My daughters 23 pounds at 8 months old. Is it ok for her to be in a forward facing car seat?

Question

I read 20 pounds is acceptable to put your child into one. But, my daughter weighed 20 lbs at 6 1/2 months and then I read that you should just wait until they're a year old. My daughter hates not facing us but im confused . any help appreciated. thanks

Answer 1

No it's not safe until after a year old. It's not just weight it's also by height as well. Once she's past the 20lbs and the height ( I forget what it is, I think 28") AND is one year old then you can turn her around. Her being able to see you is not near as important as what position is safest for her in a vehicle. Our son outgrew his infant seat by 6 months by weight and height so we bought a convertible one that would last rear facing that last 6 months and could be turned around once he met the age requirement too.

Answer 2

No! It is not safe to turn her around yet. Your daughter may have some issue bothering her in the car, but it is not likely that she isn't facing you. This is something we as parents have issue with. Babies don't know that there's any other way to sit, how can they possibly be irritated with sitting backwards when they don't know they can sit forwards? You can't want for something you don't know exists.

In the age of the internet its amazing so much misinformation exists! 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.aspx 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. 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?

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. So turning your child forward facing before absolutely necessary is quite literally risking her life. Please keep that baby rear facing! By all means make sure she is in a convertible car seat rear facing, she's certainly too big for the infant carrier (unless its a Graco SafeSeat1, they go to 30lbs) but can be rear facing in a convertible car seat. Make sure you get a convertible car seat that will keep her rear facing for a while - look for it to say it rear faces 30+lbs (33lbs or 35lbs) and then you want it to be able to be a forward facing car seat that will keep her harnessed a long time - don't get one that will only keep her in it till 40lbs, at her current size she'll need one that goes to 65lbs or more. See my other answers for good convertible car seats.

Answer 3

It usually reads 20 pounds and/or a certain age. Sometimes the baby's neck muscles are not strong enough to support themselves in a forward facing seat if there were an accident. You can always talk to her pediatrician to get their advice.

Answer 4

It depends on your state. I would call your local police department and ask them.
However, I have heard that up to 5 years that the child needs to be in a car seat and face backwards in the back seat.
Not pos. on the age (guessing 5) but def. backwards in the backseat. I would never let any of my kids sit in the front seat until they are at least 8. Just safer.

Answer 5

No it is not safe yet.
Just because she might weigh enough, doesn't mean her body is developed enough to support an impact while she is forward facing.
My son is 25 lbs and 11 months, so we considered this also, but after research, we've found that it is much safer for them to face backwards. In fact, you can keep your baby facing backwards for as long as they fit (their legs aren't uncomfortably bent.)
I know they don't like looking backwards, but she is only 8 months old... she won't remember this for her whole life or anything... make the safe choice.

Answer 6

Well "they" say you should wait until she is a year. I am sure that you figured out that when all three of you are in the car one can sit in the back with her.

Answer 7

No. The nlaw is 1 year AND 20 lbs...not or.

Answer 8

NO!!! Not until 1 year old.

Answer 9

Your suppose to wait until at least a year I think because of their underdeveloped muscles in their neck. I don't really know though. I think that's what I heard.

Answer 10

She needs to be 12 months and 20lbs.