Should you keep baby rear-facing in car seat past one year old?

Question

The manual emphasizes that you must keep baby rear-facing at least until 20 lbs. and one year old. Is it safer to keep her rear-facing even longer? Mine just turned both milestones and she would prefer the view facing forward, but it just seems she is safer backward for a while yet. Does anyone have more specific information on this?

Answer 1

It is much safer to stay rear facing as long as possible. We have two convertible car seats and the weight limit for rear facing is 35 pounds.
I did just have to turn my 23 month-old because the straps were sliding off his shoulders. Rear-facing the straps must be at or below shoulder height, but not too far below or they won't stay in the right position.

Rear facing is much safer, because even though a toddler may have good head control, they still have big heads. This, coupled with a very stretchy spinal column and a not too stretchy spinal cord can cause neck injuries very easily.

Legs touching the seat is no big deal. A child generally prefers to sit cross-legged than to have their legs dangling anyway.

There has NEVER BEEN A REPORT OF INJURY TO THE LEGS OR HIPS BECAUSE OF REAR-FACING PAST 12 MONTHS!!!! But, even if there were such a report, a leg injury heals much faster and is much less life-threatening than a neck injury!

For my son, turning him didn't really affect his hatred of the car in general ;-( But his torso length was such that the straps of his Comfort Sport or his Touriva didn't fit. I wish we could've afforded a Britax for each car, they have better positioned strap levels to accommodate taller toddlers..

Answer 2

My son is on the shorter side, only about 31 or 32 inches tall, even though he is 15 months and 25 pounds. My plan right now is to keep him rear facing until he reaches the limits of the seat, until he asks to be turned around, or until it just isn't practical for some unforseen reason. I have had him turned forward when he was ill with roseola. He had a really high fever and it helped to have him turned forward so that the fans in the car could help him stay cooler while we were driving. After his fever dropped we turned him back around. With the weather being so hot right now I've thought of turning him around so that he can benefit from the cool air, but we haven't, and probably won't. Right now we have days where he struggles when we try to put him in his seat, he rolls over, and looks over the top of his seat, but I know it isn't from his seat being rear facing. He would do it if it were forward facing because he wants to be in the front with us. Most likely we'll wait until he reaches the maximum limit for rear facing. His legs are just now touching the seat, but that isn't a problem. He pulls his legs up any way instead of letting them hang, so for us that's a silly reason.

Answer 3

They are designed to protect a child that is under 20 lbs or up to a certain height. The way that the seat cradles the back and neck area is important. Once your child has out grown that height, the seat is no longer properly designed for her body. Get a Convertible Car Seat that has the 5 point harness system and uses the latch system, if your car supports it. It will be much safer and much more comfortable for your daughter.
Take Care.

Answer 4

My kid just hit 1 year and she didn't weigh 20 lbs yet. She is very long though and was very squished in the rear-facing car seat so my doctor said switch her.

If you can keep them facing backwards longer, it is supposed to be safer - protects their spine and head in cases of a head-on collision.

I have heard of people keeping their children facing rear for up to 18 months.

Answer 5

I was told that it wasn't only 20 lbs and one year old but head control. If she is at the weight rating for the car seat than you will have to think about turning her around. If she is stillunder the weight rating for rear facing then you may get another month or do backwards.

Answer 6

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.
Once your child is at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds, he can ride forward-facing. However, it is best for him to ride rear-facing until he reaches the highest weight or height limit allowed by the car safety seat. There are many types of seats that can be used forward-facing including convertible seats, built in seats, combination forward-facing/booster seats, and travel vests.

Answer 7

I heard on the news a few days ago that even some of the rear facing seats are not safe for them. If you get side impacted the seat flys right off the base. It is a personal choice, maybe just do a little homework and see what is better.

Answer 8

My pediatrician's nurse, that is someone who is certified to check if carseats are properly installed, said that rear-facing is the safest way to be facing in a crash. She said the rear-facing people are less likely to have neck injuries. So if your baby is still under the max weight and the max height for your carseat then I'd stay rear-facing as long as possible. That's what we did for our first kid.

Answer 9

Studies have shown that the safest position in a car for anyone of any age is facing back. If she's comfortable, and doesn't have her legs all squished up, you can leave her that way if you want.

Answer 10

As long as she isn't too big (feet touching the back of the seat) there's nothing wrong with it. Obviously it's safer or they wouldn't recommend it for infants.

Personally, I'd just put her forward-facing.