When to turn car seat around?

My twins are 26 months, both are between 33-35 inches but both are only 25-28lbs very thin. My car seats go up to 40 lbs rear facing but I feel they are so crunched in there... do I leave them rear facing?

When to turn car seat around?

My DD is 3 and still rear facing. Our seats go up to 40 lbs and 43 inches. She is 30 lbs and 38 inches. She’ll stay rear facing until she either gains 10 lbs or grows 5 inches. I joke at this rate she’ll be going to prom in a britax. She doesn’t seem crunched and has never complained- she doesn’t know any different.

Re: When to turn car seat around?

As long as humanly possible.
It is so much safer.
Do they seem bothered by it?

When to turn car seat around?

My one twin seems a little bothered by it, I want to keep them rear facing as long as possible too, but I couldn’t seem to find a height limit for my car seats. My one twin is absolutely too tiny to turn around and feels like he’s only 15lbs to be honest he’s so much smaller than my other twin. My bigger one though he is irritable at times in the car all of the sudden and I have the mirrors for the rear facing and he’s been kicking the mirror non stop... yet they like going out because they know we are likely going to a park or something... go figure

Re: When to turn car seat around?

I waited until my kids were at least 3, and they're both on the tall side. Heck, I just took my 7 year old out of her car seat and switched her to a booster. I would keep them rear-facing for as long as possible.

When to turn car seat around?

I turned my kids a little after 3

When to turn car seat around?

Dd was over 3.5. It's been almost a year and she still asks us to put it back the other way sometimes.

When to turn car seat around?

If they’re not giving you any trouble, keep them rear facing until the max out of it.

My son was a terror rear facing. Screaming bloody murder whenever we were in the car - even the 2 minute drive to Daycare. For our safety, we forward faced him at 2 years since his screaming caused unsafe driving conditions.

When to turn car seat around?

As long as they haven't maxed the height or weight for RF, I wouldn't turn them. It's safer and they actually seem more comfortable RF to me.

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Re: When to turn car seat around?

I turned my kids between 14-16 months. I know! The outrage! But I didn't like seeing them all squished and I like being able to see their faces and what they are doing.

And I drank coffee when I was pregnant. And I ate soft serve regularly. And my kids eat Kraft mac and cheese. So I'm definitely not mom of the year. I do vaccinate though!

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Posted by FirstMate

I turned my kids between 14-16 months. I know! The outrage! But I didn't like seeing them all squished and I like being able to see their faces and what they are doing.

And I drank coffee when I was pregnant. And I ate soft serve regularly. And my kids eat Kraft mac and cheese. So I'm definitely not mom of the year. I do vaccinate though!

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Posted by FirstMate

I turned my kids between 14-16 months. I know! The outrage! But I didn't like seeing them all squished and I like being able to see their faces and what they are doing.

And I drank coffee when I was pregnant. And I ate soft serve regularly. And my kids eat Kraft mac and cheese. So I'm definitely not mom of the year. I do vaccinate though!

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by FirstMate

I turned my kids between 14-16 months. I know! The outrage! But I didn't like seeing them all squished and I like being able to see their faces and what they are doing.

And I drank coffee when I was pregnant. And I ate soft serve regularly. And my kids eat Kraft mac and cheese. So I'm definitely not mom of the year. I do vaccinate though!

The law changed and it now requires kids to be rear facing until at least 2.
http://www.safeny.ny.gov/sesa-ndx.htm

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by FirstMate

I turned my kids between 14-16 months. I know! The outrage! But I didn't like seeing them all squished and I like being able to see their faces and what they are doing.

And I drank coffee when I was pregnant. And I ate soft serve regularly. And my kids eat Kraft mac and cheese. So I'm definitely not mom of the year. I do vaccinate though!

The law changed and it now requires kids to be rear facing until at least 2.
http://www.safeny.ny.gov/sesa-ndx.htm

I know. It changed when my first was already turned forward. For the record, he is still in his booster and will remain there until he turns 8.

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Posted by NervousNell

Posted by FirstMate

Posted by LuckyStar

Posted by FirstMate

I turned my kids between 14-16 months. I know! The outrage! But I didn't like seeing them all squished and I like being able to see their faces and what they are doing.

And I drank coffee when I was pregnant. And I ate soft serve regularly. And my kids eat Kraft mac and cheese. So I'm definitely not mom of the year. I do vaccinate though!

The law changed and it now requires kids to be rear facing until at least 2.
http://www.safeny.ny.gov/sesa-ndx.htm

I know. It changed when my first was already turned forward. For the record, he is still in his booster and will remain there until he turns 8.

I think they need to stay in a booster until after 8 depending on their height etc. Dd will be 9 in June and she can no way pass the test to be without a booster.
(I mean the booster and seat belt...not a 5 or harness)
I think they say 4 foot 9 for a booster

When to turn car seat around?

Dd1 was rf shortly before her 4th bday. Dd2 will probably be turned shortly after her 2nd bday. I hate it but she screams bloody murder every time we are in the car. She hates rf and makes us all miserable.

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Posted by FirstMate

I turned my kids between 14-16 months. I know! The outrage! But I didn't like seeing them all squished and I like being able to see their faces and what they are doing.

And I drank coffee when I was pregnant. And I ate soft serve regularly. And my kids eat Kraft mac and cheese. So I'm definitely not mom of the year. I do vaccinate though!

Re: When to turn car seat around?

My daughter was RFing until 3.5 y/o. She was around 30 lbs and 38 inches at the time.

When to turn car seat around?

my boys I kept till 4.5 they were still under 40 lbs - I did for height - they sat with legs crossed - they never complained that they were cramped - actually now going forward they complain when their legs hang for too long - they end up crossing their legs - I would only turn around early if they are getting sick constantly or screaming bloody murder every time that it is distracting to driver. Every one is safer backwards - we used the diono seat adjuster - it gave them slightly better angle for long term rear facing

Re: When to turn car seat around?

We switched my son at 3 1/2. A lot of his friends switched sooner, but rear facing is safest and he still fit so I saw no reason to change him.

Re: When to turn car seat around?

Just over 3. We would’ve waited longer but we had to get forward facing car seat to fit 3 car seats in our car.

When to turn car seat around?

DS was just over 2 when we turned him. He maxed out on weight though too. Our seat went up to 30lbs for RFing.

When to turn car seat around?

We turned my DD at 2.5. I couldn't get her in the seat any longer. It was very hard trying to get her in there RF.

Re: When to turn car seat around?

They may seem crunched but they probably aren’t. Lots of research supports that rear facing is so much safer because their necks and spine are still developing. In a crash their heads are less likely to whip rear facing reducing injury. Little ones are flexible and it’s actually more comfortable for them to have their legs on the back of your seat than dangling forward facing.
Car seat specialists recommend waiting until 4 or maxing out of weight. We turned DD1 around when she was 3.5 and DD 2 is 28 months and still rear facing.

Message edited 4/5/2019 8:52:27 PM.