I know that in the state that I live in it is 20 pounds and one year old, but I was wondering when you decided it was time.
2007-04-16 13:52:18 · 15 answers · asked by Rosey55 D 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
As soon as the baby weighed 20 pounds!
2007-04-16 13:59:23 · answer #1 · answered by Miss M ♥ 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Like the others say, i believe it is based on weight. Same reason they cant be in the passenger seat of the car until a certain height. For that i can explain at least.
The passenger seat has sensors for weight telling the passenger side airbag to go off. If the child is below a certain height, but meets the weight requirment, than the airbag will deploy in an accident and not do its job to protect the passenger. The child being too low will cause serious injury.
I assume the reason why the seats are faced forward or back is similar. The possibly chance of braking abruptly may injure a very young childs neck. Therefore once, it is big enough it can hold its head securely it no longer needs the added protection of having the seat backwards.
The first part of my answer is what i know from attending a auto tech college. The second part is really just educated guess.
Hope it helps tho.
2007-04-16 14:06:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Ignorant of what I now know, I turned my son (now 2) forward facing shortly after his first birthday, b/c he passed 20lbs a few months before that. Upon researching, I've learned that the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as Child Passenger Safety Technicians across the country recommend you rear face you child for as long as possible! Which means keeping them rear facing until they reach the maximum height/weight allowed by the seat. Remember that most seats require shoulder straps to be at or below the infants shoulders for rear facing (it's the opposite for front facing, at or above). Newer seats are going to front face for at least 30lbs. some for 33lbs, 35lbs. So, when I have another one, he/she will be rear facing until they're too big to do so! People are afraid the feet touching the back seat is dangerous, and it's not. They're much safer that way.
2007-04-17 19:23:58 · answer #3 · answered by littleangelfire81 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not just the weight. The age is also important. Before 1 years of age, the head is too big in comparison to the neck. In a forward-facing seat, the baby's head will be jerked forward in a collision. The trauma will mimic "Shaken Baby Syndrom," only worse.
The child needs to be at least 1 years old AND at least 20 pounds. Most doctors reccommend that they stay rear-facing for as long as possible. It's just safer.
2007-04-16 15:09:55 · answer #4 · answered by stormsinger1 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
At one year old. I was told that it was 20 lbs. AND one year. Meaning that just because a child is 10 months old and weighs 20 lbs., they still should be rear facing.
I just bought one of those convertable seats, that could be used rear facing or front facing.
2007-04-16 14:12:04 · answer #5 · answered by LittleMermaid 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
My son was 20 lbs before he turned 1, so he got to face forward on his first birthday (my state is also 20lbs AND 1 year), until then he was perfectly happy and comfortable being in a rear facing convertible seat.
2007-04-16 14:07:51 · answer #6 · answered by Heather Y 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
For my first child I turned it forward as soon as he was 20 lbs. For my second I turned it forward when she was 1 1/2 because she was not twenty lbs yet. I think it really depends on the weight more than age due to how the harness will work.
2007-04-16 13:59:07 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I did it right around a year with all four of my children, it's okay to leave it rear facing longer if you want to especially if your child sleeps alot in the car becasue the seat can recline more in this position, but I did it around a year with all of my children...
2007-04-16 14:40:42 · answer #8 · answered by B-E-B 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We just ask my grandson's pediatrician this question recently and she said the child needs to be at least one year old and at least 20 lbs before moving to a front-facing carseat. If a child is one year old but not yet 20 lbs, they should stay in the rear-facing seat, and if the child is 20 lbs but not yet a year old they should stay in a rear-facing seat. : )
2007-04-16 14:23:46 · answer #9 · answered by Therese W 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't have kids yet, but they are going to face rear for as long as possible. Right now, that is 35 pounds in the US. Hopefully by that time, there will be more seats that rearface to even higher weights.
2007-04-16 15:09:49 · answer #10 · answered by Heather S 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋