when can they face forward

I forget, when can we face them forward in their carseat?? Do they have to reach both height AND weight requirement, or just one of them??

 

you have to reach both 1 yr. AND 20 lbs.
i still have mine facing backward thought at 15 mo., since i read a lot of stuff saying the new recommendation is to keep them backward until closer to 30 lbs. and/or 2 y.o., as it is actually a lot safer for them.
we actually have our 15 mo. appt. with pedi this week and i planned on asking that very question!

 

Dee is correct. You can get the latest carseat info at carseat.org and that might help you with your decision!

 

it depends on whether you are referring to law, or safety. children are safest rearfacing. please do not be in a hurry to turn them around. all convertible seats will rf to 30 lb, min, some up to 35. keep them rf to the limit of their seats, unless outgrown by height. i *think* a child outgrows the height of their rfing seat when the top of their head is one inch below the top of the seat (this is most seats- check your manual for specifics on your seats). legally, they can ride ff at 20lbs AND one year of age. my boys are rfing at 26 months and will remain that way until they are 33 lbs, which is the limit of their seats (fisher-price safe voyage). one is only 23 lbs now, and the other is 29.

here is a video that may be of interest to you about the importance of rear-facing.
another one.

 

QUOTE(titania @ Jan 21 2008, 03:13 AM) [snapback]581697[/snapback]
it depends on whether you are referring to law, or safety. children are safest rearfacing. please do not be in a hurry to turn them around. all convertible seats will rf to 30 lb, min, some up to 35. keep them rf to the limit of their seats, unless outgrown by height. i *think* a child outgrows the height of their rfing seat when the top of their head is one inch below the top of the seat (this is most seats- check your manual for specifics on your seats). legally, they can ride ff at 20lbs AND one year of age. my boys are rfing at 26 months and will remain that way until they are 33 lbs, which is the limit of their seats (fisher-price safe voyage). one is only 23 lbs now, and the other is 29.

here is a video that may be of interest to you about the importance of rear-facing.
another one.


I agree. Mine RF happily until 2 yrs 3mths (Jan '07).

 

I just asked our pedi about that, too! He said 1 year and 30 pounds.

 

I am all worried as DS is now 22 pounds and his seat only goes to 30 rear facing. What if he hits 30 before a year? I guess then we will be locked up in the house because I am not going out to buy him a new seat!

 

Tammy, I have a BIG boy, and although he was 20 lbs at 4.5 months, he did not hit 30 until after 12 mos. Their weight gain slows down, so you should be fine! Let's hope, right?!!!

 

20 lbs AND 1 year.

Both of mine are forward facing now. We turned DS at 16 months and DD at 19 months.

 

QUOTE(twoin2005 @ Jan 21 2008, 04:25 AM) [snapback]581824[/snapback]
Tammy, I have a BIG boy, and although he was 20 lbs at 4.5 months, he did not hit 30 until after 12 mos. Their weight gain slows down, so you should be fine! Let's hope, right?!!!


Ditto. Dax was always bit but he's not going to reach 30 lbs until after 1 year old because babies gain way less during the 6-12 month age than they did during the 0-6 month age.

 

Still RF here too! The twins are almost 14 months, and in the higher %. My oldest was 18lbs-something at 6 months, 25lbs at 12 months, but she was "only" (still 95%) 31lbs7oz at 2 yo, so yes, it does slow down.

I turned my oldest around when she turned 1 (she wasy way over 20lbs) but this time I did my research and know better ... they'll remain rear facing for a few more months, and possibly until they reach the RF limit (ideally I would like to have my oldest in the middle; better fit, but then the twins have to be FF in order for her to get there).

My twins are in a Marathon (because they're above average and the seat has high top slots and a high weight limit). My oldest is still harnassed in a Radian 65 and I hope to keep her in that seat until age 5-6. No hurry on my side to put her in a booster. Again, I've done my research.

 

QUOTE(Ali M @ Jan 21 2008, 11:37 AM) [snapback]582311[/snapback]
Ditto. Dax was always bit but he's not going to reach 30 lbs until after 1 year old because babies gain way less during the 6-12 month age than they did during the 0-6 month age.



I sure hope so. Currently he is still gaining 1 pound every 2 week. Last night I weighed him and he was 22lbs. 12oz. which is insane. He was also 28 inches!

 

I agree with the prior posts. I kept mine rear facing until around age 2.

 

I turned mine around at a year.

 

I also waited until almost 2 to turn my boys. One was at 33 lbs which is the RF limit for his seat so that's when I turned both of them because heaven forbid one gets something and the other doesn't.