Is it a weight issue combined with their age (over 1 I think), neck strength, something else?
2007-03-16 03:37:02 · 33 answers · asked by alcoh71 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children rearface to the limits of their convertible seat, which is typically about 30 lbs, regardless of their age.
A lot of people are discussing legs, and saying that it's not safe when the child's legs hit the seat. Consider this:
A frontal crash is the most common type of crash. In a crash like this, the passengers snap forward and then back (we continue moving with the speed of the crash, until impact, and then we fly back). The amount of force is equal to the velocity x weight. So a 22-lb child in a 40mph crash becomes an 880-lb force.
Anyway, the risk here is the baby's legs. In a crash, her whole seat would slide towards the front of the car, taking her legs with it, and then slide back. Theoretically, when she slid back (w/ lots of force, this isn't a gentle slide) they could slam in to the seat back, and cause them to break. I say theoretically, because there have actually been no reported cases of this actually happening.
The alternative would be if the baby was forward facing. If she was, her head/neck/spine would snap forward and then slam in to back of the carseat. In a severe enough crash, this might cause a breakage or internal decapitation. The spinal column is much more sensitive than the legs.
So, how many people have you ever met with a broken neck? And how many with broken legs? Broken legs are more easily repaired than spinal columns.
The absolute bare minimum is 20 lbs AND 1 year. Many states have proper use clauses in their carseat laws, and being that no manufacturer says to turn the baby when the legs hit the back (yes, they all say, minimum 1 yr AND 20 lbs), then it would be improper to turn the baby, and therefore, you could get a ticket.
2007-03-16 06:26:56 · answer #1 · answered by starlight 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
The "old" rules were 20# or 1 yr. But now it is BOTH must be met. And that is only the minimum. The longer your child can rear face the better. Just pay attention to the limits of your seat. Most infant seats go up to 22# now and some convertibles go up to 35#.
The longer the better but the absolute MINIMUM is BOTH 20# AND 1 yr of age.
My now 3 yr old was still rear facing at 2.5, then she hit a growth spurt and exceeded the rear facing weight limit :( I wish she could still be rear facing. But at least my scrawny baby has a chance of being there for a while. He's 20# soaking wet at 14 months :)
2007-03-16 08:45:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Children should rear face until they outgrow a rear facing convertable seat, which is usually a minium of 30lbs. A child is almost NEVER too tall to rear face before they weight too much to rear face if you get the right seat. Both of my boys were rear facing until they were over 3 years old. There have been none....let me say that again.....there have been NO known cases of a child breaking their legs because of rear facing. There have been cases of internal decapitation because of a child being foward facing before their spine was strong enough to handle the force. A child's vertebrae are in 3 seperate pieces at birth and do not fuse until bewteen the ages of 3 and 6! My baby will be rear facing until 33lbs, and if we are in an accident I do not think that he will be the first case ever of a broken leg due to rear facing, but if he is a doctor can fix a broken leg, they do it every day. I have never heard of a doctor that can put the spinal cord back together.
2007-03-16 07:58:43 · answer #3 · answered by Amaris_21 1 · 5⤊ 1⤋
The AAP recommends not turning babies forward facing till they are too big for a convertible seat. That would be 30, 33, or 35 pounds, depending on your seat, or when the head is roughly even with the top of the seat back.
Check out this article on MSNBC, the one year and 20 pound rule is rapidly becoming outdated as crash data shows that kids in rearfacing seats are considerably better protected in crashes. Car crashes are the number one cause of death to kids, and rearfacing is a simple, free solution to keeping them as safe as possible http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868/
2007-03-16 06:47:27 · answer #4 · answered by Joolsplus3 2 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The BARE MINIMUM according to the law is 20lbs and 1 year. Your child (actually all passengers) are much, much safer in a rearfacing seat. All seats rearface to 30-35lbs. Your child should rearface until the limits of the seat (either weight or height).
There is absolutely no evidence that feet touching the seat is bad. Most kids are actually more comfortable with somewhere to put their feet as opposed to letting their feet hang.
My own daughter is 25 months, 35 inches and 28 lbs. She is rearfacing in a Britax Marathon and will remain that way until she reaches 33lbs.
2007-03-16 07:28:50 · answer #5 · answered by Kak22 5 · 5⤊ 1⤋
It is one year old AND twenty pounds, not one or the other.
I went to a child safety seat seminar and they recommend leaving the child rear facing as long as possible even after meeting the age and weight requirements. Studies have shown that children facing forward suffer much more severe injuries during a crash than those who were rear facing, regardless of age.
I plan to keep my five month old rear facing as long as I can.
p.s. This isn't something to be gambled with, a lot of people answering sound like they don't know what they are talking about, it is AGE AND WEIGHT. Don't risk a ticket or worse, your child's life, check with your local police department if you are still unsure.
2007-03-16 03:39:59 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 7⤊ 1⤋
20 lbs AND one year (both, not one or the other!) is the bare minimum requirement for turning a child forward facing! Babies are safest when they are left rear facing until the MAXIMUM weight limits of their car seat! This means until 30 lbs on most seats!
It is perfectly fine if their legs are 'scrunched' when they are in their seat. Children's legs are very flexible...their SPINAL CORDS are not!
And, (God forbid,) a child should break a leg in an automobile accident it is much less serious than a spinal cord injury!
Broken leg....cast it
Broken neck....casket
2007-03-16 08:05:22 · answer #7 · answered by CPSfreak 2 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Your child MUST be 1 year old AND 20 lbs. If your child is a 1 year old and not 20 lbs yet they must wait (like my 4 year old at 16 months and my 17 month old who is 18 lbs.) until they ARE 20 lbs.
If your child reaches 20 lbs. before (like my oldest son did) their first birthday they MUST remain rear facing until their first birthday. It is all a matter of muscle development in the neck and the childs neck not being strong enough to handle a rear impact (accident) until they are one and I guess the weight is a big factor in the equation too.
Please, for the safety of your child don't rush. He/she will be facing you in no time and you will be able to look in your rear view mirror smile and know that you did the best for him/her.
2007-03-16 03:50:42 · answer #8 · answered by puggas 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Most states have a law about forward facing infants so definitely check that out.
They should be over 20lbs and at least 1 yr old.
2007-03-16 04:00:34 · answer #9 · answered by Jen 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your baby needs to be 1 year old and over 20 lbs.
2007-03-16 03:53:10 · answer #10 · answered by Renee B 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋