Do we have to switch to forward facing?

[DaisyBee]

We have a minivan and it was still hard to find a convertible that rear faced that fit well in our vehicle. It wouldn't fit behind the driver seat at all, and so while Megan was rear facing I was as close to the dash as possible. It's a britax carseat. We had tried 2 other seats, and brought both back.

Jordans chicco baby seat only goes to 22 lbs... They switched right when Megan was born to 30 lb infant seats, of course I didn't realize that at the time. she is over 20 lbs and we are trying to decide if we want to find a different convertible for Jordan and keep Megan in her Brittax ( wondering if any would fit better rear facing). Or if we have Jordan use the Brittax rear facing and get Megan a new one that eventually would be a booster. it's so confusing.

 

[NellyLou]

I thought you're suppose to turn them around when they reach 9kg? We don't drive but when we go in friends and mil's car he's still in his baby car seat and is rear facing but he looks so uncomfy so we're getting him a forward facing one x

It's age 1 minimum here in Canada and the US... 9kg is a minimum in the UK.

It's age 1 AND 20 lbs in most states in the US. That being said, we have a small car and my son's convertible rf seat fit just fine. I didn't think there was an issue with legs dangling over an infant seat as long as she was in the weight range? I don't think mine has a height spec on it but even if it did, I don't think she is over that.

Yep, it's the weight range that is important - following the weight/height guidelines of the specific seat.

I had an ERF that went to 40lbs so I had to change Alex at 2 to forward. Forward facing at the correct weight/height would be safer than rear facing at the incorrect weight/height (ie ERF in a 40lb seat at 50lbs)

This is true! Age is just as important as weight though. The reason is that by the age of one most babies can walk etc which means their muscles are strong. A five month old may be heavy enough to fit in a ff carseat but their muscles will not be developed enough.

 

[summer rain]

My OH's nephew was so tall that by 3.5 months he had completely outgrown his infant carrier as well as his head being above the seat. He wasn't 9kg but even if he had been it would have been completely inappropriate to put a child of that age forward facing so his parents forked out and bought a convertible seat that kept him rear facing for considerably longer. I moved my second youngest forward facing at about 11 months because he was very tall and his head was above the top of the seat he was also 9kg, however while he was walking by then and had been sitting unaided since 3.5 or 4 months he still would flop all over the place while sleeping no matter how tightly we strapped him in. I dread to think what would have happened in an accident. ERF isn't really possible in a cab as you need to be able to take the seats in and out daily and the way the seats are very few car seats actually fit properly, but we got the first class plus this time when my son outgrew the infant carrier seat, he is 25 months nearly now and still not quite 13kg so we have been able to keep him RF for a good amount of time. I'm not judging anyone for turning their baby forward facing earlier but it does puzzle me when people describe their baby outgrowing the stage 0+ seat in length, not weight, at well under a year and saying they had to go for a forward facing seat and when named these particular seats are often more expensive than something like the britax first class plus and often are up to the same age, I really just don't get it at all xx

 

[stephj25]

My carseat, which is birth-4 years says that you have to turn it forward facing from 20lb. Not sure if this helps or not...

 

[AriannasMama]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

 

[stephj25]

She should stay rear facing ass long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

why is it irresponsible?

 

[Boo44]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

Hardly irresponsible if it's following the guidelines of the seat manufacturer?

 

[AriannasMama]

She should stay rear facing ass long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

why is it irresponsible?

Because it's not safe. I edited my post to explain better. Look up How's Journey on YouTube.

 

[NellyLou]

My carseat, which is birth-4 years says that you have to turn it forward facing from 20lb. Not sure if this helps or not...

Are you sure that it doesn't say the minimum weight to face forward is 20lbs?

 

[summer rain]

The majority of combo seats now say up to 13kg RF, same as the stage 0+ seats, a few years ago they were only up to 9kg and then you had to get a new seat based on weight, but now they almost all say 13kg xx

 

[KayBea]

legs can be fixed if they break. necks cant.....

 

[stephj25]

My carseat, which is birth-4 years says that you have to turn it forward facing from 20lb. Not sure if this helps or not...

Are you sure that it doesn't say the minimum weight to face forward is 20lbs?

it says 'this seat is suitable rearward facing 0-9kg & forward facing 9-18kg'

 

[overcomer79]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

okkkkkkkkkkkkk........... I wonder how many moms you just called irresponsible?

 

[marron]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

What works for your baby may not work for someone else...

 

[AriannasMama]

I get that it's not as common in the UK but that doesn't mean forward facing early isn't safe. Studies prove it isn't safe. Hopefully erf becomes the norm soon.

 

[stephj25]

most of us are just following the safety instructions with the carseat...

 

[AriannasMama]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

okkkkkkkkkkkkk........... I wonder how many moms you just called irresponsible?

It IS irresponsible. Do some research, I don't care if it's offensive. I'm giving straight scientific proof that it's safer. If you understood basic anatomy you'd understand.

 

[special_kala]

turning a child around before 9 months minimum does seem irresponsible to me

 

[Boo44]

This is just yet another one of those topics that people get passionate about and offend people in the process! As long as you're following the manufacturers advice of whichever seat you have, then you can't do more than that. I agree why change a baby to FF early there is no point and it's proven to be safer to RF and there are minimum weights to adhere to. But to call people irresponsible for moving their child before 2 is over the top!

 

[marron]

I get that it's not as common in the UK but that doesn't mean forward facing early isn't safe. Studies prove it isn't safe. Hopefully erf becomes the norm soon.

ERF seats will not fit in my car. My infant seat barely fits. Who's going to give me $15k to buy a new car?