turn your child to forward facing? I only ask because my son is 2 and rear facing and I get alot of comment about it. 

We turned my kiddo at 1 year. However, that was before all the articles and research came out saying they should stay rear-facing more than a year. 

I was just thrown off today at the mcx. I pulled my son out of the car and some lady asked how old he was. I told her "he just turned 2". She then started going off about how "its going to hurt his legs" & "how she turned her kids at 1" and blah blah blah. 

I thought it went by weight? 

She then started going off about how "its going to hurt his legs" & "how she turned her kids at 1" and blah blah blah.

That's because some people think they know everything there is to know about parenting. Thankfully the amount of unsolicited advice seems to go down as your child gets older. The amount of silent judgement goes up, however. :) 

California Law

Babies ride rear facing and reclined until at least 1 year old and at least 20 lbs. 

I wouldn't worry about what others think or say; do what you feel is right for your child and let others worry about their own.... 

Next time someone "offers" their advice, I advise you to tell them this: "If I want your opinion, I will beat it out of you. Thank you" 

It goes by weight & age. But studies have shown the longer you Rear face the better. Safety wise. My oldest just turned Forward facing, at 3.5 years old, his seat supported it until 40lbs.
I really don't care what others do with their child(ren), as long as they obey the law. I think I was just a little thrown off with the comment.
"I Wear His Rank" I may just take that approach if it happens again. Hehe. 

its not age its by weight...same as getting out of carseats and sitting in the front seat 

its not age its by weight...same as getting out of carseats and sitting in the front seat 



No, it's both. They have to be at least 1 year old AND weight at least 20lbs it can't be one or the other. 

Thankfully the amount of unsolicited advice seems to go down as your child gets older.

That certainly hasn't been my experience! 

My son is small and didn't even hit 20 lbs. until 22 months, I turned him around at that point because his legs really were hitting the seat behind him. IT is your call, your the parent and if other people don't like it too bad, they can have their own kid and do what they want with them! 

Very true. My kids sit criss cross. They seem comfy. My oldest is 3.5years old and I just switched, him due to height and weight for his seat, he hates it. My baby will probably switch at 3 or older. To each their own. Do what you want with your kids. Hehe 

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 2 years minimum now. Its best to keep them rear facing as long as possible. If you get in an accident newton's 1st law dictates that their body keeps moving in the direction the car was travelling. Lot less violent when sitting rear facing.

Once my daughter outgrew her infant carrier, I purchased a large enough convertible car seat that it could stay rear facing for a while.

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm 

One, but I wish I would have waited longer. They changed it to 2 years of age right after I changed her to front facing. 

I turned both of my kids around at probably 14 months... that was when the standard was 1 year and twenty pounds. My son is 7 and he still sits in a booster. 

At 10 months because he is too long his feet hang over the infant seats... my other son was about a yr I think... 

At 10 months because he is too long his feet hang over the infant seats... my other son was about a yr I think...


That is illegal, a 10 month old baby doesn't have the neck muscles to support themselves in an accident. There is no way at 10 months they are too long, people on here are saying they left them until 2 or 3, so unless your 10 month is taller then a 3 year old then I think you are crazy! Buy a better carseat. 

My son switched at 38inches tall. It is very unsafe and illegal. Most infant Carriers go to 30inches. Its okay for their feet to touch the back seat. I would encourage you to do some reasearch on the dangers of turning them forward facing before age 1.
(in sweden kids rearface until age 5) 

I do believe we have been to this rodeo before... 

I do believe we have been to this rodeo before...

You would be correct!

My kiddo's feet touched the backseat while she was pretty young, too. It's not as big of a deal as it seems like it is. She was bored facing the back by the time we turned her, but it definitely wouldn't have hurt to keep her rear facing after 1 year. We just didn't know. 

My kiddo's feet touched the backseat while she was pretty young, too. It's not as big of a deal as it seems like it is. She was bored facing the back by the time we turned her, but it definitely wouldn't have hurt to keep her rear facing after 1 year. We just didn't know.

My kids always behaved much better when I turned them around. They hated being rear facing plus it was hard to reach back and pop the pacifier back in lol. My kids were abt 1, but my last was abt 11 mths, maybe 10. I think some people are so dramatic over rear facing and forward facing. And my daughter is 2 now, and she'd never sit rear facing. Not to mention her legs would be all smushed up. I think 1 is a good age and 2 or 3 is a bit crazy. 

It will be an uproar if they change the law to 2 years. Parents will go nuts! Hehe. As long as laws are follewed I dont care what anyone does. 

eh..laws are suggestions. ;) 

It will be an uproar if they change the law to 2 years.

Why? Just curious what people find problematic about having children rear facing.

If the physicists and doctors say its safer, I'll defer to them. I haven't performed any crash tests of my own :) 

It will be an uproar if they change the law to 2 years.

Why? Just curious what people find problematic about having children rear facing.

Ther legs are smushed up, and they cant see whats going on. They lean back pretty far. They sell very nice convertable carseats, however they do not fit comfortably on just any back seat.

My sister bought one for my nephew, she has an SUV, I had a car. It did not fit properly reversed in my car. So when I tried putting it in my husbands truck, it also did not fit properly. So it also depends on the car you are driving. 

however they do not fit comfortably on just any back seat.

Got it. Yeah, when I bought my Car Seat I did so at Toys R Us - they let us take a few of the displays out to the car to see which one fit. Can't just buy any random convertible car seat. 

Because your child is already 2, if they meet the weight requirements and you feel comfortable with it turn them around. I do think you should keep them rear facing as long as you can because it is safer but there are also length restrictions too so look in your owners manual for guide lines. 

Ther legs are smushed up, and they cant see whats going on.
Doesn't matter. My husband was concerned about this with our daughter so I made him ask the Ped. so that he'd hear it from someone else. She too told him they'd rather the child have a broken leg if there was a serious accident than a broken neck and die. Like it or not rear is safer.