Car Seat Age Requirement Question

I was under the impression (I could be totally wrong) that when your child turns ABOUT one, they get switched to a front sitting car seat and they'd be rear facing up to that point.

I was in Babies R Us this past week registering and DH and I were looking at front facing car seats and a man came over and was telling us that his pediatrician told him not to turn his daughter until she is 2!

Is anyone familiar with the age requirements for rear facing/front facing car seats?

I registered for a Chicco infant car seat and a different front facing booster and am trying to decide if I should switch it to a convertible.

Thanks!

Re: Car Seat Age Requirement Question

They recently changed the guidelines and the child must be at least 2 and I believe 30lbs before you can change them to forward facing. So what you do is you get an infant seat and when they outgrow that one you get the convertible one and put it rear facing

Boosters are typically for kids at least 3 and up I believe. My son is 4 and he has been in the Britax Marathon since he was 2

Re: Car Seat Age Requirement Question

A booster is for older kids so you probably want to return that, they won't be in that until around 3 or 4 or so. They are only in an infant seat for the first few months of life, depending on their size. There are very few babies that can still fit in an infant seat at the age of 1. If they can great, but most cannot. When they outgrow the infant seat before the age of 1 then they switch to a convertible seat which must be rear facing until AT LEAST the age of 1 or whatever the weight/height requirement of that seat is for rear facing. *Suggested* requirements have been changed to age 2 or as long as you can keep them rear facing. That is up to you. But again, the 2 seats you'll need are the infant seat and then a convertible seat. I wouldn't even bother registering for a booster because by the time your DC is in one there will be better ones out there.

Re: Car Seat Age Requirement Question

yeah, don't get a booster now. carseats expire after 5 years. you won't need a booster for years. get the infant carrier and bases and convertible carseats. The convertibles can be used both rear facing and forward facing. You will use the infant carrier for probably 6-9 months, then have the convertible rear facing, and eventually you will turn it around. The AAP recommendations are 1 year AND 20 lbs. before turning, but extended rear facing is becoming more common (and is very popular with LIF moms) where kids are rear facing until around 2. Have your car seat bases installed by a pro, like Chris in Nassau Co., and ask him about the recommendations. I think NYS only requires a child to be in a safety seat until 8, with no specific laws for weight/height/type by age.

Re: Car Seat Age Requirement Question

You want to get two kinds of carseats.

1. An infant seat that snaps into a base. This can be used from the time a baby comes home from the hospital until a year (most babies are out of it by 8 months bc it gets too heavy to lift in/out of the car)

2. A convertible carseat. Britax makes some great ones. There are also less expensive brands. These seats are rear-facing AND ALSO front facing. Depending on the seat the child can stay in it front facing anywhere from 40-65 pounds.

You will not need a booster for YEARS!

Either way, the new requirements say that it's safer for a baby to stay rear facing for two years. Hope that helps!

Message edited 11/14/2010 2:36:45 PM.