Car Seats: When to Face Forward?

our son will stay rear facing as long as he is within the rear facing limits of the carseat. this is the SAFEST way to go...even if you have to cross her legs because a broken leg is easier to fix than internal decapitation....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI EVERYONE please watch this film DO NOT TURN YOUR KIDS AROUND AT 1 / 20LBS ITS NOT SAFE!!!!

I'm sure you've heard enough by now. But my husbands cousin is a Michigan state police officer and is in charge for checking out child seats after accidents. He told me over and over again about all the accidents he has seen and what saved childrens lives and what didn't. He said absoltuely keep a child in a rear facing seat until they totally out grow it and then when you turn it around keep them in it until they totally out grow it.
My daughter is 5 1/2 and she can still fit in a car seat and even though all her friends don't use them anymore we still make her and will until she doesn't fit anymore. then we will move her to a booster. He said that the rear facing ones are the absolute best and safest everytime!!!!! We put a mirror for our children to look in so that they could see us and it seemed to make things better

Everyone has already given you the answer, but I thought I would add that Fisher Price makes a mirror that lights up and plays music - you control it with a remote control. It worked great for mine that hated the rear-facing car seat.

On long trips, you and your husband may have to switch off sitting next to her. If not - it won't last forever! She'll be a year old before you know it!!!

Hi H.!
Definitely talk to your child's doctor about this issue! Parents are now being told that you should leave your child facing backwards until the age of 2 (if possible) and definitely until they are at least 20 pounds and 1 years old. This is what I remember from years ago BUT there is always new information and important advice to know from your child's doc. Just because I followed what they said 3 years ago with my older son, doesn't mean that I won't be asking what the new advice is from my second child's pediatrician (I now have another baby). If your child doesn't like the carseat then I would suggest trying to figure out what it is that is bothering her. Is it the straps? Do you have anything around her head or neck? Also, some babies just don't like the carseat and eventually outgrow the dislike over time. My baby used to cry when we would put him in the car and so did two of my other friends' kids. You could maybe try a bigger car seat if she is still in the infant one. Some car seats can hold a baby from 5lbs to 100lbs and they are very roomy. Ask your pediatrician and my advice is don't turn her around until you do. Good luck!

20 lbs AND 1 year old!

My pediatrician told us 20 lbs AND 1 year old.

You've already heard enough about how old and how much they have to weigh... let me tell you what we did... My son was about 10 1/2 months old when we turned him around because he couldn't stretch out his legs being turned around backwards... he was cramping up and we travel a lot so it was important for him to be comfortable... do what you will, but you need to wait longer to turn her around. My son went through a car-seat-hating stage... He finally got over it and realized that we weren't going to give in to him... this is just the first of many battles you'll have with her-- to be totally frank. You know, and to be honest, I wish it were like it was when I was a baby- car seats weren't the law, and mom could hold you and breast feed you while she drove- times have changed, though-- hang in there, and get her some toys, or some other kind of distraction! Good luck-- :)

Hi H.!!

My daughter is 6 and in california they have very strict car seat rules for children. She still has a car seat/booster seat. You may consider getting a seat that is more comfortable. My expereince with my daughter was that she is gonna fall asleep when I start driving anyway.. So in reference to your daughter read below. Hope this helps.

Rear-facing seats

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 at least until she turns 1 year old. It is best for children to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer.

There are 2 types of rear-facing seats: infant-only seats and convertible seats. Convertible seats can be used rear-facing for infants, and then turned forward-facing once your child is old enough and big enough to do so safely.

Infant-only seats

Infant-only car safety seat
Small and have carrying handles (sometimes come as part of a stroller system).
Have a built-in harness.
Are used for infants from birth up to 22 to 30 pounds, depending on model.
Many come with a base that can be left in the car. The seat clicks into and out of the base, so you don't have to install the base each time you use it.
Convertible seats (used rear-facing)

Are used rear-facing from birth until your child is at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds. It is best for children to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer, usually 30 pounds or more for all new convertible seats. Check your car safety seat instructions to find the weight and height limits for rear-facing.
Have higher rear-facing weight limits than infant-only seats and are good for bigger babies.
Have the following 3 types of harnesses:
5-point harness—5 points of attachment: 2 at the shoulders, 2 at the hips, 1 at the crotch.

Overhead shield—A padded tray-like shield that swings down over the child.
T-shield—A padded t-shaped or triangle-shaped shield attached to the shoulder straps.
Features to look for in rear-facing seats

Harness slots. Look for a seat with more than one set of harness slots to give your baby room to grow. The harness should be in the slots at or below your baby's shoulders when your baby is rear-facing.
Adjustable buckles and shields. Many rear-facing seats have 2 or more buckle positions for growing babies. Many overhead shields can be adjusted as well.
Other helpful features. Angle indicators and built-in angle adjusters can help you get the proper recline. Head support systems can help your baby fit in the seat properly.

Forward-facing seat
Forward-facing seats

Once your child is at least 1 year of age and weighs 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 allowed by the car safety seat. There are many types of seats that can be used forward-facing: convertible seats, built-in seats, combination forward-facing/booster seats, and travel vests.

Convertible seats (used forward-facing)

Convertible seats can be used forward-facing by children who are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. To switch the seat from rear- to forward-facing, be sure to follow these steps:

Move the shoulder straps to the slots that are at or above your child's shoulders. On many convertible seats, the top harness slots must be used when the seat is in the forward-facing position. Check the instructions to be sure.
Move the seat from the reclined to the upright position if required by the manufacturer of the seat.
Make sure the seat belt runs through the forward-facing belt path.
When making these changes, always follow the car safety seat instructions.

She needs to stay backwards until your pediatrician tells you to face her forward.

Our Pediatrician wouldn't let us turn our daughter around until she weighed 20 pounds AND was a year old. have you tried a mirror that sits on the seat where she can see herself, and maybe you? when a mirror is place at the right angle she'll be able to see you in the rear view and you'll be able to see her. Has she always hated her car seat, or is it a recent development? My best friends little girl started teething, but had no obvious signs far a while, but she hated being where she couldn't see her mom. also if she is getting more mobile, she may just hate being strapped down-I had a couple of of mine go through a stage like that.

Not until she's AT LEAST one year AND 20 pounds. In other words, it'll be awhile. :)

She needs to be one year old AND 20 lbs. The one year old mark is important because the baby cannot fully support his/her head, neck and spine in a crash due to muscle not being fully developed. I know it must be hard to have your little one cry and not like her car seat, BUT she is much better off facing backwards. She doesn't know what it is like to face the other way yet anyway. Please don't turn her around until she meets both marks. It is not worth her being seriously injured or dying in a car crash. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I have taken car seat safety classes and have seen the statistics and heard the horrendous stories of infant injuries and deaths.

I believe that you daughter has to be 1 before you can change it around.

They are supposed to be 1 year of age AND 20 pounds. I had one that hated riding also- it makes for very long trips! Do you have toys up for her to look at while in her seat. There are lots of things available to attach to the car seat or to the seat in your vehicle. She is definately too young to turn. Good Luck!

absolutely do not turn the seat around until she's a year old AND 20 pounds. Their neck muscles need that time to become strong enough to sustain a crash. If you turn her now and you get in a crash, you could cause her serious harm... not worth the risk.

my daughter put up a fight for a while when we would out her in the seat but she got over it. She must be 1 years old AND 20 lbs. Do not turn her around yet, it is not safe and is against the law. Try another seat my daughter has the Britax Marathon and she absolutely loves it. She even gets upset if we take it out of the car.