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LoveBeingMrsT
Love my Boys!
Member since 12/05 4648 total posts
Name:
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how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing?
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Posted 4/18/08 11:28 PM  |
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hbugal
Lesigh
Member since 2/07 15928 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Well my kids were all forward facing when they hit the 20lb mark..but this was before they changed the recommendations. (my eldest is 14 and the twins are 9).....But we are counting down the days until Caden can be switched. At over 23lbs and almost 30 inches he's squished rear facing. So although I didnt vote I will be switching him on his birthday.
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| Posted 4/18/08 11:35 PM |
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Stacey1403
Where it all began....
Member since 5/05 24065 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
I switched Damien right after his first birthday. Jaidy is 17 months and is still rear facing. She is a peanut so she still fits this way
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| Posted 4/18/08 11:37 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
Name:
Jeannie
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Both of them stayed rear facing until they couldn't fit that way anymore.
Robbie was about 12 months... but Noah was close to 20 months.
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| Posted 4/19/08 6:24 AM |
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nmp070106
My girls!!
Member since 8/06 5843 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
We turned Madison around at about 10 months, I have ton s of cops as family and they said she was steardy enough and her legs were hitting hte back seat and she was mega uncomfy. She is in the middle of the car as well.
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| Posted 4/19/08 11:06 AM |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
on her 1st birthday 
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| Posted 4/19/08 11:20 AM |
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Marcie
Complete Happiness :)
Member since 5/05 27789 total posts
Name:
LOVE being a Mommy!
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
DD was 15 1/2 months old.
We didn't see a need for it before then
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| Posted 4/19/08 11:20 AM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Posted by nmp070106
We turned Madison around at about 10 months, I have ton s of cops as family and they said she was steardy enough and her legs were hitting hte back seat and she was mega uncomfy. She is in the middle of the car as well.
My DD and yours are the same age and I remember you writing this in the past except she was 8 mos! I think I even wrote back to switch her back right away!
I don't want to sound "mean," but would you rather have your baby be uncomfortable or be paralyzed? No matter what her size, before one year of age babies' little necks are NOT strong enough to withstand a rear-end crash! If the cops in my family told me it was OK to leave my doors unlocked because I live in a safe neighborhood, I still wouldn't--you NEVER know. Police officers aren't doctors.
I'm sorry if I came off as harsh, but this just really upsets me. To answer the question...I switched my older DD around in my car at 15 mos. and 12 mos in DH's car. Plan to switch DD#2 around...hmmm...I don't know yet; she'll be 1 in 3 weeks.
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| Posted 4/19/08 11:54 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
12 months is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM age for forward facing. That's the govt's minimums. How often do we trust the gov't for our child's safety? We question them for every decision they make, but we take the 12 month rule as "good enough", or even "too much"? We switched around 15 months, but after doing even more research, I should have done it closer to 18 months.
There isn't a baby born that is strong enough to be forward facing at under a year. Even if there is, why chance it? Everyone (except the driver....  ) is safer rear-facing, even adults.
Plus, turning them around before 1 year is illegal. Police should know that, and not encourage people to break the law for convenience....
Message edited 4/19/2008 12:21:10 PM.
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| Posted 4/19/08 12:20 PM |
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MaMaTeenie
Party of 5
Member since 4/08 6489 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
I switched right at 12 mos. My DS was over the wieght limit by a few punds and he was pretty long.
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| Posted 4/19/08 12:37 PM |
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Tammy503
LIF Infant
Member since 6/06 263 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
I feel very strongly about this issue too. I know the OP started the poll with 12 months but many people do turn earlier and it is not a good idea, no matter if a police officer tells you its okay. They may mean well but they are often not well informed. If anything, it should be longer. If you look at the medical literature, there is so much evidence that a young child is at so much more risk forward facing. A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertebrae doesn't fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at greater risk for spinal cord injury and death. In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
The American Academy of Pediatrics also agrees that children should rear face until the limits of the seat-often 30-35lbs. The 1 yr and 20lbs is the absolute minimum.
Links if you're interested
AAP policy statement
other info on rear facing
My 2 year old is still rear facing. She s not at all uncomfortable. She would tell me if she was. I plan to keep her that way until at least 2 1/2.
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| Posted 4/19/08 12:48 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Like other posters have mentioned, I'm keeping DC's rear facing for as long as possible. At almost 13 months I have no plans on turning them anytime soon. I am keeping them rear facing until I just can't anymore.
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| Posted 4/19/08 1:06 PM |
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hbugal
Lesigh
Member since 2/07 15928 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Posted by GoldenRod
12 months is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM age for forward facing. That's the govt's minimums. How often do we trust the gov't for our child's safety? We question them for every decision they make, but we take the 12 month rule as "good enough", or even "too much"? We switched around 15 months, but after doing even more research, I should have done it closer to 18 months.
There isn't a baby born that is strong enough to be forward facing at under a year. Even if there is, why chance it? Everyone (except the driver.... ) is safer rear-facing, even adults.
Plus, turning them around before 1 year is illegal. Police should know that, and not encourage people to break the law for convenience....
It's actually NOT againest the law in New York State!!! (Which I find ridiculous mind you!!!) They recommend that they cant be turned around until 1 year of age and go by the AAP recommendations but they havent made it a law!!!! New York Law states that the child has to be seated an appropriate carseat and used according to manufactures guidelines...their leaflets and such "recommend" that babies be rear facing until at least a year but they have never made it a law. Other states have made it a law but New York has not...Perhaps we should write to a couple of congressman and point this out to them!!!
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| Posted 4/19/08 1:33 PM |
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FelAndJon
needs to update her avatar pic
Member since 6/05 10212 total posts
Name:
Felice (aka LuckyBride2004)
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
I turned DS around when he was a little over 14 months. I would have kept him that way longer but I was off the day before Thanksgiving so i was able to take my car in for the inspection. It just worked out that way.
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| Posted 4/19/08 2:19 PM |
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KangaMom
...
Member since 1/06 4593 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
We recently went forward when DC ( 2 years +) began fussing getting into the car seat, we knew it was time. Rear facing is the safest possible way for a child and for as long as possible 
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| Posted 4/19/08 2:21 PM |
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nmp070106
My girls!!
Member since 8/06 5843 total posts
Name:
Nicole
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Posted by Eireann
Posted by nmp070106
We turned Madison around at about 10 months, I have ton s of cops as family and they said she was steardy enough and her legs were hitting hte back seat and she was mega uncomfy. She is in the middle of the car as well.
My DD and yours are the same age and I remember you writing this in the past except she was 8 mos! I think I even wrote back to switch her back right away!
I don't want to sound "mean," but would you rather have your baby be uncomfortable or be paralyzed? No matter what her size, before one year of age babies' little necks are NOT strong enough to withstand a rear-end crash! If the cops in my family told me it was OK to leave my doors unlocked because I live in a safe neighborhood, I still wouldn't--you NEVER know. Police officers aren't doctors.
I'm sorry if I came off as harsh, but this just really upsets me. To answer the question...I switched my older DD around in my car at 15 mos. and 12 mos in DH's car. Plan to switch DD#2 around...hmmm...I don't know yet; she'll be 1 in 3 weeks.
no harm here, I did it and she has been fine. she will be 1 next week.... we rarley go anywhere anyway.. No hurt feelings
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| Posted 4/19/08 2:27 PM |
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KateDevine
*
Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Posted by hbugal
Posted by GoldenRod
12 months is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM age for forward facing. That's the govt's minimums. How often do we trust the gov't for our child's safety? We question them for every decision they make, but we take the 12 month rule as "good enough", or even "too much"? We switched around 15 months, but after doing even more research, I should have done it closer to 18 months.
There isn't a baby born that is strong enough to be forward facing at under a year. Even if there is, why chance it? Everyone (except the driver.... ) is safer rear-facing, even adults.
Plus, turning them around before 1 year is illegal. Police should know that, and not encourage people to break the law for convenience....
It's actually NOT againest the law in New York State!!! (Which I find ridiculous mind you!!!) They recommend that they cant be turned around until 1 year of age and go by the AAP recommendations but they havent made it a law!!!! New York Law states that the child has to be seated an appropriate carseat and used according to manufactures guidelines...their leaflets and such "recommend" that babies be rear facing until at least a year but they have never made it a law. Other states have made it a law but New York has not...Perhaps we should write to a couple of congressman and point this out to them!!!
Heather is right, and it is also not against the law to have a car seat in the front seat, but you cannot have airbags in the front seat. I AM NOT SAYING TO DO IT, but I found that interesting.
We switched Christopher today in my car, but I don't drive him much anymore. His convertible seat doesn't fit rear facing in my car.
Also, as an FYI it ISN'T always safest to be rear facing.
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| Posted 4/19/08 2:38 PM |
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
We switched DD today to foward facing. She will be 1 in a few days. She was just so squished and the sun was always in her eyes.
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| Posted 4/19/08 2:41 PM |
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Tammy503
LIF Infant
Member since 6/06 263 total posts
Name:
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
Posted by KateDevine
Also, as an FYI it ISN'T always safest to be rear facing.
Not trying to be difficult but in what situation wouldn't it be safest to be rearfacing? The only one I can think of is if the child no longer met the height/weight requirements of the seat. Is that what you mean?
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| Posted 4/19/08 4:25 PM |
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Karebaby
Precious
Member since 10/06 5304 total posts
Name:
Karyn
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
DD was 13 months when we switched her. I would have done it at 12 months but I was waiting for her new carseat to arrive
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| Posted 4/19/08 5:27 PM |
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GenLCSW
Baby # 3 is here!!!
Member since 7/05 21138 total posts
Name:
Genna
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
13 months
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| Posted 4/19/08 7:19 PM |
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partyof6
b nice like u want ur kidz 2
Member since 7/06 7752 total posts
Name:
jeannine
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
mine are just shy of 20 pounds-I will not do it beforehand...noway
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| Posted 4/19/08 8:26 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
I still have Emma rear and she's 1. She's so short though so I have a feeling she'll be that way for a while. I figure she is bored to death looking at the seat and dozes off for a nap, which works for me! If she was forward facing, she would never nap
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| Posted 4/20/08 8:28 PM |
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nbc188
Best friends!
Member since 12/06 23090 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
I plan to keep her as long as possible after she's 1, even if she's a little squished.
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| Posted 4/20/08 8:31 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: how old was your dc when you switched the carseat to front facing? (poll)
DS is 10 months, 30 inches and 22Lbs 6oz. So obviously he would be eligible to be turned around in 2 months.
But the carseat guy of the Nassau County Safety Board told us to wait for DS to be 15 months to turn him around. We have a Britax and he told us we could wait longer than 1 year to turn him around. 1 year old is the MINIMUM.
On the other hand, my nephew in NJ had to be turned around already. He was born 8 days after DS. Because of his carseat and size, his legs were too long for facing the rear.
I also found out that 33 Lbs is the MAXIMUM to keep the carseat facing the rear.
Message edited 4/20/2008 8:51:24 PM.
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| Posted 4/20/08 8:50 PM |
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