2007-08-12 20:12:33 · 14 answers · asked by mistista07 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
they say when they are 1 years old.
2007-08-12 20:17:30 · answer #1 · answered by Tiara 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Please please do not listen to people telling you to turn your child forward facing 'at your judgement' or when her legs touch the seat. In truth, most children LIKE resting their feet on the back of the seat in front of them. Check out this photo album exclusively of rear facing kids, many of them much older than 12 months: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/rfalbum...
It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (see sources) that ALL babies stay rear facing as long as possible, up to the weight/height limits of their seat. Most seats go to 30lbs rear facing, some go higher, check your manual. They are too tall for an infant carrier when the head is within an inch of the top of the shell. Too tall for most convertible seats when their ears reach the top of the seat. Has nothing to do with how long their legs are! There isn't a single documented case of a child breaking their legs b/c they were rear facing in an accident. There are, however, lots of cases where children have been killed and seriously injured where a rear facing seat would have protected them better. As put by one CPST (child passenger safety technician)
"A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone."
They are safest rear facing b/c their bones have not yet completed the ossification process that bonds/hardens them like adults. They need the bracing support that a rear facing seat offers to withstand a crash. 20lbs AND 1 year is the bare minimum as far as the law is concerned, but the law is the bare minimum of safety, and who wants to do the bare minimum for their child?
In truth, though many parents see each progressive stage of car seats (from carrier to rear facing convertible, rear facing convertible to front facing convertible, front facing convertible to booster, booster to seat belt) as a graduation, it should not be a celebratory, anticipated event. Each time a child progresses to the next stage of car seats, the amount of protection they get is LESS. So don't rush it. Keep them in each stage as long as the best seat you can get allows.
2007-08-16 09:19:24 · answer #2 · answered by littleangelfire81 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most places it is a year old, but if your baby will still fit in the seat rear facing, it is safer even over a year as long as the baby can fit correctly. However my friend turned her son around at 9 months, she says the doctor told it would be okay, but if at all possible keep the seat rear facing for as long as possible.
2007-08-12 20:29:51 · answer #3 · answered by cs_1498 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By law, 1 year AND 20 pounds. It really is safest to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. My son was almost 2 before he hit the limits on his convertible car seat, and had to go front-facing.
2007-08-12 21:35:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe our pediatrician said a baby should be 1 year old and at least 20 pounds. She said before that age / weight neck muscles were not developed enough to withstand a significant jerk with a sudden stop or accident.
2007-08-13 14:25:25 · answer #5 · answered by Homey 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here's a page about the ages for each level for car seat safety for kids.
2007-08-12 20:20:52 · answer #6 · answered by asphatasawhale 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
it depends on where you are. some places go by age, some by weight. a good rule of thumb is 1 yr AND at least 20 lbs.
that being said however, it is safer for them to remain rear facing as long as possible. it will not hurt them to have their legs folded up in their lap or bent and off to the side.
it sbeen proven to be safer for adults and children to ride rear facing.
2007-08-12 22:59:48 · answer #7 · answered by jennifer 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your car seat will have weight/height instructions for that. Also, they have general suggestions based on height/weight/the law in your state.
2007-08-12 20:32:34 · answer #8 · answered by I_wanna_know_it_all 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The rule is 1 year AND 20 pounds. No "or" has to be both.
2007-08-12 21:34:18 · answer #9 · answered by Dani 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
1 year AND 20 lbs is the minimum required by law
2007-08-12 20:23:42 · answer #10 · answered by momof3boys 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
one year AND 20 pounds, the longer you can keep them rear facing the better!!! It is much safer for their necks
2007-08-12 20:18:13 · answer #11 · answered by KrIs 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋