Do they have to meet both of the requirements or with one is enough?
2006-06-28 11:28:05 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I'm in Texas
2006-06-28 11:35:34 · update #1
A child must be 1 year old AND weigh at least 20 pounds before they can ride in a front facing car seat. They must meet both criteria not one or the other. It is safest for the child to stay rear facing as long as possible. Frontal crashes are the most common, which is why babies have to be backward and should remain that way for as long as possible. In a frontal crash, a rear facing child is protected because their head and neck are within the confines of the shell of the carrier which is moving toward the front of the car, then they rebound toward the back of the car. This movement allows a child to "ride down" the crash with minimal impact to their body. When you turn them forward facing, their head and neck will take all of the crash forces and a child under 1 does not have strong enough bones to withstand these forces. You can actually seperate the spinal cord in an infant. So, rear facing is best for as long as possible!
2006-07-05 07:30:07 · answer #1 · answered by carseat xpert 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
12 months is the earliest a child should be faced forward because that is the age that their bones have hardened enough to endure a collision. Apparently it is best to leave your child in a rear facing position even if they are older than 12 months until they exceed the weight and height allowances of the car seat. We chose to buy a convertible seat after our 9 month old outgrew his infant seat. Now we're set for both rear facing until 1 year and forward facing after that until he is 80 lbs.
2006-06-28 16:54:15 · answer #2 · answered by whimsicallylost 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have to meet BOTH requirements. Not just one. No less than 1 year old, even if the baby weighs more than the required pounds. It is a bit of a hassle, but a little bit of a hassle is worth the life of your child.
2006-06-28 11:36:37 · answer #3 · answered by #3ontheway! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
20lbs and 12 months old.
only problem i had was his legs were too long before he reached either of these...his feet whould be halfway up the back seat. a police officer told me that they won't take the kid out and weigh him...if he looks close to 20lbs or 12 months, its fine with them...the seats are a guide...not to be taken as the law...each seat is different. as a matter of fact, it is NOT a law that they need to be in a booster after 40 lbs...it is merely a safety guideline.
2006-07-05 08:06:44 · answer #4 · answered by Jilly B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At least one yr old AND 20 lbs. In most states not only are you breaking the law by turning them forward before then, you are placing your child at serious risk should you be involved in an accident. We're talking about the difference between life & death if your child is not restrained properly.
2006-06-28 15:28:54 · answer #5 · answered by louv30 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ITs usually 1 year old, and have good head control to turn the seat around. Check with your state laws as well
2006-06-28 11:53:01 · answer #6 · answered by mommy_2_liam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They say at 12 months they can face front but I think my daughter was facing front at 9 months.
2006-06-28 11:32:08 · answer #7 · answered by Katie Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say when they look too scrunched sitting backwards. If their feet are touching the back of the seat that the carseat is in then it's time to turn them around.
2006-06-28 11:32:11 · answer #8 · answered by BeeFree 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
60 pounds or more to use the front seat
2006-06-28 11:32:52 · answer #9 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They say 12 months but usually people do it sooner. I know I did.
2006-06-28 12:44:57 · answer #10 · answered by ktpb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋