turning carseat around

iffer042373 Posted: May 17, 2005 12:39 PM

turning carseat around

does anyone know w hen you can change the car seat from rear facing to front facing? I thought it was at 20 lbs or a year old which ever came first?

My daughter is 8 months old 20lbs 4 ounces and 29.7 inches long. her legs are starting to have no room to move her legs around with the seat rear facing.

jillybean66 Posted: May 17, 2005 12:51 PM

Re: turning carseat around

Nick is 8 months old and I just turned it around...he could not sit without his legs bending in the rear-facing position. I am not sure what the actual law says though...all I know is that it cannot be safe to sit that way! Now he is much more comfortable!

iffer042373 Posted: May 17, 2005 01:02 PM

Re: turning carseat around

Thats what I thought as well I am going to turn it around I know it use to be either 20 pounds or a year old whicch ever came first. Marissa's legs are bending as well I am going to turn it around

thanks

sha11209 Posted: May 17, 2005 02:09 PM

Re: turning carseat around

I just bought my big car seat and the guy at baiesrus said you are not supossed to turn it until 1 year b/c their neck muscles are not developed enough if their were an accident. He said they could be very hurt b/c their heads can still snap forward if there were a crash. By age 1 their necks are more fully developed.

chmlengr Posted: May 17, 2005 02:15 PM

Re: turning carseat around

The Law is 1 year old and 20 lbs. My son was also big and the right weight, but we waited. Cramped legs for a little bit would be pale in comparison to an accident where he got hurt. IMO, I would not turn it around until 1 year old.

flyin'bride Posted: May 17, 2005 02:47 PM

Re: turning carseat around

I'm so glad you posted this! I was telling my husband last night that we need to turn the carseat around this weekend. He'll be 8 months next week, he's 20+ lbs., and he's 29' long. He has been kicking/pushing on the back seat for the past couple of weeks.

My sister has two small children who hit the height/weight requirements early too. She turned the seat around at 8 months for one and 9 months for the other. (She said they both enjoyed the ride much much more too.)

Calla Posted: May 17, 2005 03:01 PM

Re: turning carseat around

Officially the rule is 20 pounds AND 1 year, not either or. I'd check with your pediatrician if you wanted to switch sooner -- he/she would know whether or not your child has the necessary muscle development...

Melissa Posted: May 17, 2005 04:05 PM

Re: turning carseat around

My son was well over the 20lb. mark just after he was 6 months old, but my doctor said not to turn the carseat around until he's a year. I ended up turning it around when he was 11 months old. He's long too, so his legs were bent a little bit, but if it's safer for him....

flyin'bride Posted: May 17, 2005 04:09 PM

Re: turning carseat around

Posted by Calla

Officially the rule is 20 pounds AND 1 year, not either or.

Actually, these are guidelines set up by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The laws (for NY and VA, where I live) state that a child be placed in an 'appropriate child restraint system'. This means a child restraint system where the child meets the size and weight recommendations of the manufacturer of the system. For example, the carseat that I have states that you may place a child in the forward-facing position if they are between 20-48 lbs. and between 29-47 inches tall.

I agree that parents have to make the best decision based on their child's needs and level of physical development. I don't think any parent on this board would put their child in an unsafe situation.

iffer042373 Posted: May 17, 2005 10:20 PM

Re: turning carseat around

THank you all for your post I am thinking I will wait before I will turn the seat around now. I always thought the law was either 20 lbs or a year old which ever came first. I know the laws have changed a bit since now you have to have kids in a booster sit until an older age now. She has a check up in a week I will ask the doctor what he thinks

Kate Posted: May 17, 2005 10:49 PM

Re: turning carseat around

Aidan is over 20 lbs and over 30' at 11 1/2 months. (Our 1 year appt is in 2 weeks.) He has been cramped for quite some time now, but we are not turning his seat around until his 1 yr birthday, maybe longer.

I have even heard some Ped's are now saying that if you can, 18 months is an even better age, developmentally, to wait until. I don't think we will wait quite that long though.

Elizabeth Posted: May 18, 2005 12:37 AM

Re: turning carseat around

Posted by flyin'bride

I agree that parents have to make the best decision based on their child's needs and level of physical development. I don't think any parent on this board would put their child in an unsafe situation.

I would never say that any mother here would knowingly put their child in an unsafe situation but with all due respect, how is a parent the best judge of if their childs level of physical development is capable of handling the impact of a crash? NHTSA has these guidelines for good reason. I am curious if there are any pediatricians who would tell anyone to go ahead and turn their 8 month old around. Again, Im not saying anyone would not care about the safety of their child but hopefully everyone understands why it is recommended to keep your child rear facing till 1 year and 20 lbs - or longer.

flyin'bride Posted: May 18, 2005 08:37 AM

Re: turning carseat around

Posted by Elizabeth

I would never say that any mother here would knowingly put their child in an unsafe situation but with all due respect, how is a parent the best judge of if their childs level of physical development is capable of handling the impact of a crash?

The point I was trying to get across was that I'm sure that parents will do the proper research/consultation necessary to determine the best situation for their child.

jpsgirl Posted: May 18, 2005 10:56 AM

Re: turning carseat around

I didn't read the post, but it is 1 year AND twenty pounds or over, not either or.

cresthollowbride Posted: May 19, 2005 11:43 AM

Re: turning carseat around

i dont know if this helps but i just looked in my graco instruction manual and it says 'this carseat is cerified for use rear facing with children up to 30 pounds, HOWEVER, some children approaching 30 pounds may be too tall to fit comfortably rear facing. when child can no longer comfortably fit and knees remain bent, child should use car seat foward facing only is child is over 20 pounds and can sit up right unasisted'. hope this helps.