If your child is 25+lbs, do you still have them rear facing until they are 33lbs or do you face them forward?

Question

I read today that should keep your child rear facing until he is 33lbs if your car sear permits. I was very excited about letting him enjoy looking forward and when I heard that I was a little disappointed.

The Britax car seats give you an option of rear facing or forward facing up to 33lbs. I was curious what other parents do when they are at the in between weight....

When you child was 25lbs but under 33lbs, how did you have them facing?

Answer 1

Right now the car seat I have is front facing when the child is 22 pounds and 29" tall. My daughter is 29 1/2" tall but only 18 pounds, so I can't put it front facing yet. My doctor also advised to wait until they're a year old... their spinal cords aren't long enough yet if there was ever an accident and their heads whipped forward.
I am really in an awkward phase with my daughter... I can't wait until she can go front facing!!!

Answer 2

In most states, the law is that the child must weigh at least 20 lbs. AND be 12 months old. This is a *minimum*, though-- not a definitive requirement that ALL babies who meet this criteria *must* be forward-facing. Your child is SAFEST in the rear-facing position, regardless of age. Even adults would be safest rear-facing in a 5-pt. harness, but that makes it hard to drive... ;)

Anyway, you can legally turn them around by your state's laws, but they are still safest rear-facing as long as possible. My youngest is almost 3 years old now, but very petite at only 25-26 lbs. and about 34-35 in. tall. She used to be forward-facing since about a year old, but after we had an accident last summer I learned that she would be much safer rear-facing still and I turned her back around. She doesn't mind much, as long as she doesn't get bored. Her siblings make sure she doesn't, though, and if she had stayed rear-facing from the get-go, it probably would never be an issue because it would be the only way she knows to sit in her seat in the car.

I get a lot of flack for it, surprisingly. Why should it be odd that I want my child to be as safe as possible, when we are driving in our vehicle? Car accidents are one of, if the THE top causes of death in children over the age of one, but under the age of 12. I got lucky when I had my accident-- it could have been much worse. And at least my children were in carseats and seat belts, even if not as safe as possible. But I feel like I'm playing the odds now; I went my entire life without being in a single accident, and my first one was minor. I'm thinking, chances are, next time I won't be so lucky. I want my children to have every chance to walk away alive if we are unfortunate to ever have another accident.

I know you're excited about the fun your child will have when he's able to see forward and interact with you during car rides and all, but remember-- every step "up" from rear-facing, to forward-facing, to booster seats, to the vehicle belt is a step *down* in safety for your child.

Answer 3

It's a very exciting event to get to turn your little one around to face foward, I know my son loved it! But most states have laws that reqiure an age and weight requirement. Ohio law states that the child must be a minimum of 22 pounds and one year old. So, you just have to do a little bit of research on your state and hopefully that will let you know when the time is right for your little one to face foward! Hope this helps!!

Answer 4

My son is 17 months and has been forward dealing with considering that 14 months. Jayden is super and if he have been nonetheless rear dealing with, his legs would be twisted way worse than a pretzal. heavily, my newborn is super for his age. besides, he has been doing in basic terms high-quality secure interior the returned seat.

Answer 5

You go by what the law states not by what the instructions on the car seat states. Unless you want to get un needed tickets which will raise your car insurance rates, and if you get enough of them can get your driver's license taken away.

Answer 6

as long as the child is one year old and at least 20 lbs they can sit forward. however if you have a really big baby who is under a year, they still need to face backwards, regardless of their weight.

Answer 7

i always read that it was 20 lbs AND one yrs old, i also havea britax seat and it says 20 lbs as well in my manual, my step mil however her car seats said 33 lbs but she switched it at 20 lbs AND one yr. if ur unsure u can call the locale police or fire deparmentt, they usually offer care seat safety info

Answer 8

My daughter is 2.5 and weighs 30 lbs, I turned her to front facing when she was a year old. I think we both would have gone crazy if I hadn't!