When to put my baby in front facing car seat?

Question

I am a mother of three but my two oldest are 7 and 8, we now have a 5 month old and I can't remember when they go into a forward facing car seat? I thought it was 1 year or 20lbs but that seems so small, he's already 19 lbs! If anyone knows please let me know, his next appt isn't until March and I don't want to bug the doctor if I can find the info somewhere else! Thank you, HAve a GREAT night!

Answer 1

Actually, it can be dangerous to have a baby that is too tall rear facing. I work in the OR as a surgical tech and work from time to time in the trauma unit and have seen pelvic fractures, leg fractues, etc. on infants that were too tall to be in a rear facing car seat. This can cause severe damage if your child is too tall and his or her legs are scrunched up on the back of the seat. I had this problem with my son and had to turn him aroudn at 8 months because he was so tall. I even went to my local police station to talk to them and they did say that there are circumstances where an infant cannot be rear facing until they are 20 pounds or 12 months. They even checked to make sure i had the front facing seat in properly. I've seen what can happen first hand and would not recommend putting your child rear facing if they are so tall that their legs are scrunched up against the back of the seat.

YOU CAN DO ALL THE SEARCHING FOR INFO ONLINE THAT YOU'D LIKE BUT THE FACT IS THE BEST PLACE TO GET THE "FACTS" IS RIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL. LIKE I SAID I'VE WORKED IN THE TRAUMA UNIT FOR 17 YEARS AND I SEE MORE LEG AND PELVIC FRACTURES THAN HEAD OR NECK. I SEE IT FIRST HAND SO THE INFO ON THE NET IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG.

Answer 2

Another poster already nailed it, it's not just 20lbs, it is 20lbs AND 1 year old. But the recommendation by the academy of pediatrics is to keep them rear facing as long as possible, b/c that's how they are safest. Babies outgrow infant seats (usually the carrier type that can hook to a stroller) between 20-22lbs., check with the instructions on your seat. Don't use the seat when he's past the weight limit. But many convertible seats (seats that go both rear and front facing, some then even turn into booster seats) have rear facing weight limits of at least 30lbs. And then once you do turn the seat front facing, it's safest to keep them in a 5-point harness as long as possible. Most front facing seats' harnesses only go to 40lbs., but there are starting to be more seats on the market whose harnesses go to 65lbs.
My son reached 20lbs. long before his first birthday, he also was past the height limit for his infant seat long before then. We bought an Evenflo Triumph convertible (rear to front) car seat and I've now had it for 2 years (about ready to get a new seat) and LOVE it! The controls to loosen/tighten the belts are knobs that are on the side, a LOT easier to deal with than those darn pulley straps on every other seat. The seat is very roomy, and has 5 different recline options, so baby can recline even when seat is turned to front facing. Lots of padding, and easy hole to thread the belt through, and, you don't ever have to unthread the harness to change the height of the straps, you just flip up a flap and move the harness holder. Easiest to use car seat I ever saw. Walmart $120

Answer 3

It's a year old + (AND the baby has to be at least 20 lbs.) Many people mistakenly believe it's either or, but it's not. The reason you have an infant rear facing until 1 year old is because in most accidents it's the front of the car that is impacted... and baby's head won't snap back and forth in this type of accident because it's cushioned by the car seat.

Infants spinal cords don't stretch as far as the vertebrae in the spine until after a year old... which means that if the baby's head were to whip back and forth it could potentially sever the spinal cord in an accident. It has to do with anatomy and growth and the spinal cord and column (the reason baby's face the rear of the car for 1 year).

Answer 4

1 year AND 20lbs is the bare minimum for forward facing. The recommendation from safety experts and the American Academy of Pediatrics is to rearface (RF) to the limits of the seat which is 30-35lbs on all seats sold in the US. My 3 year old daughter still rides RF and prefers it over FF. I have included several links with great pictures and videos of what happens to children’s necks when they are FF in a crash. Most people are concerned about their child's legs being scrunched or broken in a crash. There is absolutely no evidence that shows a child's legs are in danger and I would much rather deal with a broken leg, than a broken neck.

Answer 5

Rear facing as long as possible. Hip and leg fractures are less of a danger over spinal/head and neck damages. They will outgrow the infant carrier at 20-22lbs. You can purchase an infant/toddler convertible seat (there is a wide range of these on the market). Most will allow you to keep your child rear facing for even longer. A five point harness when forward facing is also best. You can purchase the Britax models that allow you to use these until 80lbs.

Do the research yourself online and with your Drs. REAR FACING IS SAFER. Also remember to have your seat inspected by a certified technician for proper installation.

Answer 6

They suggest you wait until a year so that their necks are more developed. Your best bet is too wait. If he outgrows the infant carry seat you can get a car seat that can face back or front. I have three kids and I waited until they were a year just to be safe, and even then they still seemed so small. Hope this helps

Answer 7

You are supposed to keep a baby in a rear facing car seat until one year of age. The 20lbs it for the infant carrier. Most infant carriers only go up to 20lbs, but they stay rear facing until 1 year of age.

Answer 8

Rear facing is the safest. period. Its one year old AND 20lbs. The best way to go is to have them rear facing as long as possible. Keep them turned around until they reach the maximum height and weight limit for their car seat to be in that position. Don't risk your child's safety over some stupid reason.

To the previous post about broken legs- Would you rather your child suffer spinal damage or a broken leg?? Think about it.

Answer 9

I was told 1 year and at least 20lbs. I talked to my Dr about it as well...she said also add in there when they have good head control. I turned my son around at 12 months.

Answer 10

Actually, the poster that stated they work in the OR is correct. I have rotation in the trauma unit at least 5 or 6 times per month and I have seen a few serious injuries to the pelvis, legs, and lower extremities due to infants being in rear-facing car seats when they should be forward facing due to the fact that they are too tall. There are exceptions to every rule. 1 year and 20 pounds is the recommendation but there are exceptions. Just as airbags can be beneficial as well hazardous depending on the situation, so can rear-facing and forward facing car seats. People that are short and have to sit close to the steering wheel could adhere to irreputable injuries, as it may save someone elses life. There are exceptions to every rule.