Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

I know that once they are 1y/o old, it is recommended to turn the car seat forward. I heard now that they are recommending you keep it rear facing.

What do you think? For how long?

Also, I am so used to the infant carrier, how do you deal when DC falls asleep in the stationary car seat.

I got two versions of the Britax Car seat for my shower - the roundabout & Marathon..any feedback???

Thanks

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

They now rec. 2 years until front facing. I say wait until the two years. (there was a thread last week I think on this,caused a small amount of drama... )

I have the marathon but DS is sitll in the infant carrier.

If they fall asleep...really not much you can do though.

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

i believe they suggest 2 years now & i'm going to keep Em rear facing as long as humany possible (as long as her seat is rated that way).

there was recently some video posted as to why - the video was shocking. check youtube for rear facing car-seat video.

as for how to handle (we've had em in hers for a few months now) - you can get pretty good at getting them out of the seat when they're sleeping.

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

Legally you have to keep it rear facing til one AND 20lbs.

We turned DS at one and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again with another DC

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

2yrs rear facing is the new recommendation.

I say keep it that way (but that's just me). There's TONS of research that proves they are NOT uncomfortable if their legs are butterflied on the back seat. They are more flexible than us, smaller than us and have no old achy bones!

You begin to learn the art of removal while sleeping. Personally I am much better at it then the Hubby is. She's been in her convertible from around 6mo or so. You just get used to it.

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

DD is awful at getting her out when she's sleeping...she is an ultra light sleeper and literally wakes up the second I take the keys out of the ignition so I literally sit or drive for as long as shes sleeping for in the car

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

As others said the new recommendations is 2 years old. I plan on keeping DS rear-facing until then. I have the Britax Marathon seat and I love it. I figure it was good because he could grow into it.

If DS falls asleep in his seat now I sometimes drive around or try to transfer but sometimes it doesn't work.

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

Thanks everybody!

Re: Transitioning from Infant Carrier to a stationary car seat...some questions

The actual official stance of the AAP is to rear face to the limits of your seat, or a minimum of 1 year AND 20lbs. They are reviewing this and have unofficially recommended that parents RF of 2 years and 30lbs before you switch to FF.

A young child's vertebrae haven't fully fused together yet (it is still in 3 pieces) and combined with their larger heads (approximately 25% of their total body weight, by contrast, an adults is 6-8%) it makes them vulnerable to broken necks, or worse, internal decapitation. The spinal cord can only stretch 1/4" but an infant/toddler's spine can stretch up to 2".

www.joelsjourney.org is the story of one little boy's recovery from a broken neck at 18 months.

http://carseatqueen.com/rf.aspx is another good resource with answers to the most common questions asked.