Question About Car Seats.

Sorry if this is repeat info--don't have time to read the other posts. I am very passionate abut this issue, though, so I wanted to give you as much info as I can.

Something to remember about car seat safety: Each step "up" is a step down in safety. Rear facing is safer than front facing, a 5-point harness is safer than a belt-positioning booster, etc. These are milestones we shouldn't celebrate. (I would prefer my kid to be rear facing in a 5-point harness for years and years!)

Legally, you can turn your child front facing at 20 pounds AND a year (must be both); however, he is 4 times more likely to suffer serious injury or death while front facing. The reason is because a child's spine does not fully develop until age 6, so in a crash, a front-facing child's spine will stretch upon impact (his neck will move forward in a crash, just like ours do when we get whiplash), but it is worse for a child. The spinal column can move several inches forward, but the spinal cord cannot. It will snap.

You can keep your child rear-facing to the weight/height limit of his convertible carseat (33 or 35 pounds for a lot of seats on the market now--check your manual). This will keep your child much safer because in a crash, the seat will cradle and protect his spine. Most children can stay rear facing until at least 2 years old. IT IS FINE IF HIS LEGS HIT THE SEAT BACK. This is not a reason to turn baby forward. Kids are more flexible than adults. They like to sit all folded up. Their legs will not break in a crash (but their necks can if they are front facing).

There are a lot of really nice convertible seats on the market that rear face to 33/35 pounds and then keep the child harnessed to 55/65 pounds (usually to age 5 or 6). Kids should not be in a belt-positioning booster until they are mature enough to sit correctly in the car 100% of the time--no moving the belt behind their head, no slouching, no sleeping, etc. Convertibles with higher harness limits include the Britax seats, Sunshine Kids Radian, Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (made by Britax, same shell--just not as cushy). They are more expensive, but they will last years longer. The Uptown and the Scenera (5-point harness--not overhead shield!!!) are also good seats. They are cheaper, but won't last as long (lower front-facing weight limit).

Beware of the "all-in-one, last seat you'll ever need" carseats. False advertising. Kids outgrow them by height before they outgrow them by weight (they have low harness strap heights), so kids end up outgrowing the 5-point harness at around 3 years old, which is wayyyyy too young for booster mode.

A few things to remember: Rear facing: straps should always come from at or BELOW kiddo's shoulders. Front facing: straps come from at or ABOVE the shoulders. Chest clip should be at armpit (or nipple) level--not lower on the belly or higher on the neck. Straps should be snug so that you can't pinch and slack at the shoulders or hips. The best carseat is the one that fits your kid, fits your car, and fits your budget.

If you want help to find a specific seat or need more info, visit the car seat safety board on Babycenter.com. The ladies there are so very helpful. They are certified car safety technicians (I'm not, but I've learned so much from them).

It's great that you are concerned about your child's safety in the car. Riding in a car is the most dangerous thing most kids do on a daily basis. As aprents, we can keep them safer in the car by educating ourselves.

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I know you have gotten lots of info but wanted to share this with you...I'm a major supporter of car seats..fantical about my kids being buckled right..etc. But back to your question.

The Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia has a great website that shows you what types of seats a child should be in based on their age and weight. They have done a hugh study that has been going on for over 5 or 6 years and have posted results on car seat issues and accidents. Here is the link: http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=...

I work for State Farm Ins and they work with an org around the state of PA and have car seat safety checks in May, most are the weekend after Mother's Day. Here is the link for more info: http://www.statefarm.com/learning/child_safety/penn.asp

They have car seat safety inspectors who can look at your seat and show you how to correctly install (around 90% are not installed properly) and tell you if your seat is correct for your sons size/age/weight etc. The inspections are free but you but you may need an appt...give a call.

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Children need to be BOTH at least 1 year old AND 20 pounds to be changed to front-facing. If your child reaches 20 pounds before age 1, he needs to remain rear-facing until he is 1. If he is still not 20 pounds at 1, then he needs to remain rear-facing until he reaches that weight. My daughter was 18 months before we could turn her around. Actually it is better to keep them rear-facing for longer rather than shorter. In fact it would be safer for adults to also ride rear-facing, but it simply isn't very practical. All carseats have different size limits so you need to check your carseat to see what it's limits are. Many older "bucket" or "carrier" infant seats are only able to take an infant up to 20 pounds and 26 inches. My son exceded the length at 4 months and we had to move him to a convertible carseat in the rear-facing position. The newer carrier carseats often an accommodate infants up to 22-30 pounds and 29-31 inches. You need to be familiar with your own carseat to make this determination. Do not worry if your son's legs touch the backseat, they will not get crushed or anything. It is safe for him to still be rear-facing. You want to also make sure your son's head is below the top of the carseat back - if it's above, then it's time to move him to a bigger seat, but still rear-facing.

Nearly all convertible carseats can be rear-facing to 30 pounds and then turned front-facing until 40 pounds. Britax has a few seats that have harnesses till 65 pounds, but I don't know of any other brand that does. Most either convert to boosters with carseat buckles or you need to get a separate booster at 40 pounds.

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You are right. Size and weight are more important. There should be height and weight restrictions on your infant carrier or carseat. If you cannot find the requirements on your seat just call the number on the seat or look in your owner's manual (it's usually somewhere right in the front of the manual).

Hi M.,

The baby has to be 1 years old and at least 20 lbs.

Hope this helps.

S.

The best person to ask would be your doctor. My daughter was in a front facing car seat earlier than 1 year but she was well over the 20lb mark and she was way too tall for the rear facing seat (even though it was a convertible seat) but I did ask my doctor first and he said it was fine because she had developed enough by then.

from what Ihave been told here in pa under age 1 they must be rear facing car seats and after 20 pounds can be in next size car seat

Its 20 pounds AND 1 year

Hi M.,

You need to look on the car seat itself or in the owners manual. Most car seats are rear facing up to 20 pounds or a year whatever comes first BUT read your car seat manual to make sure. I have seen some car seats with different instructions. Usually (if you don't have the manual anymore) they print instructions on the side of the carseat. If not you can call the company they will help you. If you have a travel system or snap and go then you can buy a car seat that converts from infant to toddler ( I used that kind after my first two grew out of the travel system snap and go)the instructions will be on the side as to what to do! Hope this helps good luck.

J. O

My response is pretty much the same as everyone else's. Your child must be 20 pounds or greater and 1 year old. The reason for the age restriction here has to do with the development of their neck muscles. Sometime during the first year your child will develop the muscle strength and control to handle a sudden stop in the forward position. But this varies from child to child. Usually by age 1, they are able to do so. So, although it may seem arbitrary to some, the 1 year age limit is actually well planned to make sure each child is ready to be facing forward. They have some wonderful carseats that can be both forward or rear facing. Good lucck with your growing son.

Hello, I believe it is 20lbs and they stay atleast 1 year of age. Thats what I get told atleast. You should be able to research it online.

A baby can go from rear-facing to front-facing at 1 year and 20 pounds. Age is just as important as size since the safest position for a child is rear-facing.

I just put my daughter in a forward facing carseat at 12 1/2 months. Her Ped. said that a child should be at least 20 pounds but they have to be a year old. My daughter is 13 months old and loves facing forward. Good luck!

Law states 20 pounds AND 1 year of age.

Hi M.,
The law states that infants weighing 20 pounds AND are a year old can then have enough muscle control in there bodies to turn to forward facing. If a child reaches 20 pounds before the age of one, and no longer fits in a infant car seat then a convertible car seat is necessary.(one that can be used both rear and forward facing) There are many really good convertible car seats at places like Walmart, K mart ETC. that do not cost too much at all. My son was a preemie and didnt reach 20 pounds untill he was 18 months! My Doctor would not allow me to turn him forward facing until 20 pounds and explained all this to me as well.
Hope this helps.
K.

Hello M., I believe the correct age/weight for changing the car seat around is 1 year AND 22lbs. it has to be both, not just one. So if your child is a year old but only 20lbs, then you must wait until he/she gets to the weight limit as well visa/versa.

Hope that helps!

H.

Hi M.~
We switched our now 22 month old son into a larger forward facing car seat when he was one. Our doctor advised us that a baby has to be one year of age and 20 lbs. to make the change. We switched him out of the infant carrier into a larger rear facing seat when he was six months old. He just seemed way too big for it and it was too heavy to carry around.
Hope this helps!
~E.

Hi. I have Britax Boulevard and its after 33 lbs then it can be forward facing I think it all depends on the car seat mfg but I would think it cant be all that much different for them all.
K.

Unless it changed, the baby has to be 12 months AND 20 + lbs. I am switching my son this weekend. He is 11.5 months and 23lbs. He's WAY too big and his legs are all scrunched up against the seat.

Hi M.!
Unfortunately the laws today are a bit weird. Children can't go to front facing until they are 1 no matter what the size and weight. I had that problem with my first son bc he was so big. Also once they are in the front facing seat they are there until they are 8 yrs. old or 80 lbs (whichever is 1st), but if they reach 80 lbs first you need a dr. note or they can ticket you and then you have to go to court and fight. Such a pain! Hope that helps. I know the laws vary from state to state though. This is the law for NJ. Have a great day!

Hi! In NJ, it's 20 lbs AND one year of age. They have to be both, not one or the other. =)

1 year and 30 pounds i believe, but not before 1 year. Ask your pediatrician. They can tell you for sure

You must wait until your child is 20lbs AND one year old. Babies do not have the neck control for a crash...they should stay rear facing as long as possible.

the rule in PA is that the baby must be at least 1 yr old and at least 20lbs.

What I have been told for almost a year is that your child has to be a year old and at least 22 pounds. A little about me, I have a daughter that will be one on May 14th and hopefully she will be 22 pounds or more.

The state of PA says your child has to be 20lbs AND 1 year old...not either one 1st, but both together. The exception for that would be in the childs length. If the babys head is above the back of the seat & the feet are hanging out too, you should talk to your pediatrician with those concerns.