2007-01-06 15:05:39 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
They have to be 1 years old and over 20lbs. Even if your baby reaches one of the two, the baby has to be 1yr and 20lbs +.
2007-01-06 15:08:11 · answer #1 · answered by MRod 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One year of age *and* twenty pounds (up) at the earliest, although the longer you keep them rear facing the better...it's safer. I've heard and read that from several sources. I'll try to find some links in a few.
Link: http://www.physorg.com/news78663976.html
"Don’t be in a hurry to start using a forward-facing child seat. The longer you use a rear-facing infant-only seat, infant /child seat, or infant/child/booster seat that fits correctly, even past your baby’s first birthday, the safer your baby will be in a crash. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and check the label for the weight and height that are allowed."
The above quote found here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/1234/stage1/menu.htm
"An important note: Though most parents move their child from a rear-facing to a forward-facing position when he reaches 12 months and 20 pounds, this is the minimum age and weight requirement for facing forward. Experts say that the longer you keep your child in a rear-facing position, the safer he'll be (that's because, in a frontal collision, the stress on a forward-facing child's neck can injure his spine)."
The above quote found here:
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babysafety/399.html
2007-01-06 15:10:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
One year and 20 pounds but there ARE exceptions. My son was 8 months when we turned him around via the police department. He was 20 pounds by then and was way too long. His head was at the top of the seat and his legs hung over so far they went up the back of the seat, which could have caused extensive damage to his pelvis and legs if in a car accident so there are situations when you can turn it around before then.
There has been incidents where children have broken their legs because they were too tall in the seat to be facing backwards. I work in the medical field in the trauma unit at a hospital and have seen it happen so YES it can happen. Besides that it doesn't support the babies neck rear facing if the top of their head is over the back of the car seat. That should just be logic!!
2007-01-07 01:11:44 · answer #3 · answered by shannonmangan 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They should remain rear-facing as long as possible. It does not matter if their feet touch the seat back. They can fold their legs.
There have NEVER been any documented cases of a child breaking their legs from being rear facing. But there are many sad tales of children being front-facing too soon and breaking their necks!-(
The height requirements on car seats are not from leg length, but of torso length. The straps must be at or below the shoulders rear-facing, but at or above the shoulders forward facing.
2007-01-06 16:33:26 · answer #4 · answered by Terrible Threes 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have a one year old son and I just recently placed him in a front facing car seat. I asked my pediatrician before doing so and he said long as my son was over 30 inches tall and 20 pds. Keep in mind though you should still keep your child in a forward facign seat in the back seat in the middle preferably.
2007-01-06 15:15:22 · answer #5 · answered by pinkjet 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's best to go by the manufacturers recommended height and weight for the safety of the child. My son has been in a front facing car seat since he was about 8 months old. He outgrew his rear facing seat due to length and weight.
2007-01-06 15:39:04 · answer #6 · answered by jeepy1999 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
One year and twenty pounds. My son outgrew his original car seat, but they do make ones that can be either front or rear facing that will accommodate a bigger baby and still be rear facing.
2007-01-06 15:43:38 · answer #7 · answered by kimmp1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When they are at least 1 year old and 20 pounds
2007-01-07 09:16:51 · answer #8 · answered by kierstensmom102705 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I grew to change into mine at 6 months. My daughter had apnea and may want to have respiration issues that scared me to lack of life. 6 months change into after I kicked the ex out for strong, and that i had to force, i couldnt sit in lower back such as her. yet mine change into born at 10 lbs 9 oz, and change into on the point of 20 lbs by 6 months.
2016-12-01 22:49:25 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rule of thumb is 1 year/20pounds and to keep him/her rear-faced ... However if the feet already touch the seat its time to turn the car seat around...
My son is only 7 months old and he already touches the seat...
2007-01-06 16:20:14 · answer #10 · answered by lilly_mom_pr 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋