Parenting Community Forum - Extended Rear-facing In Car Seats

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Q: Extended Rear-facing In Car Seats

asked by: Bridget on October 1st, 2007

Especially eHealthy

a lot of babies are coming up on their first birthdays so i thought i'd post this again.

in most states the law is that you can turn your baby's car seat around to face forward when they reach 20 lbs *and* 1 year. however, studies have proven that it's much safer to leave them rear-facing as long as possible.

here's a video that shows some crash tests performed on baby/child dummies, you can see the astounding difference between rear-facing and forward-facing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8 &mode=related&search=

finn's car seat goes up to 33 lbs rear-facing and that's how long he'll remain that way.

edit: i like this video too-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okWGDyqJU4Q &mode=related&search=

Replies(14)

Zanny

replied on October 1st, 2007

Supporter

I'd like to keep Jenny rear-facing; her car seat can stay that way til she's 29lbs I think & she's only 19lbs at the moment.. but my seat belts aren't long enough. They don't reach round it when it's rear-facing, but they reach no problem when it's forward-facing. So I don't really have much choice, it's not like I can afford to do anything about it.

Bridget

replied on October 1st, 2007

Especially eHealthy

i've never heard of that. i thought seatbelt length was pretty universal. have you looked through the car seat manual to make sure you're trying to put the seatbelt through the right spot?

i'm not trying to sound condescending, just looking out for miss jenny!

Zanny

replied on October 1st, 2007

Supporter

Yeah, I have a really small car. Plus I've had the same problem with my sister's & my brother's seat belts (we all have the same make of car).

To have it rear-facing the seat belt has to go through it & across the back of it & it's just such a great big thing that it doesn't reach. To have it forward-facing it just goes through the back of it so it's ok. It's really annoying.

oh_mommy

replied on October 1st, 2007

Supporter

we plan on keeping reese in his carseat as long as possible... hes a pretty big boy anyways so im sure he wont be rear facing for too long anyways.. i think he will pass the height thing fast.. hes a tall boy, unlike his daddy and i.. (gets it from my dad)

jessesgirl

replied on October 1st, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

Ava's 25 lbs. She's cramped being rear racing. Her feet are up on the back of the seat. No one can sit in the front b/c our front seat is up against the glove box. We're unsure at this point.

Becky

replied on October 2nd, 2007

Especially eHealthy

i have both my two forward facing cause logan is really long and he just didn't fit in it anymore

Bridget

replied on October 2nd, 2007

Especially eHealthy

well, i provided the info. i guess that's all i can do.

finn is tall and i'm sure by the time he's 33 lbs he'll be quite long, but he's going to remain rear-facing until then. whether they're playing on the floor, sitting in a chair, or in a car seat, most little kids sit with their legs folded or crossed. rear-facing or forward-facing, i think you'll see that they'll still sit with their legs up. the videos and the thought of a broken neck or internal decapitation scare the crap out of me. i'd rather have him have a stiff leg than be dead.

Becky

replied on October 2nd, 2007

Especially eHealthy

i know what you are saying B but i think the ones we got are really safe. I kept him rear facing as long as possible til he was like 18 months

HcoBrunette06

replied on October 3rd, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Good job on providing the info b, I appreciate it because I'd like to inform people, too.

My friend who had a baby had her forward facing from th time she was BORN! I told htem over and over again that she needed to be rear facing, and wheneer I was with them I turned her around.

OctoberBaby06

replied on October 3rd, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

HcoBrunette06 wrote:

My god I can't even imagine having a *newborn* facing forward. I was so paranoid when Kaylee was first born, I don't see how anyone could do that.

Sandbox Party

replied on October 3rd, 2007

Especially eHealthy

OctoberBaby06 wrote:

HcoBrunette06 wrote:

My god I can't even imagine having a *newborn* facing forward. I was so paranoid when Kaylee was first born, I don't see how anyone could do that.

especially considering they have no neck control and they heads would flop forward and could snap their neck. *Sigh*

Both my kids are forward facing in really good carseats. They're tightly secured and they both have the 5 point harness systems so we dont have anything to worry about. BUt i respect your decision B, and if you think its the best for Finn go for it Mami!

rosejackson

replied on October 4th, 2007

Supporter

zanyzanny wrote:

yeah we had a problem with that whenever we got a taxi! it was so annoying. williams already in the foward facing car seat, has been for a while, since he hit the 20lb mark because it was so awkward. the one i got is very safe no im not worried and hes not in it very often cos its either in my mums car or sams

Bridget

replied on October 4th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

rainfire1424 wrote:

Both my kids are forward facing in really good carseats. They're tightly secured and they both have the 5 point harness systems so we dont have anything to worry about.

it's not the car seat, it's the fact that even after a year their necks and spines are still developing.

finn's seat goes up to 33lbs RF and i don't see the point in turning him around before he reaches that (and i figure it goes that high for a reason). he doesn't know anything other than RF so it's not like he's like "man, i wish i was turned around", he can still see out the window, if he drops his toys they land at his feet so i don't have to turn around and try to find them, i can see him in his mirror, i can still hand him things if i have to.

i guess (especially with all this new information) i just don't see why the rush to turn them around so soon.

terra, that is just horrifying that your friend would have her newborn FF. being a member of the car seat police, i would have stalked her or something until i knew she and the baby were out and about and then i would've called the police.

rosejackson

replied on October 4th, 2007

Supporter

[quote="BridgetHeartsFinni guess (especially with all this new information)
terra, that is just horrifying that your friend would have her newborn FF. being a member of the car seat police, i would have stalked her or something until i knew she and the baby were out and about and then i would've called the police.[/quote]
i agree totally. that is outrageous! i mean theyre necks are no way near ready to be foward facing! that is very dangerous!

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