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Juliet
Family is Complete!
Member since 5/05 5913 total posts
Name:
Juliet
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Question about turning the carseat around
Sabrina 3 weeks shy of her 1st birthday and it is really getting tough getting her into her carseat rear facing. Her whole foot, not just the toes, touch the back of the seat.
I know that the obvious thing would be to flip it, but I am nervous and am wondering if it is legal to do so. Can I get a ticket if I get pulled over? Is it a guideline or a rule to wait for one year?
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Posted 1/21/08 11:10 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
ArmyOfBabies
Growing older but not up
Member since 7/07 4427 total posts
Name:
Jeri
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
I waited until DD went for the one year well visit, but if your DD's legs and feet are being cramped by having it rear facing I would call your ped and ask if it's okay. They'll probably say yes if you tell them that her feet are on the seat. HTH!
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| Posted 1/21/08 11:15 PM |
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
I believe that it is the law and that you can get a ticket. However, I'm sure if you were pulled over, the police officer would not ask for the babies ID. JK 
I waited until DS was 13 months, however once we did the switch it was great. DS hated the carseat before.
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| Posted 1/21/08 11:16 PM |
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Bebalina
<3
Member since 6/05 2922 total posts
Name:
N
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
the rule is 1 yrs and 20lbs.
Now in my case, ds is almost 22lbs and 8 1/2 months old. He is way to big for his infant car seat. and he's almost 30 inches long, so you know his feet hit, and his knees are bent when he sits in there, that being said, i had a ped apptmt today asked his thoughts, and he told me hes over 20lbs you can have him face fwd.
hope that helps.
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| Posted 1/22/08 12:20 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Besides being illegal, it is highly dangerous to turn them around early. 1 year is the MINIMUM that the gov't states is OK for a baby's neck and body to be able to withstand an accident. Before a year, a head-on collision will most likely cause severe injury to DC. Wait as long as possible before turning DC forward. If just her feet are touching the back of the seat, she still has a long ways to grow before it's a real issue. DD had her knees almost in her chest before we turned her around at around 15 months. Being squished is fine.
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| Posted 1/22/08 7:32 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by Bebalina
the rule is 1 yrs and 20lbs.
Now in my case, ds is almost 22lbs and 8 1/2 months old. He is way to big for his infant car seat. and he's almost 30 inches long, so you know his feet hit, and his knees are bent when he sits in there, that being said, i had a ped apptmt today asked his thoughts, and he told me hes over 20lbs you can have him face fwd.
hope that helps.
The age is much more important than the weight. You need to have DC's neck and muscles mature to be able to handle the impact. I'm really not sure why so many peds and police says that it's OK to turn them around early? 
There are some babies that have a genetic problem where they are 20+ lbs and only a few months old. Just because they are heavy enough doesn't mean you can turn a 4 or 6 month old forward facing.
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| Posted 1/22/08 7:35 AM |
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cutie
LIF Adult
Member since 2/06 1893 total posts
Name:
Janine
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Bebalina
the rule is 1 yrs and 20lbs.
Now in my case, ds is almost 22lbs and 8 1/2 months old. He is way to big for his infant car seat. and he's almost 30 inches long, so you know his feet hit, and his knees are bent when he sits in there, that being said, i had a ped apptmt today asked his thoughts, and he told me hes over 20lbs you can have him face fwd.
hope that helps.
The age is much more important than the weight. You need to have DC's neck and muscles mature to be able to handle the impact. I'm really not sure why so many peds and police says that it's OK to turn them around early?
There are some babies that have a genetic problem where they are 20+ lbs and only a few months old. Just because they are heavy enough doesn't mean you can turn a 4 or 6 month old forward facing.
ITA - DD is 15 months and we had her new carseat installed at around 13 months - I asked the carseat guy to install it rear facing (I just made sure that I could bring it back to him to have it turned around later ) since I want to keep her rear facing as long as possible.
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| Posted 1/22/08 10:53 AM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by GoldenRod
Besides being illegal, it is highly dangerous to turn them around early. 1 year is the MINIMUM that the gov't states is OK for a baby's neck and body to be able to withstand an accident. Before a year, a head-on collision will most likely cause severe injury to DC. Wait as long as possible before turning DC forward. If just her feet are touching the back of the seat, she still has a long ways to grow before it's a real issue. DD had her knees almost in her chest before we turned her around at around 15 months. Being squished is fine.
I also TOTALLY agree!!!! I would rather my DD's feet be squished than she end up in a neck brace--or worse--God forbid!
That said, I think a couple of weeks shy of 1 is not a terribly big deal. In fact, when DD#1 was 11.5 mos old, we turned her around in DH's car since we were driving 10 hours to NC. In my car, however, she stayed rear facing until around 15 mos.
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| Posted 1/22/08 11:01 AM |
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-Lisa-
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Member since 5/05 6530 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Her feet touching the back of the seat is not a problem. Ella was rear facing until she was 17 months old. She didn't fight it, so I was in no rush to turn her. The longer they're rear facing the better.
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| Posted 1/22/08 11:13 AM |
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Dragonfly75
I love Hypnobabies
Member since 3/06 2333 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by -Lisa-
Her feet touching the back of the seat is not a problem. Ella was rear facing until she was 17 months old. She didn't fight it, so I was in no rush to turn her. The longer they're rear facing the better.
I feel the same way -- DS is almost 15 months and well over 23 pounds and still rear-facing. Please do some independent research (meaning not just asking your ped) on carseat safety before you decide to turn the seat around. Rear-facing is much safer.
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| Posted 1/22/08 11:38 AM |
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CkGm
They get so big, so fast :(
Member since 5/05 13848 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by Dragonfly75
Posted by -Lisa-
Her feet touching the back of the seat is not a problem. Ella was rear facing until she was 17 months old. She didn't fight it, so I was in no rush to turn her. The longer they're rear facing the better.
I feel the same way -- DS is almost 15 months and well over 23 pounds and still rear-facing. Please do some independent research (meaning not just asking your ped) on carseat safety before you decide to turn the seat around. Rear-facing is much safer.
Same here. DD HATES her carseat rear facing( we did do forward facing when she was a year old in NY since my dad's car didn't fit rear facing and she loved it) and I still won't switch it back to forward facing. We would ALL be safer if our seats faced backwards actually.
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| Posted 1/22/08 11:41 AM |
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KateDevine
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Member since 6/06 24950 total posts
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by Eireann
Posted by GoldenRod
Besides being illegal, it is highly dangerous to turn them around early. 1 year is the MINIMUM that the gov't states is OK for a baby's neck and body to be able to withstand an accident. Before a year, a head-on collision will most likely cause severe injury to DC. Wait as long as possible before turning DC forward. If just her feet are touching the back of the seat, she still has a long ways to grow before it's a real issue. DD had her knees almost in her chest before we turned her around at around 15 months. Being squished is fine.
I also TOTALLY agree!!!! I would rather my DD's feet be squished than she end up in a neck brace--or worse--God forbid!
That said, I think a couple of weeks shy of 1 is not a terribly big deal. In fact, when DD#1 was 11.5 mos old, we turned her around in DH's car since we were driving 10 hours to NC. In my car, however, she stayed rear facing until around 15 mos.
I agree with this. DS will be rear facing to a year, then foward facing in my car because the convertible does not fit rear facing in my car.
I am surprised a ped would suggest forward facing to a baby a good deal under 1 year
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| Posted 1/22/08 12:41 PM |
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ABCiverson
<3 my family
Member since 1/06 7465 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
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| Posted 1/22/08 12:43 PM |
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KangaMom
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Member since 1/06 4593 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
1 year and 20 lbs is the bare minumim... Our child is nearing 2 and will be reared facing until the maximum rear facing weight of 33lbs.
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| Posted 1/22/08 1:00 PM |
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nylisa
My Children
Member since 5/05 7905 total posts
Name:
MaMa
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
DS was not 20 lbs when he was 1 but since he was 1 years old we turned him around.
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| Posted 1/22/08 1:07 PM |
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Juliet
Family is Complete!
Member since 5/05 5913 total posts
Name:
Juliet
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Thanks everybody. I am going to wait until our one year visit and ask the ped. I want her safe but I am also not sure if her feet touching flat footed (not toes) and her knees being slighly bent is good for her in a crash. I worry that the impact could harm her spine that way too.
She was 22 lbs and 31 inches at 9 months and she has been walking since 10.5 months, so the physical strength seems to be there, but I want to be safe.
I guess I can wait a few weeks to check...
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| Posted 1/22/08 1:38 PM |
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EmmaNick
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Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by ABCiverson
Me three.
Their little bones aren't that strong and that's the reason they need to stay rear facing even if they are over 20lbs.
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| Posted 1/22/08 3:43 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by Juliet
Thanks everybody. I am going to wait until our one year visit and ask the ped. I want her safe but I am also not sure if her feet touching flat footed (not toes) and her knees being slighly bent is good for her in a crash. I worry that the impact could harm her spine that way too.
She was 22 lbs and 31 inches at 9 months and she has been walking since 10.5 months, so the physical strength seems to be there, but I want to be safe.
I guess I can wait a few weeks to check...
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx
Second, there is not a single documented case of children's legs, hips, etc. breaking or being injured in a crash due to longer rear-facing. There are plenty of cases of head and neck injury in forward-facing children that could have been prevented if the child had remained rear-facing. However, even if a leg or hip were broken or injured, it can be fixed. A damaged spinal cord (from forward-facing too soon) cannot be repaired and subjects the child to lifelong disability or death.
http://www.childrestraintsafety.com/rear-facing.html
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html
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| Posted 1/22/08 3:50 PM |
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Juliet
Family is Complete!
Member since 5/05 5913 total posts
Name:
Juliet
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by Juliet
Thanks everybody. I am going to wait until our one year visit and ask the ped. I want her safe but I am also not sure if her feet touching flat footed (not toes) and her knees being slighly bent is good for her in a crash. I worry that the impact could harm her spine that way too.
She was 22 lbs and 31 inches at 9 months and she has been walking since 10.5 months, so the physical strength seems to be there, but I want to be safe.
I guess I can wait a few weeks to check...
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx
Second, there is not a single documented case of children's legs, hips, etc. breaking or being injured in a crash due to longer rear-facing. There are plenty of cases of head and neck injury in forward-facing children that could have been prevented if the child had remained rear-facing. However, even if a leg or hip were broken or injured, it can be fixed. A damaged spinal cord (from forward-facing too soon) cannot be repaired and subjects the child to lifelong disability or death.
http://www.childrestraintsafety.com/rear-facing.html
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html
Thank you! I wasn't sure if a crash could misalign her hips and affect her spine, but I guess I will keep her there as long as she doesn't fuss.
Unfortunately DH has a two door car and he refuses to get a carseat for his car until she can be front facing. Maybe we will just let her be front facing in his car since she isn't in there that often or for that long...or maybe it is time for Daddy to give up his sports car and get a family car
Thanks to everyone for all of the great info you have given me. I would rather err on the side of caution so I keep her rear facing for a while longer...
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| Posted 1/22/08 5:19 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
These are GREAT links! Thank you!
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| Posted 1/22/08 7:37 PM |
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Tanaholic
My Big Boy!
Member since 10/05 2383 total posts
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Re: Question about turning the carseat around
We turned DS at 15 months, he reached the weight limit before a year though.
Car Seat Chris...the safety guy in Nassau County who installs car seats recommends waiting until 15 months.
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| Posted 1/22/08 8:38 PM |
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