When do you start using a forward facing car seat? I see so many babies who look huge in those rear facing car seats. I was wondering what the limits are? Thanks!
2006-09-12 07:30:46 · 18 answers · asked by Lisa 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
In our state, a child must weigh at least 20# and be 1 year old. However, you will probably need to use a seat that can be both rear-facing for infants and foward facing for toddlers (usually through age 3, then use a booster seat). Both of my sons outgrew the infant carrier at about 5 months, but they still needed to be in a rear-facing carseat. MOST babies will outgrow the carriers before they reach one year, and then need a convertible seat.
The carriers usually specify the height and weight limits somewhere on them (ours is on the side). Unfortunately, many people do not look closely at that, and continue to pack babies in that are too large to safely ride in them.
2006-09-12 07:44:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
My baby is 16 months old and still rear facing! She does not mind it because she doesn't know any different. BUT!! She is not still in an infant carrier. She outgrew that before she was even a year old...She is in converion carseat...It can be rear facing, forward facing, and a booster seat! Each car seat is different. Look in your manual or on the side of the seat. There should be ratings that tell at what position the child should be at what size. Check out the web site there is so much more information than I have listed!!
The following is what convinced me to keep my little one rear facing for as long as possible! :
Rear-facing is the safest position the child can ride in. It is strongly recommended that all children stay rear-facing beyond the minimum requirements of 1 year and 20 lbs. Children should not be turned forward-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing limits of a convertible seat (that allows rear-facing to at least 30 lbs). These limits are either the maximum rear-facing weight limit or when the top of their head is within one inch of the top of the seat shell, whichever comes first. While most parents are aware that they must keep their children rear-facing "until they are AT LEAST 1 year old AND 20 lbs", very few are told that there are significant safety benefits when a child remains rear-facing as long as the seat allows. For most children, rear-facing can and should continue well into the second year of life.
Rear-facing is much, much safer than forward-facing. Child safety seats: Rear-face until at least one year discusses the reasons why children should remain rear-facing for a FULL year and 20 lbs. In it, Kathleen Weber states, "In the research and accident review that I did a few years ago, the data seemed to break at about 12 months between severe consequences and more moderate consequences..." This does not mean that there are NO consequences. The consequences may no longer be death from a completely severed spinal cord, but simply life-long injury, including complete paralysis. Research studies suggest that until children are at least four, they are incapable of withstanding crash forces as well as adults - and should remain rear-facing.
In a crash, life-threatening or fatal injuries are generally limited to the head and neck, assuming a child is in a harnessed seat.
When a child is in a forward-facing seat, there is tremendous stress put on the child's neck, which must hold the large head back. The mass of the head of a small child is about 25% of the body mass whereas the mass of the adult head is only 6%! A small child's neck sustains massive amounts of force in a crash. The body is held back by the straps while the head is thrown forward - stressing, stretching or even breaking the spinal cord. The child's head is at greater risk in a forward-facing seat as well. In a crash, the head is thrown outside the confines of the seat and can make dangerous contact with other occupants, vehicle structures, and even intruding objects, like trees or other vehicles.
Rear-facing seats do a phenomenal job of protecting children because there is little or no force applied to the head, neck and spine. When a child is in a rear-facing seat, the head, neck and spine are all kept fully aligned and the child is allowed to "ride down" the crash while the back of the child restraint absorbs the bulk of the crash force. The head is contained within the restraint, and the child is much less likely to come into contact with anything that might cause head injury.
2006-09-12 08:25:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
20 lbs and 1 yr is a great rule for most.
Then theres the babies who are long and the car seats won't fit them,
been there done that.My dd was 1yrs and 17 lbs ., when we turned her
car seat front faceing. Reason being the adjustments were to short
for her in the rear faceing position. Now I also asked mu docs advice first. Now I would check with state laws and ur doc and see what they recomend.
Morgaine
2006-09-12 11:20:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
One year old is the earliest you can face them forward. I *believe* the weight limit is 20 or 25 pounds, but even if you have a large baby that meets the weight requirement but isn't a year old yet, they still have to face rear. It's all about neck muscle development. Their neck and back muscles aren't developed enough to withstand the impact of a collision until they're a year old.
2006-09-12 08:56:00 · answer #4 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can buy a seat that can face either forward or backward. My daughter's seat can hold a baby from 5 pounds up to 100 pounds. We turned her forward when she was 10 months old, but I don't think we were supposed to until she was a year. The seat cost us about $80 and she will probably use it until she is big enough to ride without a seat or booster at all. Go to a store like Babys'R'Us and ask lots of questions, you'll find one that suits your needs.
2006-09-12 07:34:33 · answer #5 · answered by S. O. 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You should use a rear facing carseat for as long as you can! Children are safest facing the rear in a crash situation. Their little necks and spines are not strong enough to withstand a crash, and when they are forward facing they can be severely injured or even die from the force of having their neck snapped forward and back again.
http://cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx
2006-09-12 07:36:44 · answer #6 · answered by Kathryn A 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Weight specifications vary from product to product; always check manufacturer's recommendations for any seat you purchase, and follow the latest recommendations of the National Transportation and Safety Board for car seat use.
2006-09-12 07:37:03 · answer #7 · answered by rltouhe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are stickers all over your car seat that spell out the height and weight limits for your rear-facing car seat; why don't you take a look for yourself?
2006-09-12 07:33:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
You should NOT turn baby forward until he is BOTH 20+ lbs AND 12+ months old.
The longer you can keep them rear facing, the safer they are!
2006-09-12 08:10:58 · answer #9 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It should say on your car seat or the paperwork with it. I thought it was 50lbs they can start facing forward. It has nothing to do with their neck it's the weight of the baby. Good luck.
2006-09-12 07:38:00 · answer #10 · answered by aimstir31 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋