My daughter just turned 1, and though we'd like to keep her car seat rear facing, I feel like she is running out of room for her feet. She is only 29 inches, and 19 pounds, and I know the docs are recommending to keep kids rear facing until 30+ pounds. But what do you do with their feet?
We have this problem with both our Britax Roundabout and our Costco car seat (both are convertible seats). Any suggestions/tips would be great!
I know she should stay rear facing, and I do want her to. Our seats limit is 35 pounds rear facing, so I'm thinking she'll probably be 3 before we turn her around. My question was more about what to do with her legs/feet. I guess we will just keep folding them; she's bendy like me, so she shouldn't be uncomfortable :)
Like one mom said- broken legs can be fixed, spines can't.
I went until 18 months with my first one, but I've seen some of those crash test videos, and the second kid is staying that way until 30 pounds. She can bend her legs. May not be the most comfortable, but much safer.
When you are ready to go forward, the Graco Nautilus is the best! She can be in it up to 100 lbs.
Keep her rear facing as long as possible as long as she doesn't exceed the weight limit of the car seat in that position. Rear facing is the safest position for infants/toddlers, and I believe that in some countries they keep it up until 4 years of age or so. Don't worry about her legs. I agree that she will probably just curl them up and be fine.
Two years ago the American Academy of Pediatrics quietly added this wording to its guidelines: If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back.It is extremely important that the child be in the proper seat for their weight & height. Be sure you check on that.
There was no reason for the last post to be so nasty to the post Lisa left. We are all here to help each other.
I have a very long 14 month old that gets to bend her legs. A cousin said something to me about it the other day, and I said, 'since she doesn't know any different, it doesn't bother her, and I'm keeping her rear facing until it either does bother her or she is 35 pounds (our seats limit)."
Hi A..
My ped just told me to keep them rear facing for at least 2 years now. Good luck!
Your daughter should be able to bend her legs and sit cross legged. Most kids naturally do this. I have a 14 month old and he has no discomfort. You as an adult might think of the position as uncomfortable, but babies/young children are much more flexible and it doesn't bother them.
Lisa hasn't done her research on this. Rearfacing is the absolute safest position and you should keep your children rearfacing up to the rearfacing limit of the seat. Legs can be fixed....spines can't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8&feature=re...
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bsafety/0,,9r5v,00.html
http://www.carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#rearfacFF
** just edited to add....I wasn't trying to be snarky or mean I was just stating what I felt to be true. I just think too many parents rely on what their ped says (and yes while they are educated doctors they aren't always the most informed in some areas. Their specialty is disease and health issues) or word of mouth instead of researching the latest updates to things like this that have a huge impact on the safety and well being of our kids.
Car rides were an absolute nightmare for us until my son turned 1, at which point we turned him around. He was 29 inches and 24 pounds. I have never heard of keeping them rear facing until they are 30 pounds or 2 years old or the weight limit of the seat, etc...like some of these other posters said. If that were the case, we would never have gone anywhere in the car! The weight limit on our seat is 100 pounds. I can't imagine keeping my son rearfacing until he is that big! If your daughter is comfortable crossing her legs and you have better peace of mind, by all means, keep her rearfacing. But if she is just miserable, don't feel bad about turning her around. With the new LATCH system in place and the 5-point harness on her seat, she will be fine. My son was fine, and now he is a very big 38 inches and 37 pounds for a 2 year old. We have him in an open-backed booster seat (that fits his height and weight parameters) and using the car's shoulder belt. He is perfectly safe. Don't let these people scare you. Good luck!
My doctor told me 20lbs or 1 years.
I would double check with your ped, at 1 their legs are getting longer and rear facing maybe uncomfortable for her.
