, and by doing that I need to do everything in my power to do so. Even if they hate it. It's just like making my 3 year old hold my hand in a parking lot, sure she hates it sometimes and puts up a fight, but I'm her mother and it's my job to keep her safe. Even if she was crying until she puked she'd still have to hold my hand since her safety is more important.

Pattycakes3 · July 2014

My toddler just hit 19mo and we went ahead and turned her around to face the front. Honestly, her legs do not fit RF very well, so she won't sit as cramped now. I love the idea of keeping her RF for as long as possible, but it wasn't working in our car.

HeavenBlessedMom · July 2014

I wasnt willing to risk her dying by chokin.g.it was new for us to go out anyway.. The first 4 months we stayed at home and I put 10 miles on my car, only going to the pediatrician due to Colic in the most severe form. if there was a study which included this is Severity of colic and severity of reflux it mAy have made me change my mind, but this is the best I can do for my Dd.

Lc102310 · July 2014

Switched from rear facing to forward facing at about 12 months, she was approx 22 pounds at the time.

ASmallWonder · July 2014

Pattycakes3 said:

My toddler just hit 19mo and we went ahead and turned her around to face the front. Honestly, her legs do not fit RF very well, so she won't sit as cramped now. I love the idea of keeping her RF for as long as possible, but it wasn't working in our car.

Please read these

https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide

https://csftl.org/rear-facing-car-seat-myths-busted

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

CoachAP · July 2014

LittleApple said:

CoachAP said:

God, there is so many people peddling their own agenda....
AAP says rear facing until 2, however, not all car seat manufactures are up to date with that height wise, and your toddler may not be able to sit RF due to make of seat, car, etc. If baby is wiggling out of straps or pushing off the seat when RF, my doctor said I should turn him and no issue with being FF (DS is 15mo).

And then lastly there is the issue every child is different. It is a recommendation but it doesn't have to work for everyone and to say a child will or will not be safe just because he is FF before 2 isn't proven.

Your doctor is wrong. Your doctor is not a child safety technitian and shouldn't be giving out advice he/she knows nothing about. If your baby is wiggling out of the straps, they are not tight enough and there is nothing wrong with the child pushing on the seat.
The AAp didn't just come up with two years out of their heads. It is science. Please read this link:

https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing until a minimum of age two, based on findings published by BMJ Injury Prevention. This study compared injury statistics for 15 years worth of crashes involving children under age 2. Researchers compared the injuries sustained by the children in crashes and found “the odds of severe injury for forward-facing infants under 12 months of age were 1.79 times higher than for rear-facing infants; for children 12 to 23 months old, the odds were 5.32 times higher.” 4

I'll preface this by saying I am following the recommendation - but it's not been scientifically proven. Too many other variables to take into consideration. For example, is a RF child in a car from the 1970s with absolutely no safety features safer then my FF in an newer model SUV with tether straps and LATCH, etc? You just can't make that determination on the direction alone.

Additionally, at 15 months my son knows how to undo the top latch that goes against his chest. When he's rear facing, I often don't see this until i go to take him out. So yes, wiggling out of straps is possible.

My doctor is just fine thanks, and I will be following his advice over a message board.

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

LittleApple · July 2014

CoachAP said:

LittleApple said:

CoachAP said:

God, there is so many people peddling their own agenda....
AAP says rear facing until 2, however, not all car seat manufactures are up to date with that height wise, and your toddler may not be able to sit RF due to make of seat, car, etc. If baby is wiggling out of straps or pushing off the seat when RF, my doctor said I should turn him and no issue with being FF (DS is 15mo).

And then lastly there is the issue every child is different. It is a recommendation but it doesn't have to work for everyone and to say a child will or will not be safe just because he is FF before 2 isn't proven.

Your doctor is wrong. Your doctor is not a child safety technitian and shouldn't be giving out advice he/she knows nothing about. If your baby is wiggling out of the straps, they are not tight enough and there is nothing wrong with the child pushing on the seat.
The AAp didn't just come up with two years out of their heads. It is science. Please read this link:

https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing until a minimum of age two, based on findings published by BMJ Injury Prevention. This study compared injury statistics for 15 years worth of crashes involving children under age 2. Researchers compared the injuries sustained by the children in crashes and found “the odds of severe injury for forward-facing infants under 12 months of age were 1.79 times higher than for rear-facing infants; for children 12 to 23 months old, the odds were 5.32 times higher.” 4

I'll preface this by saying I am following the recommendation - but it's not been scientifically proven. Too many other variables to take into consideration. For example, is a RF child in a car from the 1970s with absolutely no safety features safer then my FF in an newer model SUV with tether straps and LATCH, etc? You just can't make that determination on the direction alone.

Additionally, at 15 months my son knows how to undo the top latch that goes against his chest. When he's rear facing, I often don't see this until i go to take him out. So yes, wiggling out of straps is possible.

My doctor is just fine thanks, and I will be following his advice over a message board.

Don't want to listen to a bunch of "know it all's " on the message board? That's cool. How about a group of car seat technicians who actually know what they are talking about?
I highly suggest you join this group. Look around, stay a while, even ask a question or two.

https://www.facebook.com/CarSeatsForTheLittles

ASmallWonder · July 2014

CoachAP said:

LittleApple said:

CoachAP said:

God, there is so many people peddling their own agenda....
AAP says rear facing until 2, however, not all car seat manufactures are up to date with that height wise, and your toddler may not be able to sit RF due to make of seat, car, etc. If baby is wiggling out of straps or pushing off the seat when RF, my doctor said I should turn him and no issue with being FF (DS is 15mo).

And then lastly there is the issue every child is different. It is a recommendation but it doesn't have to work for everyone and to say a child will or will not be safe just because he is FF before 2 isn't proven.

Your doctor is wrong. Your doctor is not a child safety technitian and shouldn't be giving out advice he/she knows nothing about. If your baby is wiggling out of the straps, they are not tight enough and there is nothing wrong with the child pushing on the seat.
The AAp didn't just come up with two years out of their heads. It is science. Please read this link:

https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing until a minimum of age two, based on findings published by BMJ Injury Prevention. This study compared injury statistics for 15 years worth of crashes involving children under age 2. Researchers compared the injuries sustained by the children in crashes and found “the odds of severe injury for forward-facing infants under 12 months of age were 1.79 times higher than for rear-facing infants; for children 12 to 23 months old, the odds were 5.32 times higher.” 4

I'll preface this by saying I am following the recommendation - but it's not been scientifically proven. Too many other variables to take into consideration. For example, is a RF child in a car from the 1970s with absolutely no safety features safer then my FF in an newer model SUV with tether straps and LATCH, etc? You just can't make that determination on the direction alone.

Additionally, at 15 months my son knows how to undo the top latch that goes against his chest. When he's rear facing, I often don't see this until i go to take him out. So yes, wiggling out of straps is possible.

My doctor is just fine thanks, and I will be following his advice over a message board.

See, the fact that you think LATCH is a safety feature already tells me that you're not well versed on this topic. LATCH is a convenience and is no safer than a seatbelt install. I won't pretend to know things I don't so no, I don't know the safety difference between an older car and a newer one but just like a poster above, you're talking about a very specific circumstance and it doesn't apply to most people. MOST people are driving a vehicle made in the last 15 years and in that case, rear facing (with belt OR LATCH) is safer than forward facing.

As for your son, definitely check on the page provided to you above. The recommendation would be to put a button up shirt over his harness. There are work arounds for almost every argument you can give if you were willing to ask the questions of people who are trained in car seat safety and were willing to put your pride aside to realize that everyone has the potential to learn something.

CoachAP · July 2014

elmoali said:

CoachAP said:

LittleApple said:

CoachAP said:

God, there is so many people peddling their own agenda....
AAP says rear facing until 2, however, not all car seat manufactures are up to date with that height wise, and your toddler may not be able to sit RF due to make of seat, car, etc. If baby is wiggling out of straps or pushing off the seat when RF, my doctor said I should turn him and no issue with being FF (DS is 15mo).

And then lastly there is the issue every child is different. It is a recommendation but it doesn't have to work for everyone and to say a child will or will not be safe just because he is FF before 2 isn't proven.

Your doctor is wrong. Your doctor is not a child safety technitian and shouldn't be giving out advice he/she knows nothing about. If your baby is wiggling out of the straps, they are not tight enough and there is nothing wrong with the child pushing on the seat.
The AAp didn't just come up with two years out of their heads. It is science. Please read this link:

https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing until a minimum of age two, based on findings published by BMJ Injury Prevention. This study compared injury statistics for 15 years worth of crashes involving children under age 2. Researchers compared the injuries sustained by the children in crashes and found “the odds of severe injury for forward-facing infants under 12 months of age were 1.79 times higher than for rear-facing infants; for children 12 to 23 months old, the odds were 5.32 times higher.” 4

I'll preface this by saying I am following the recommendation - but it's not been scientifically proven. Too many other variables to take into consideration. For example, is a RF child in a car from the 1970s with absolutely no safety features safer then my FF in an newer model SUV with tether straps and LATCH, etc? You just can't make that determination on the direction alone.

Additionally, at 15 months my son knows how to undo the top latch that goes against his chest. When he's rear facing, I often don't see this until i go to take him out. So yes, wiggling out of straps is possible.

My doctor is just fine thanks, and I will be following his advice over a message board.

See, the fact that you think LATCH is a safety feature already tells me that you're not well versed on this topic. LATCH is a convenience and is no safer than a seatbelt install. I won't pretend to know things I don't so no, I don't know the safety difference between an older car and a newer one but just like a poster above, you're talking about a very specific circumstance and it doesn't apply to most people. MOST people are driving a vehicle made in the last 15 years and in that case, rear facing (with belt OR LATCH) is safer than forward facing.

As for your son, definitely check on the page provided to you above. The recommendation would be to put a button up shirt over his harness. There are work arounds for almost every argument you can give if you were willing to ask the questions of people who are trained in car seat safety and were willing to put your pride aside to realize that everyone has the potential to learn something.

yeah - i just tell him No when i can see him doing it. I just don't appreciate people telling me it is not possible just because it hasn't happened to them.

As noted my son is still RF, I was just using the LATCH etc as analogies. And yes, i do believerLATCH is safer because less room for user error.

CoachAP · July 2014

LittleApple said:

CoachAP said:

LittleApple said:

CoachAP said:

God, there is so many people peddling their own agenda....
AAP says rear facing until 2, however, not all car seat manufactures are up to date with that height wise, and your toddler may not be able to sit RF due to make of seat, car, etc. If baby is wiggling out of straps or pushing off the seat when RF, my doctor said I should turn him and no issue with being FF (DS is 15mo).

And then lastly there is the issue every child is different. It is a recommendation but it doesn't have to work for everyone and to say a child will or will not be safe just because he is FF before 2 isn't proven.

Your doctor is wrong. Your doctor is not a child safety technitian and shouldn't be giving out advice he/she knows nothing about. If your baby is wiggling out of the straps, they are not tight enough and there is nothing wrong with the child pushing on the seat.
The AAp didn't just come up with two years out of their heads. It is science. Please read this link:

https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing until a minimum of age two, based on findings published by BMJ Injury Prevention. This study compared injury statistics for 15 years worth of crashes involving children under age 2. Researchers compared the injuries sustained by the children in crashes and found “the odds of severe injury for forward-facing infants under 12 months of age were 1.79 times higher than for rear-facing infants; for children 12 to 23 months old, the odds were 5.32 times higher.” 4

I'll preface this by saying I am following the recommendation - but it's not been scientifically proven. Too many other variables to take into consideration. For example, is a RF child in a car from the 1970s with absolutely no safety features safer then my FF in an newer model SUV with tether straps and LATCH, etc? You just can't make that determination on the direction alone.

Additionally, at 15 months my son knows how to undo the top latch that goes against his chest. When he's rear facing, I often don't see this until i go to take him out. So yes, wiggling out of straps is possible.

My doctor is just fine thanks, and I will be following his advice over a message board.

Don't want to listen to a bunch of "know it all's " on the message board? That's cool. How about a group of car seat technicians who actually know what they are talking about?
I highly suggest you join this group. Look around, stay a while, even ask a question or two.

https://www.facebook.com/CarSeatsForTheLittles

I never came on to listen or for advice on this situation, just giving my experience to OP. As I stated, my son is RF, i do follow most recommendations not here to argue that. Just don't agree with some of the definitives stated.

nanabanana06 · July 2014

As a tech I find more poor installs using LATCH. Unless you have a seat designed to be the worlds easiest LATCH install (like a Nextfit or like our Securekid 400 combo booster) most people will install using the seatbelt better. I find more people with loose twisty LATCH straps or borrowing LATCH connectors than anything. Most people are used to seat belt installs. I actually prefer them.

michelle7482 · July 2014

DD was 21 months

LittleApple · July 2014

LATCH is not safer and actually I see more seats installed uncorrectly with LATCH because they are using the wrong Latches or have it installed in the middle seat using the latches of the side seats.

Want a personalized experience?

Car seat turning

Re: Car seat turning

Choose Another Board

Search Boards