Which seat should my toddler sit in in the car? (Details in post)

Question

My toddler is 23lbs. The forward facing car seat requires a minimum of 25 lbs, but he’s reached the height requirement for the reverse facing car seat. I’m not sure if we should switch him or leave him reverse facing until he’s 25lbs. He’s been at the 22lbs mark for several months. He only recently went up to 23. 
Side note: he’s 20 months.

Answer

The best practice (from a safety standpoint) is to keep them rear facing until they max out the upper rear facing height or weight limit of their seat. Chances are they will max out one before the other, but once one limit is maxed out the seat is no longer safe rear facing. Rear facing is ALWAYS SAFER no matter the age; it is even a safer position for adults if only cars were built with rear facing passenger seats. 
Until a child’s vertebrae have fully matured they are at risk of internal decapitation; this is when the spinal cord is severed inside the body, resulting in either paralysis or death. The maturation and ossification of the vertebrae is something that happens with AGE, not with SIZE, which is why extended rear facing (rear facing for as long as possible rather than just until age 2) is so important. Quoting from csftl.org:
“Toddlers are not just small adults; their bodies are still developing and those developmental changes make them more vulnerable than an adult. A toddler’s vertebrae are connected via cartilage rather than ossified bone. Those connections are called synchondroses, which are slowly closing over time. There are three major points of ossification, each with two synchondroses. According to a study published in the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, the first station to close is the C3, second is the axis, and third is the atlas. The results of the study show:
🔴 50% probability that the primary closure of the C3 is complete at age 2 and the secondary at age 3.
🟠 50% probability that the primary closure of the axis is complete at age 5 and the secondary at age 6.
🟡 50% probability that the primary closure of the atlas is complete at age 7 and the secondary at age 8 (Yoganandan, Pintar, Lew, Rao & Rangarajan, 2011).

This image to the right shows the cervical (top), thoracic (middle), and lumbar (bottom) vertebrae of a one year old (left, each photo) and six year old (right, each photo). Note the easily visible synchondroses in each.
These findings show that before age two, none of the cartilaginous spaces have completed ossification. Those pieces of cartilage have the ability to stretch up to two inches. Yet only 1/4″ stretch is enough to rupture the spinal column, resulting in paralysis or death  (McCall, Fassett & Brockmeyer 2004).”
What this means is that a child’s vertebrae do not finish fully ossifying until ages 8-9 years old, no matter how “big for their age” they are. In fact, a child that is large for their age is actually at a higher risk forward facing than a smaller child of the same age because their head is a larger percentage of their overall weight and will exert more force on their neck in a forward facing collision. Statistics show that riders of ANY age (even adults) are safer riding rear facing. 
Many parents cite concerns of their child being “too cramped” in a rear facing car seat once their feet touch the seat back in front of them and their legs are required to bend when seated. Statistically, there are more leg and hip injuries reported in children who are FORWARD FACING because their legs swing up and hit the back of the front seats in a frontal collision. In contrast, in a rear facing frontal impact all of the momentum is absorbed into the back of the car seat rather than between their legs and the seat back in front of them. 
My oldest (boy) is 5 and is still rear facing comfortably in a Graco Extend2Fit (50lb rear facing limit.) Youngest (girl) is 3 and rear facing in a Graco 4Ever. Photos taken 5/27/21.

Answer

Focus more on the maximums of your car seat instead of the minimum. Most car seats can rear face a child until 40lbs! That’s usually the maximum. It’s safest to rear face as long as possible until they hit the weight or height MAX

Answer

I take it you have an infant seat and a forward facing harnessed booster? Did you not buy a convertible seat that rear faces AND forward faces? Please post exactly what car seats you have and we can help more specifically. I will post another comment about rear facing safety

Answer

Keep him rear facing as long as possible. It's It's safest for them. My daughter is 27 lbs and we have a convertible car seat that can stay rear facing up to 50 lbs so she'll be rear facing for a while

Answer

Rearface 4 life. 😂
But seriously as long as possible, at least 4+ years. It’s illegal in most states to turn them around at your son’s age. I would buy whatever seat I needed to keep my kiddo rear facing. I’m assuming you have him in an infant seat still? You need a convertible. I recommend the Britax Clicktight, it “only” goes to 40lbs rear facing but the ease of install is why I recommend this seat to everyone I know. Most people don’t install their seat correctly and the Clicktight makes it so easy, literally less than a minute and you have a tight secure install. 
My 3 year old is only 26lbs so by the time she outgrows this seat rear facing she will probably be 6 or 7 🤣
If she were a bigger kid I would go with the Graco extend2fit which has a 50lb rear facing limit I believe.

Answer

OP, please please comment with the make/model of both car seats you have. That will help greatly with advising you on how to keep your babe safest in the car. ☺️

Answer

Side note: we have the Graco4ever and it is awesome.

Answer

If your child has reached max height for rearfacing, turn him around. Being over max height is a danger.
Most car seats are 22 pound requirement.
You might consider buying a new carseat if you are uncomfortable with forward facing.

Answer

I kept mine rear facing until they got car sick. Then I switched them around. My twins were 18mths, my youngest was 2.
My first I had in 2005 and I changed her in her first bday to FF and now that I think back I cringe.

Which seat should my toddler sit in in the car? (Details in post)

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