How old does an infant have to be to face the correct way in the car seat?

Question

My infant is getting frustrated facing the back seat she can not move her legs.

Answer 1

The rule is 1 year old AND 20 pounds to face forward. Leaving them rear-facing protects their neck, in case you have an accident.

If your daughter is very uncomfortable, you should look into a convertible car seat, that she can be rear-facing and then forward-facing later on. We got one for my son, and it puts them more upright and that gives them a little more leg room. His had different recline settings for younger babies to toddlers

If she's bored, try hanging stuff on the back of the seat for her to look at ( a mirror or some toys) and keep some stuff up front with you so you can hand it to her.

Answer 2

Facing the rear is far safer than facing forward. Infants are four times more likely to die or have life altering injuries if they're prematurely forward facing (NOT the 1 and 20 pounds people think, but any age or weight before the maximum limits of the CONVERTIBLE seat, as recommended by the AAP since 2001, http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;109/3/550)

There are no documented cases of leg injuries due to rear facing. And children naturally curl up, especially infants. You don't normally see them laying straight no matter where they are. They are naturally more flexible than adults, and they are perfectly comfortable in instances where we would be crying and calling a chiropractor. You don't say how old your infant is, but there are a lot of reasons for frustration. Heat, cold, comfort, hunger, sleepiness, wakefulness, being alone, any number of things.

I would highly recommend you purchase a convertible seat and use it rear facing for years to come. It's very likely that your infant will be happier simply sitting more upright. She doesn't know forward facing at all, she isn't missing anything, she doesn't wish she could see where she was going. She has no realm of comparison, she has no way of knowing that what she is seeing is NOT what you are seeing. She may be able to get glimpses here and there of motion out the back windows and be upset that she can't see more. A rear facing convertible seat will be safe, and allow her to see more.

Check out http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx It's a great article with a lot of answers to the common questions. It also has great videos at the bottom of the page showing rear facing versus forward facing crash tests. Keep in mind that the children are children sized dummies, not infants. They are older and more developed and can take more of a beating. Being able to forward face has nothing to do with neck strength, it has to do with ossification (the hardening) of the bones in the neck (http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=13&topic_id=44503&mesg_id=44503&page). So keep in mind as you watch the videos that an infant still has three bones instead of one around the spinal cord. As the head whips forward in a forward facing crash the disproportionately large head of the infant will pull on that spinal cord inside of those three bones and can end up doing severe, if not fatal, damage. It's called internal decapitation. The child appears asleep, but the spinal column has been severed. Watch the videos. And check out the album of older kids rear facing. You can see that they take care of their legs in comfortable ways (my daughter is Piper, she's in there, and she was just turned permanently forward facing a month ago at four and a half years old. She's 32 pounds now and too close to the 33 pound limit to worry about weighing her every day, what's in her belly, etc.).

If you need more help, please visit us at http://www.car-seat.org

Answer 3

Infant car seats (rear facing) are up to 20 pounds. If their legs are bent in a rear facing seat it is time to put them in a forward facing seat... As soon as my son hit the 20 pound mark my doctor said that he should be in a forward facing car seat...

Answer 4

Well the CORRECT way depends on the age of the child. If she is younger than a year old then she needs to be facing the rear of the car. Once she is a year and at least 20 lbs then you can switch her!

Answer 5

Kids should stay rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!! They should stay rear facing up to the height/weight limit of their seat, but AT LEAST 1 year and 20lbs. (not one or the other, but both). Wendy's answer is right on! Babies/Toddlers are much safer rear facing than forward facing. Legs/feet hitting the back of the seat is not an indicator it's time to turn them around, and shame on whatever pediatrician mentioned who says she has a 9 month old facing front!! There's no documentation saying that rear facing babies legs are in any danger, but there IS documented proof that they are in danger facing forward. They are safest rear facing for as long as their seat will hold them that way. If she's still in her infant carrier, purchase a convertible seat (they do both rear and forward facing. ) They're larger and will give her legs more room, but odds are, she may look uncomfortable to you, but she isn't. Babies like to be all scrunched up. There were that way for 9 months, remember? That's why babies like slings, and being swaddled, and even older babies still like slings and being cuddled. What do most grown people do to get comfy - curl up with a blanket. :) Babies are comfy curled up! Regardless, she's safer. As for frustration, it's not likely that she's frustrated, speaking from personal experience, it's us, the parents, who get frustrated that we can't see our little babies and that's why we want to turn them around. They don't know any other way of sitting so they can't possibly be frustrated with it. And by getting mirrors put up (don't pick suction cup ones, they can fall off), one under your rear view, one back by baby, you can solve both problems. She's be happy to see her own reflection, and you'll be satisfied that you can see her. I personally love the Evenflo Triumph convertible car seat (rear faces to 30lbs, forward to 40lbs. $130) but there are others that rear face longer, like Cosco Scenara (rear to 35lbs, front to 40lbs, $40), and Britax Marathon (rear to 33lbs., front to 65lbs. $240).

P.S. I learned the hard way that there's several reasons why the Britax cost more and are worth it - 1) they rear face for longer 2)they forward face for longer, kids should be kept in 5point harnesses as long as possible 3) they're more comfy for the kids!! Very plush.

Answer 6

At 20 lbs (no matter what their age is) they can face forward in the car seat. My Pediatrician says she has 9 month olds facing forward in their car seats. My 13 months old isn't quite 20 lbs yet so she is still rear-facing.

Answer 7

They must remain rear facing until they are BOTH 12+ mos and 20+ pounds.

Answer 8

A baby must be both one year old (or older) and at least 20 pounds before you can turn them front-facing.

Answer 9

Its better to have him sit in the front because his head is protected if you get into an accident.

Answer 10

they need to be 20pounds and a year old.