car seat ?

Question

does anyone know what height and weight a baby can be to sit forward facing in a car seart?
my son is 8 months 20 pounds and 27 inches long i keep getting diffrant answers so just wondering if some one knows a site that could tell me thanks

Answer 1

They have to be both 20lbs and 1 year old before they can sit in a forward facing car seat....they must reach both milestones before switching. I just had to check myself for my son. Hope that helps

Jen

Answer 2

The recommendation is 20 lbs AND 1 year.

It's actually more developmentally driven than weight driven. It's better to leave the carseat rear-facing until a year to give their bones longer to develop.

Sucks for me because my 11 month old is just 18 lbs so unless she has a growth spurt it looks like she'll actually be OVER a year old when we finally get to turn her forwards.

It certainly worth adhering to these recommendations though. If you are in an accident and the baby is rear facing, the baby's weight and spine are pushed in to the car seat, which is made of a cushioned material. If forward facing and under 1 year, the only thing that stops the baby's head from being whipped forward is their spine, which is not strong and could paralyse the child.

Take care.

Answer 3

A baby has to be at least 12 months AND 20 lbs. before they can face forward in a car seat. That is the law. However, safety experts say you should keep a baby rear facing until they outgrow the height or weight requirements on the car seat from the manufacturer.

I had my daughter's car seat professionally inspected. My daughter is 16 months and almost 33 inches long. Her car seat allows up to 34 inches for rear facing, so she will be rear facing until she grows another inch. She has to bend her knees to fit, but I was told it's better for a baby to break a leg in an accident, then their neck. I have to agree. She's not uncomfortable and she's safe.

Answer 4

You know you really should check with your pediatrician. Two of my four sons were over 10lbs at birth and my pediatrician highly recommended having them forward facing before they were one year based on their neck strength and height. They were so tall that their legs were folded up when they were rear facing and he said they could suffer spinal cord damage if their legs were pushing against the seat while I was in an accident and that is what they would do quite often, is kick hard against the back of the seat. This is why i don't understand the one comment about leaving them rear facing until they are two or even four. Where are they to put their legs?

There are guidelines, laws and recommendations for each type of seat, and in each State. You and your pediatrician can make the decision about what quidelines are best for the safety of your baby. No matter what seat you use though, the middle of the back seat is the safest place to place the seat. I was told that by the pubic safety administration in Rochester NY.

Answer 5

While 20 lbs AND 12 months is the absolute minimum, the American Academy of Pediatrics now says that if your car seat has a higher weight limit for rear-facing, it is safest to keep your child facing the rear until he or she reaches that higher limit. For most convertible carseats nowadays, a child can rear-face until about 30-35 lbs depending on the seat. It is a lot safer to keep your baby facing the rear even past his first birthday if you can because it prevents neck injuries. My baby is 20 months and still happily facing the rear in the car. Here's a recent news article about this topic:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868/

Answer 6

The longer the better. Rear facing seats go up to 30 pounds these days. Give the baby time to devlop, not just head control, but strong neck muscles. My 25 pound 20 month-old still rear faces.

Answer 7

Here in Missouri the law states 1 yr. old AND 20 lbs. That means if he's under 1 yr., but weights 20 he has to stay rear facing until 1 year.

Answer 8

When the baby turns one years old..........Or unless the baby is already 20 lbs......which ever comes FIRST.

Or if the baby is long and the legs are already touching the seat of the car.......then turn the seat to front facing

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/...
When your child outgrows the maximum height and weight of his/her infant seat, you may require a convertible rear-facing seat until your child is ready to be facing forward. Use a rear-facing car seat until:

the baby is at least 9 kilograms (20 lb.)
the baby can pull him/herself to a standing position
the baby is one year old.

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.h...
Rear-facing seats

All infants should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. That means that if your baby reaches 20 pounds before her first birthday, she should remain rear-facing until she turns ONE

Answer 9

I think that it is 22 pounds or more. The longer you can keep him facing backwards the safer it is. But once he gets too long you may want to switch him forward facing. It is your choice at this point. My nephew was placed forward facing at 5 months and he was only 17 pounds.

Answer 10

Rear-facing seats
All infants should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. That means that if your baby reaches 20 pounds before her first birthday, she should remain rear-facing until she turns 1.