my son is a little over 4 months old and he weighs 19 pounds but he is really long, in his infant seat his feet touch the seat of the car so we bought a convertible seat and it is backwards facing and hes fine in it but he would be more comfortable if if was forward facing, he is fine sitting straight up and has very good head control, is it ok to go ahead and turn the carseat to face forward?
2007-10-18 06:46:29 · 20 answers · asked by Arie 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
NO, it's not OK. He needs to be 20 pounds AND 1 year old. Not one or the other. My daughter was 19 pounds at her 1 year checkup, so she had to wait a couple more months to be switched even though she was very long. I know it is tempting for the comfort of the baby and because you are dying to be able to see him while you are driving. But, please don't do it until it is safe. He is not as uncomfortable as he might look. Babies are so flexible and don't mind having their legs bent up at all.
2007-10-18 06:56:02 · answer #1 · answered by CLICK 2 $AVE! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do not turn this car seat around yet. Your baby is not ready to be facing forward. Please go to this website to get more information www.kyledavidmiller.com. As far as your baby being tall, buy a convertible car car seat. These seats can be rear or forward facing. One seat that might work well for you is called the Sunshine Kids Radian 80. This seat is made out of steel and can hold your baby in a five point harness from 5 pounds to 80 pounds. Keeping your baby in the rear facing position as long as possible is very important. They recommend that you keep your child in a rear facing position as long as possible. In Swedin they keep there children rear facing position for 3 or 4 years old.
2007-10-18 11:05:43 · answer #2 · answered by Rosey55 D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I went through this with my daughter. Her doctor would not allow it until she was almost a year old. It has to do with the strength that comes with being a yr old. My little girl walked unaided by anything at 8 months and we still had to wait.
If you do put him front facing and something happens you will not only feel horrible guilt but could face legal charges.
My son was shorter but hated being in the rear facing position, for some reason they have to lie down in that position and about a week before his birthday we turned his seat around and he clapped when we let him get in like a big boy. He is now three and doesn't want to be a baby seat at all any more. He want to sit like a big boy and when I tell him that his cousins (5 &6) sit in seats like his (even showed him) he says their babies and I a big boy.
Bottom line is better safe than sorry.
Sorry!
2007-10-18 07:44:34 · answer #3 · answered by New England Babe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lindsay is half right. You have to wait until he is 1 year old, but 20 pounds. With the infant seat I think the limit is 20 pounds but also 23 inches long(tall). Your best bet would be to call the state police station (non emergency number) and ask them. I know here in Virginia, they just recently changed the law to a child has to be in a booster seat until 80 pounds or 8 years old. You may also be able to find out at the closest fire station. Most of them do the free safety checks to make sure the seats are properly restrained, so they'll probably be able to tell you what your state requires.
2007-10-18 06:53:38 · answer #4 · answered by kiddo235 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. He can probably sit up but he doesn't have full con troll of his neck and head. Remember his head is almost half of his weight. A quick brake if someone cuts you off can hurt him. A baby has to be 20 pounds AND a year old before moving to the front-facing seat. My daughter was really small and I had to wait until she was about 15 months before I could move her. It's okay if his feet touch the back of the seat and I'm sure he's comfortable facing back. Check with your doctor to confirm this answer. It's not worth the risk.
2007-10-18 06:51:42 · answer #5 · answered by Precious 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
NO! It's against the law. Plus, even though he has neck control, that's not the issue. The issue is the space between vertebrae and the connection between the head and neck. Studies have been done comparing babies who died in crashes and those who did not. Those who were forward facing were decapitated, and if not fully decapitated, their spine separated from their brain. Either way, instant death. This space doesn't close until around a year old. Sometimes even two years, so the longer rear facing the better. They even recommend waiting until your child outgrows the rear facing limit--usually 35 lbs before turning them around. They're always safer rear facing--even adults would be. Keep him in a 5 pt harness, rear facing as long as possible, and then in a 5 pt harness forward facing as long as possible. I'd recommend the Britax Regent which will hold him forward facing in a 5 pt harness until he's 80 lbs.
2007-10-18 07:06:25 · answer #6 · answered by Sit'nTeach'nNanny 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No! The baby must be 1 year old before his bones and neck muscles are strong enough to withstand a forward-facing collision. Laws may vary slightly from area to area but generally are 22 lbs or 1 year, whichever is LATER.
Don't worry, his feet touching the seat isn't going to be so uncomfortable for him and his safety is the most important anyways!
Good Luck!
2007-10-18 06:54:21 · answer #7 · answered by ChefMel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The recommendation from safety experts and the American Academy of Pediatrics is to rearface (RF) to the limits of the seat which is 30-35lbs on all seats sold in the US. My own daughter is 2 1/2 years - 28lbs - 36in tall and still RF in her Britax Marathons. She will RF until she reaches 33lbs. She is much safer this way.
I have included several links with great pictures and videos of what happens to childrens necks when they are FF in a crash.
Most people are concerned about their child's legs being scrunched or broken in a crash. There is absolutely no evidence that shows a child's legs are in danger and I would much rather deal with a broken leg, than a broken neck.
2007-10-19 02:18:31 · answer #8 · answered by Kak22 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO IT IS NOT SAFE TO TURN YOU BABY FORWARD FACING. They must be 1 yr old AND 20 twenty lbs. The longer you can keep him facing backwards the better! It is best to leave them backwards until the recommended seat weight usually around 35lbs. He will be just fine with his legs touching and he will be safe
2007-10-18 07:27:16 · answer #9 · answered by Melissa W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should keep you baby facing backwards as long as possible, there little spines could not handle the impact of a car accident if he was facing forward, they say the limit is one year, however they suggest you keep him backwards until he is two years old. Basically if you get in a car accident your son could end up a paraplegic (Thats exactly what my doctor said) I know you think he would be more comfortable but his future is more important.
2007-10-18 06:52:20 · answer #10 · answered by DJ_<3_JI 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋