Rear Facing Seats???

If it makes you feel better.... that info has been out for at least 8 years (since it was out when my son was an infant). Also, at the time, there was no rear facing seat that would fit him past 6mo.

I have a Britax Boulevard, and it is good rear facing til 35 pounds. My 21 mo old is still rear facing in it. We are in an Odyssey, and I have to say it is more convenient for her to be rear facing. She is in the 2nd row passenger side captain's chair, and I can pass her things if she has her hand raised above her head, which she has learned to do. Also, things don't fall to the ground past her feet because the seat back stops it. I think this all prevents a lot of crying. This is besides that she is much safer this way, which was pummelled into my head by the car seat tech and her peds. =)

Don't listen to those that say their kids legs were too long so they turned them at 1. A broken leg is fixable (there aren't any documented cases of that happening) being internally decapitated is not. Some infant carriers go to 32 lbs most 20 lbs if its a convetible seat they usually go to 30-35 lbs rear facing. The law is a year and 20 lbs minimum when it comes to safety I don't take my chances with the minimum.
EDITED: if you have that much of an issue getting her in and out of that seat please take the carseat to. Professional to have them check that it's been installed properly.

you may want to double check the actual "law" vs what they are now "recommending". my son was kissing his knees LONG before two, so i find the new studies to be ridiculous.

no one has to listen to me - just my opinion. however, i'd like to see the study on adults sitting rear facing. because i bet that is safer too - only no adult would do it due to the extreme discomfort. i wouldn't ask my child who is too big to sit that way to do it either.

I had my kids backwards until 2 before it was cool. It worked out great for us because it was like still having our own conversation in the front seat while the kids were engaged in looking at each other or out the back window anyway. Check with the manufacturer on the recommendations for use of their seat. If it could be backward facing at any point it can probably still be backward to age two.

Children are safest rear-facing until they reach the upper weight limits of the seat and as long as their shoulders do not reach above straps. (When rear-facing the straps should come from behind their shoulders and go up and over-- when forward facing the straps should start above their shoulders and come down over them.) Most Britax convertible seats rear-face to 35-50 pounds (depending on the model) and then forward face to 65 pounds and have for a long time, even before the new safety recommendation went into place. I have a Roundabout and a Marathon from my older daughter (manufactured in 2007) that my 13 month old is now using and I think I am going to have to replace the seats due to expiration before I have to turn her around.

I guess I am with you about the being bummed. While it maybe safer for some I am in the generation that didn't even have carseats. I still remember sitting on my mom's lap in the front seat. I turned out fine.

I personally think you need to do what you feel is comfortable. I have two kids and I know that meeting my child's needs is hard when they are rear facing and I am the only one in the car with them...I have children that are pretty demanding in the car and I LOVE the day they got or get to turn around. I would check the laws in your state as you don't want to break any of those and then I think you need to do what is right for your family. Yes, we all want our children to be safe but I think the safety of our children in car accidents really depends on the car, the actual accident and all of the circumstances surrounding the event--not just how a carseat is installed. I have a hard time reading all of these "recommendations" that in a yr or two will change.

Go with your gut--and do what is best for you. I think a lot of these videos and recommendations just scare people.

Good Luck and Happy Mothers Day! You're a good mom no matter what you decide! :)

www.seatcheck.org and www.nhtsa.gov
for your state laws and a free inspection site near you. Do you know that 80% of seats are used or adjusted improperly? So take the advice you get from others with a grain of salt & GO and find out the facts for your seat, your child, YOUR car. Specifically. It's free and wprth a half hour of your time. Good luck!

is your seat an infant car seat or a convertable car seat? an infant seat is only ment for children under 20lbs. Most convertable car seats can be used in the rear facing position between 30-35lbs. My son is 21mnths and still in the rear facing position because his car seat recomends he stays that way till he is 35inches, and he is only31.5.

Rear-facing is safest but only within the manufacturer's recommendations. Review the manual that came with your seat and if it says "at least 1 year of age" and your child is also within the height AND weight limits, then it is safe to remain rear-facing. Typically, they must be at least 1 and over the limit to be turned around but can still be rear-facing after a year.

Also, the laws tend to be less stringent than what is safest.

definitely rear facing. The car seat should have a sticker on the side telling you the height/weight restrictions for rear facing... Mine is good rear-facing up to 35 lbs, then switches to forward facing. I'm planning to keep my DD rear-facing until she is at the limit of the seat's capabilities, even if she happens to stay under that 35 lbs until she's 5! lol. The seat really doesn't know how 'old' your child is, just the height and weight.

We have a britax marathon. It can be rear facing yntil 33 lbs. We just turned our 2 year old. Happy mothers day!

Yah, it has always been recommended to keep them rear facing for as long as possible after they turn one and meet the weight/height requirements. The seats are designed by weight and height not age. We have a britax boulevard I believe the rear facing limit is 35 lb. oh and make sure you check the weight limit for the Latch system, our daughter weighs too much to use the latch so we use the seatbelt now.

Hi there,
My son turned 2 last weekend and is still rear facing in all 3 of his Britax car seats, 2 of the smaller ones and one of the larger ones. He is 36.5 inches and he bends his knees or cocks them out to the side. He never complains about it and is comfortable enough to take 2+ hour car naps on occasion. He is a string bean, only 24 lbs, so the weight limit is not an issue for us.

have her stay in her current seat til she is at its weight or height limit then switch her. the side of the carseat you bought should tell you the basics of what positions and weights/heights it can do. if it will do rearfacing then do it. i can't say that i did but i did wait til my daughter was 20 pounds and that wasnt til a couple months after her first birthday.

From the sounds of it, you're over strapping your seat into your vehicle. I strongly suggest taking it to a fire dept or police sation that has certified installers.

As for the rear facing, it's a preference and recommendation at this point. My son will be 3 next week. He was rear facing until he was 16 months and 25 lbs, at which time he was uncomfortable with his legs squinched up.

Yes-rear facing until age two.

Don't know about the Britax, check the manual. Regarding being bummed, watch some Youtube videos of crash test dummy babies forward facing and you'll get over it.

My just turned 3 year old son is still rearfacing in his Graco Myride 65. Love it! He has plenty more months to go in it too since it's rearfacing until 40 lbs. He's only 31 lbs. He has plenty of leg room.

My daughter will be 2 in June and is still rear facing. My son is 3 and is 44 lbs, so while he was still under the 40 lb weight limit for his carseat to be rear facing- he was. Our carseats (Graco MyRide 65) go rear facing until 40lbs, then forward facing until 65lbs. Most Britax are rear facing until 40lbs too. I fully intend on keeping my 3 year old harnessed even after he is 4 and "legally able" to be in a booster.

You should really search youtube, it will change your mind.

If you want to do what is best for your little girl, you will keep her rear facing. It's a pain... but worth it if you were in an accident. Check your car seat manual or go on Britax's website to ensure that the seat you have is rated for rear facing... it probably is, but it's good to check.