ERF vs traditional

Stormynights · Apr 6th, 2012, 04:39 AM

How long is the traditional age to turn the car seat around?

My daughter's pediatrician asked me what age we were supposed to turn the car seat around, and I said one. She said that's wrong, you're supposed to keep them rear facing until two.

Is two ERF, or longer than two? This really has me confused...

My daughter is only 2 months old, so rear facing for sure, but when do I turn her around??

DarlingMe · Apr 6th, 2012, 07:31 AM

The longer the better. Two is the new recommendation, in the US one is the law. It is much safer to face backwards. Even when their legs get too long they can cross them indian style. http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html I am glad your pediatrician discussed this with you! Some parents are in such a hurry to turn their LOs around!

Rachel_C · Apr 6th, 2012, 07:36 AM

I'd only describe it as ERF if you intend to keep them rear facing longer than 18 months or so, but as DarlingMe said health professionals (well, health bodies rather than health visitors etc) usually say 2 as standard now. In the UK, people tend to forward face babies of around 9 months, often younger when they think they're too big for their infant seat, but the law is changing soon hopefully.

cheese lover · Apr 6th, 2012, 08:25 AM

Its interesting to me how in some areas the word is getting out about waiting until 2 to turn them but in some areas it isn't. My SIL told me it was the law that they had to RF until 2 now. Even though I know the law is still 1 I didn't fight her. I figured I'd let her think that. My co-worker on the other hand has a LO just a few month older than mine and I think they turned him on his first birthday like its a right of passage.

glad your Dr. talked to you about it! Mine has not, but we plan to RF as long as LO can fit in her seat RFing (40lbs).

TySonNMe · Apr 6th, 2012, 13:06 PM

Right, the law is 1 year old and at least 20 lbs. I consider ERF over 1 as many think turning FF is a rite of passage as PP mentioned. It is recommended by the AAP to RF until 2 now, but not required. Most ERF sites recommend RF as long as the child is within the weight and height limits of the carseat. Until I came to this forum I had no idea about ERF and probably would have FF on DS's first birthday. I would suggest you research it a bit and make the decision for yourself.

Adorable Easter pic BTW!

Leffy · Apr 7th, 2012, 03:38 AM

my daughter was 11 months but she had her head above the seat and she was about to have her neck over the top so we needed a bigger seat and i didnt know you could get stage two seats that RF

Rachel_C · Apr 7th, 2012, 05:41 AM

Just thought I'd add that you really need to move a child to a bigger seat before their head goes above the top of the seat, I believe once it's within an inch is the usual guideline. I don't know about stats but I'd personally rather have a child in a properly fitting FF seat than a badly fitting RF seat. Of course, ERF is the safest and what we choose to do

Leffy · Apr 7th, 2012, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel_C

Just thought I'd add that you really need to move a child to a bigger seat before their head goes above the top of the seat, I believe once it's within an inch is the usual guideline. I don't know about stats but I'd personally rather have a child in a properly fitting FF seat than a badly fitting RF seat. Of course, ERF is the safest and what we choose to do

i wasn't 'knocking' RF i was saying that i preferred RF but was unaware they were available for older babies

Rachel_C · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leffy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel_C

Just thought I'd add that you really need to move a child to a bigger seat before their head goes above the top of the seat, I believe once it's within an inch is the usual guideline. I don't know about stats but I'd personally rather have a child in a properly fitting FF seat than a badly fitting RF seat. Of course, ERF is the safest and what we choose to do

i wasn't 'knocking' RF i was saying that i preferred RF but was unaware they were available for older babies

I know

I wasn't even saying that, I was more trying to make it clear that a baby should be moved to a properly fitting seat well before they're about to have their neck above the seat. I was trying to be polite and not make it sound like a direct criticism, but I didn't want to just leave it in case somebody else read it and thought it was ok to have a head above the back of the seat in a RF seat.

T8ty · Apr 7th, 2012, 08:53 AM

In the uk people rush to turn babies around not sure why!! My DD is the correct uk age to turn round but i asked a lady in our local car seat shop and she said the car seat we bought you can keep her rear facing for as long as she is comfy.. .. so i am going to keep her rear facing for as log as i can! x

Apr 6th, 2012, 04:39 AM	#1
Stormynights Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,169	ERF vs traditional How long is the traditional age to turn the car seat around? My daughter's pediatrician asked me what age we were supposed to turn the car seat around, and I said one. She said that's wrong, you're supposed to keep them rear facing until two. Is two ERF, or longer than two? This really has me confused... My daughter is only 2 months old, so rear facing for sure, but when do I turn her around??

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 07:31 AM	#2
DarlingMe Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: USA Posts: 4,003	The longer the better. Two is the new recommendation, in the US one is the law. It is much safer to face backwards. Even when their legs get too long they can cross them indian style. http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html I am glad your pediatrician discussed this with you! Some parents are in such a hurry to turn their LOs around!

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 07:36 AM	#3
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,641	I'd only describe it as ERF if you intend to keep them rear facing longer than 18 months or so, but as DarlingMe said health professionals (well, health bodies rather than health visitors etc) usually say 2 as standard now. In the UK, people tend to forward face babies of around 9 months, often younger when they think they're too big for their infant seat, but the law is changing soon hopefully.

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 08:25 AM	#4
cheese lover Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Iowa, US Posts: 2,047	Its interesting to me how in some areas the word is getting out about waiting until 2 to turn them but in some areas it isn't. My SIL told me it was the law that they had to RF until 2 now. Even though I know the law is still 1 I didn't fight her. I figured I'd let her think that. My co-worker on the other hand has a LO just a few month older than mine and I think they turned him on his first birthday like its a right of passage. glad your Dr. talked to you about it! Mine has not, but we plan to RF as long as LO can fit in her seat RFing (40lbs).

Status: Offline

Apr 6th, 2012, 13:06 PM	#5
TySonNMe Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NE Florida Posts: 3,653	Right, the law is 1 year old and at least 20 lbs. I consider ERF over 1 as many think turning FF is a rite of passage as PP mentioned. It is recommended by the AAP to RF until 2 now, but not required. Most ERF sites recommend RF as long as the child is within the weight and height limits of the carseat. Until I came to this forum I had no idea about ERF and probably would have FF on DS's first birthday. I would suggest you research it a bit and make the decision for yourself. Adorable Easter pic BTW!

Status: Offline

Apr 7th, 2012, 03:38 AM	#6
Leffy Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: UK Posts: 379	my daughter was 11 months but she had her head above the seat and she was about to have her neck over the top so we needed a bigger seat and i didnt know you could get stage two seats that RF

Status: Offline

Apr 7th, 2012, 05:41 AM	#7
Rachel_C Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 11,641	Just thought I'd add that you really need to move a child to a bigger seat before their head goes above the top of the seat, I believe once it's within an inch is the usual guideline. I don't know about stats but I'd personally rather have a child in a properly fitting FF seat than a badly fitting RF seat. Of course, ERF is the safest and what we choose to do

Status: Offline

Apr 7th, 2012, 08:53 AM	#10
T8ty Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Uk Posts: 892	In the uk people rush to turn babies around not sure why!! My DD is the correct uk age to turn round but i asked a lady in our local car seat shop and she said the car seat we bought you can keep her rear facing for as long as she is comfy.. .. so i am going to keep her rear facing for as log as i can! x

Status: Offline

User Name		Remember Me?
Password