what are the rules about car seats? My son is almost 10 months old and it seems like he is too big for his rear facing car seat. I was just wondering if anyone knew the age or weight for a baby to switch to a foward facing one?
2007-02-21 06:24:22 · 15 answers · asked by a_bai04 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
i asked if anyone knew the age and weight for a baby to be faced foward in a car seat, not why.....I already know why and i don't need you to tell me! LINLYONS, i love my son very much and it was wrong of you to make a statement like you did. I wasn't saying that I am putting my son in a foward facing car seat the next time I put him in the car, i simply asked if anyone knew the age and weight to be able to do so. Why are you ppl ao mean?!
2007-02-21 08:18:28 · update #1
The absolute minimum for forward facing is 1 year AND 20 lbs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing to the limits of the seat. Most convertibles on the market today can rear face until 30, 33, or 35 lbs. My 3 year old 31 lbs daughter can still rear face in her Britax Marathon until 33 lbs.
Rear facing is much safer than forward facing for your child's developing bones and spine.
This website has links at the bottom to crash test videos of a rear facing child vs. a forward facing child.
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx
Now, which do you think is safest?
This video has great information on rear facing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAr5xgkscDc
2007-02-21 07:26:59 · answer #1 · answered by CPS Fanatic 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
While you could legally turn him forward facing at 12 months and 20 lbs, it's not actually safe for him to do so at that time.
The minimum for safety is 2 years old AND 30+ lbs. Before that you risk internal decapitation - which is a fancy way of saying your child's skull can separate from his spinal column. Not a good thing.
The next seat for your son will be a rear facing convertible. Look for one with a weight limit of AT LEAST 33 + pounds. Keep him rear facing until he EITHER reaches the weight limit or has less than one inch of hard plastic above his head.
There is a common "urban myth" that states that a child should be tunred FF when his legs touch the seat back/get too long/look uncomfortable (ect) to avoid injury to his hips or legs. This is not a valid concern at all as this has never happened. Children in Swedan rear face to 4-6 years old, and they have a significantly lower death rate in severe crashes than we do in the US.
2007-02-23 10:56:01 · answer #2 · answered by babs19772000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The very bare minimum to legally move a child to a forward facing seat is 20 lbs *AND* 1 year of age.
The recommendation is to use a rear-facing convertible seat until the child reaches the weight limit for it (generally 30, 33, or 35 lbs) or the child is too tall (shoulders above top slot, or head within 1 inch of the hard shell of the seat).
ALL passengers would be much safer if they were seated rear-facing in a vehicle.
2007-02-21 06:52:58 · answer #3 · answered by L A 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
My pediatrician told me that my child must be BOTH at least one year old and at least 20 pounds. However, there is no need to switch to forward-facing at that point in time. In fact, in countries like Denmark, children often remain rear-facing until they are four years old. And guess what? They have the lowest child mortality rates for automobile accidents. Rear-facing is the safest position, and I would recommend leaving him that way for as long as he seems happy and comfortable.
You should definitely check your carseat's manual, though, to find out the weight limit on your particular car seat. Most rear-facing infant car seats only go up to 20-22 pounds. You would need a convertible carseat (that can also be used front-facing) to use if your child is over the weight limit for a rear-facing infant car seat. Both of my kids outgrew the infant car seat by six months because of the weight limit! I love my Britax Roundabout, if you are looking for a convertible car seat -- highly recommended!
2007-02-21 07:52:29 · answer #4 · answered by calliope_13731 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Do you know why babies need to be rear facing? Its because their heads are giant in proportion to their necks. Also, the spinal cord does not stretch nearly as far as the spinal column. This can lead to whiplash in even a fast stop. Rear face as long as the child fits in the harness and is under the approved weight. (most convertible seats go up to 30 pounds.) their legs can cross if they are too long. Boken legs have NEVER been reported in older rear-facing kids, but pleanty of neck injuries in infants turned too soon have been. A broken leg is way easier to heal than a broken neck any day!
2007-02-21 06:48:30 · answer #5 · answered by Terrible Threes 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you know that rear facing is better... and others have pointed out that the AAP now recommends keeping children rear facing until they reach the rear facing limit on their seats.
Even if his legs are touching the seat back he is still comfortable and VERY SAFE. Check out this gallery of rear facing kiddos http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFalbum.aspx. Contrary to undocumented myths, rear facing kids with their legs folded up on the seat back are not at grave risk for broken legs or pelvic bones and even if they were - the risk of broken legs is greatly outweighed by the risk for head and neck injuries and even death.
With all that said - when looking for a new convertible seat look for a high rear facing weight limit - at least 33 pounds and a seat that can accommodate the height of a bigger kid while rear facing as well as a high weight limit and high harness slots for forward facing so the seat will not be outgrown too quickly.
We selected the Marathon for a number of reasons:
*the high rear facing limit (AAP now recommends keeping kids rear facing until they reach the max of the seat - we have our 28 pound 2 year old rear facing comfortably in the Marathon)
*rear facing tether (one of only a couple of seats on the market that can tether rear facing)
*Britax's stellar reputation and their dedication to improvement and safety (they continue to test and improve on seats even offering free exchange programs for seats involved in an accident so they can study how their product reacts in real life accidents)
*high forward facing weight limit (65 lbs) and high harness slots (my 45 pound 4 year old can still ride comfortably in the Marathon)
*ease of use - the straps are not very twisty, easy to adjust harness for a tight fit every ride, easy to move straps up when needed, easy install, clear directions/manual
*and in all honesty... because the Marathon has cute covers :)
Britax seats are pricey but you can find deals online w/ free shipping - much cheaper than prices you pay in stores like Babies R Us.
2007-02-21 19:34:52 · answer #6 · answered by amom 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most states have it that a child has to be 1year AND 20 lbs to be forward facing. That is the minimum though. The longer you can keep your child rear-facing the better. If you have an infant carrier you may want to look into purchasing a convertible carseat. That would give your son more room, and still keep him rear facing.
2007-02-21 06:29:07 · answer #7 · answered by jennifer_elaine83 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Ten months is MUCH too young to face forward. One year and 20lbs is the bare minimum for forward facing. Rearfacing longer is MUCH better. It sounds like he is growing out of his infant car seat. You need a convertible seat that goes rearfacing and forward facing. Some to consider are the Cosco Scenera, Safety 1st Uptown, Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe, Britax Marathon or Boulevard, Sunshine Kids Radian 65.
2007-02-21 06:33:52 · answer #8 · answered by Jacky L 2 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Get the larger seat, but be sure to position it rear facing. You can do that until they are 1 year old and 20 lbs.
2007-02-21 07:10:35 · answer #9 · answered by volleyballchick (cowards block) 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its a reliable theory to save him rear-dealing with see you later as conceivable, for the safe practices motives. if you're in a crash he will be pressed decrease back interior the seat it really is safer than being flung ahead adverse to the straps. So it truly relies upon on even if he remains content textile to be rear-dealing with, or if he receives very bored and fretful and also you imagine he will be happier if he ought to make sure out the window. My LO stayed in his rear-dealing with seat until eventually he became 13months, and ought to really have stayed there yet another month likely, cos he's a skinny minny. yet his legs were getting truly squashed up and he became dropping interest.
2016-12-04 11:28:54 · answer #10 · answered by binford 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋