When will your child go in a front facing car seat?

Question

We need to buy another car seat and I am torn between spending a lot and getting one that can be rear facing, and getting an equally safe car seat, but one that is just for forward facing.  My husband wants to turn my son to forward facing at 2, I am really torn.  I just want what's safest.  You never expect to be in a car accident, but you just never know!  I know many think 2 is sufficient for forward facing. But I also know others that kept kids rear facing for a MUCH longer time.  My son is tall, and I get that rear facing may not be the most comfortable thing, but I just worry!  Thoughts? Advice?  Applicable experience?

Answer

My son is 25 lbs, the car seat we use is good up to 35lbs backward facing. He’ll be facing the back till he tips 35lbs even if he’s 4. Facing the back for as long as possible is what’s safest. Not sure what brand you’re looking at but it’s an evenflo safe max.

Answer

We have the Chicco NextFit, which has a rear facing weight limit of 40 lbs. We’re going to rear face as long as possible. My son only weighs 24 lbs right now, so I’m hoping we’ll get close to his fourth birthday.

Answer

We plan on rear facing as close to four years as we can get.  My daughter is in the 97 percentile for height and has no issue with leg room.

Answer

We will rear face as long as possible, but preferably until 4. My son is off of the height chart he is so tall and has no issues what so ever! We have the graco 4ever.

Answer

We are going with the height limit,  wanted to go longer but her long ass legs are getting pretty scrunched and we dont have much left before she hits the height. Hubby wants to turn her now but I am going to hold out til shes at least 2

Answer

We have to turn him at two. We have a small car and we can’t find a backward seat that will fit 3 across with the other two seats.

Answer

I think I read somewhere that the “rules” got changed from age to height/weight requirements. (Don’t quote me on this lol) I’m already confused as it is lol my daughters car seat says she can be rear facing until 40lbs, unless she hits the height requirement first, but even then it’s a minimum of like 30-something pounds before she can be forward facing?? I don’t even know 😂 she’s tiny and like 22lbs so it won’t even be for awhile.

Answer

So I’m in the boat with you, kind of. We need to put the infant bucket seat back in the car for our new babe in January. Our oldest will be 2. He’s tall (34”) and weighs about 27-28 lbs. I would keep him rear facing until he maxes our Diono but I’m not sure 2 rear facing seats will even fit in our car and allow my husband to be able to drive in it!! (We have just the 1 car). So I’m super torn.

Answer

It is safest to go by whatever your car seats rear facing requirements are by weight and height. I believe even the American Academy of Pediatrics has removed the whole recommendation of switching at two years of age for height and age requirements, if you are in America.

Answer

We plan to keep our son rear facing as long as possible for safety purposes. He is on the smaller side so we don’t have an issue of his legs being long and it being uncomfortable for him to rear face though. I know car seats can be costly but I recommend the seat we went with. It’s the Graco 4-1 convertible car seat and grows with your child. We transitioned him into this car seat at 11-12 months. So you won’t have to worry about buying new car seats or booster down the road since this seat will convert to one for you.

When will your child go in a front facing car seat?

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