Convertible Carseat Question

I'll probably doublecheck with our pediatrician tomorrow, but can't you turn your child's convertible carseat to frontfacing once your baby is at least 20 lbs. and 1 year old?

We just did it this weekend--I wanted to keep it rear longer despite the fact that he is over 20 lbs and is 15 months old, but DSs legs were way up on the backseat, and he was getting pretty cranky in the car, so we thought he was uncomfortable and flipped it. Then I read in Parents magazine that night that you don't do this until your child is almost 2 years or surpasses the weight limit on the rear facing carseat--which in his case would be 35 pounds.

So, what's the deal? Did I miss something and did this standard change? Or did the person writing that article not know what they were talking about? Thanks!

Re: Convertible Carseat Question

The longer a child stays rear facing, the safer it is for the child. As far as I know the 20lb, 1 year was the minimum recommendation.

Our DCs are only one day apart. Mine is @ 22lbs & 31 inches. I haven't turned the seat.

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Thanks! He's 34 inches and 22 pounds also so not very different. Maybe it's our car also, since his legs were getting scrunched against the backseat, or they were propped up pretty high.

He LOVES being forward, but I'm trying to decide if we should turn it back--the forward facing makes me kind of nervous. He may just need to be squished a bit longer.

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The old rule was 1 year AND 20 pounds. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their reccomendation to say a child should remain rear facing as long as possible.

I would say the average child can emain rear facing anything from 15 months to 18 months and stay within the weight of most rear facing car seats, Smone can get to be the age of 2.

The reason for rear facing is that it minimizes the chance of spinal or neck injury. The forces of a crash are less violent on a rear facing child.

The fact that a childs feet touch the back of the automobile seat is not a reason to turn the child around. Not to minimize potential injury, but it is easier to treat a broken leg then spinal or neck injury.

So the long and short of it is, keep a child rear facing as long as possible.

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Thanks for the info! His legs more than touch the seat, they are folded, kind of like when you sit down in a chair, though they are scaling the back of the seat. But what you said makes sense, a broken leg is easier to treat. It just looked so uncomfortable.

Hmmm, so we have to decide whether to flip or not again.

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I saw that article in Parents magazine too but I would think that if your baby is getting taller and his/her legs are cramped up against the seat it would make sense to me to turn them around if they have met the minimum requirements.

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Message edited 3/16/2009 8:06:47 AM.

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Thanks for all the replies! I'm still confused though. but this seems to happen with many things child related.

Hmmm, we'll take another look at the seat. His safety is more important than comfort, but I'm thinking he's a little too smushed in there right now.

Thanks for clarifying that the AAP guidelines have changed though, I was confused when I saw this article.

Message edited 3/16/2009 11:45:08 AM.

Re: Convertible Carseat Question

I had my convertible carseat inspected last week at a police station since we are just switching now. He told me to keep her rear facing as long as physically possible because they see a lot of babies severly injured when forward facing because their head and neck is not supported as well.

I also know that the American Academy of Pediatrics and Consumer Reports strongly suggest you keep babies rear facing longer than 1 year.


American Academy of Pediatrics Travel Tips

About.com article on Rear Facing beyond 1 year

Q&A which answers the question about baby's legs being long enough to touch seat, but still keep them rear facing...

Re: Convertible Carseat Question

I wanted to add to this thread . . . the April 2009 issue of Parenting has a huge article on car seats.

It says:

"experts used to say that a baby was ready for a forward-facing seat after he'd turned 1 year and weighed 20 pounds, research has found that children between ages 1 and 2 are five times less likely to be seriously injured in a crash if they're rear facing. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that all kids ride in a rear-facing seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit set by the manufacturer."

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We changed DS's seat at 13 months because he was already 30lbs and nearly 34 inches (at 12 months). I wanted to keep him rear facing longer but he was refusing to go in the car, crying endlessly in the car and just noticable uncomfortable.

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The good news here is that car seat manufacturers have recognized the need to keep children rear facing longer. The closer you can go the the maximum weight and height your seat will allow, the better for your child.

Do not be in a rush to turn your child around.

Do not be in a rush to graduate your child to a booster.

Do not be in a rush to move your child out of their booster seat.

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I was just reading that many recommendations are now to keep the child rear facing for 2 years now, or as long as physically possible.

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You are correct, but many children 2 years of age are out of the seats weight and height limits for reear-facing.