Should you keep baby rear-facing in car seat past one year old?
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 at
7:13 am
The manual emphasizes that you must keep baby rear-facing at least until 20 lbs. and one year old. Is it safer to keep her rear-facing even longer? Mine just turned both milestones and she would prefer the view facing forward, but it just seems she is safer backward for a while yet. Does anyone have more specific information on this?
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It is much safer to stay rear facing as long as possible. We have two convertible car seats and the weight limit for rear facing is 35 pounds.
I did just have to turn my 23 month-old because the straps were sliding off his shoulders. Rear-facing the straps must be at or below shoulder height, but not too far below or they won’t stay in the right position.
Rear facing is much safer, because even though a toddler may have good head control, they still have big heads. This, coupled with a very stretchy spinal column and a not too stretchy spinal cord can cause neck injuries very easily.
Legs touching the seat is no big deal. A child generally prefers to sit cross-legged than to have their legs dangling anyway.
There has NEVER BEEN A REPORT OF INJURY TO THE LEGS OR HIPS BECAUSE OF REAR-FACING PAST 12 MONTHS!!!! But, even if there were such a report, a leg injury heals much faster and is much less life-threatening than a neck injury!
For my son, turning him didn’t really affect his hatred of the car in general ;-( But his torso length was such that the straps of his Comfort Sport or his Touriva didn’t fit. I wish we could’ve afforded a Britax for each car, they have better positioned strap levels to accommodate taller toddlers..
My kid just hit 1 year and she didn’t weigh 20 lbs yet. She is very long though and was very squished in the rear-facing car seat so my doctor said switch her.
If you can keep them facing backwards longer, it is supposed to be safer – protects their spine and head in cases of a head-on collision.
I have heard of people keeping their children facing rear for up to 18 months.
i would do the front facing car seat cause if the instructios on the car seat are saying 20 pounds then switch i would listen to them cause if your daughter doesnt fit in the carseat she can get injured and even death if you get hit
I never worried about my son being turned forward facing.We did after his 1st birthday-and he was the right weight too.Your baby will be safe-they would not tell you to turn them forward at a certain time if it was going to hurt them!
Studies have shown that the safest position in a car for anyone of any age is facing back. If she’s comfortable, and doesn’t have her legs all squished up, you can leave her that way if you want.
After 1 year of age they are supposed to be turned around to face the front, it is actually safer for her to be turned around toward the front, she is now too big to be facing backwards. Make sure the carseat is installed proper to make her even safer.
YES, once they turn 1 and weighs 20 pound you should get another toddler car seat that is facing forward.
No at 1 year and 20lbs it is equally as safe as if they were forward facing. Thats when baby needs to be put in a forward facing toddlar car seat.
As long as she isn’t too big (feet touching the back of the seat) there’s nothing wrong with it. Obviously it’s safer or they wouldn’t recommend it for infants.
Personally, I’d just put her forward-facing.
I heard on the news a few days ago that even some of the rear facing seats are not safe for them. If you get side impacted the seat flys right off the base. It is a personal choice, maybe just do a little homework and see what is better.
I was told that it wasn’t only 20 lbs and one year old but head control. If she is at the weight rating for the car seat than you will have to think about turning her around. If she is stillunder the weight rating for rear facing then you may get another month or do backwards.
They are designed to protect a child that is under 20 lbs or up to a certain height. The way that the seat cradles the back and neck area is important. Once your child has out grown that height, the seat is no longer properly designed for her body. Get a Convertible Car Seat that has the 5 point harness system and uses the latch system, if your car supports it. It will be much safer and much more comfortable for your daughter.
Take Care.
My pediatrician’s nurse, that is someone who is certified to check if carseats are properly installed, said that rear-facing is the safest way to be facing in a crash. She said the rear-facing people are less likely to have neck injuries. So if your baby is still under the max weight and the max height for your carseat then I’d stay rear-facing as long as possible. That’s what we did for our first kid.
All infants should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. That means that if your baby reaches 20 pounds before her first birthday, she should remain rear-facing until she turns 1.
Once your child is at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds, he can ride forward-facing. However, it is best for him to ride rear-facing until he reaches the highest weight or height limit allowed by the car safety seat. There are many types of seats that can be used forward-facing including convertible seats, built in seats, combination forward-facing/booster seats, and travel vests.