they are saying it's ok to be front facing since our baby is 5 months and 20 lbs..Their babies have always been front facing..Also a car place and babies r us told me that we could allow him to sit front faced if he was in a 5 point harness?? What do we buy?? I was just going to look for a convertible seat and go from there. Babies r us said it's NOT illegal to forward face..any input?? This site I just looked at said if the baby is 20 lbs they can forward face even if he's not 1 years old... http://www.inventiveparent.com/state-law...
Go to that website... At the bottom of the page, click the state you live in and that will give you the law for your state.
SOME states do not require rear facing for a full year. Some do.
However, I feel safer with Johnny rear facing for as long as possible. That's just what I'm happy with. To each their own.
Your best bet is the Britax line of convertible carseats. :) No, no, no - that is absolutely wrong.
Do not under any circumstances place an infant that young forward-facing. I really can't stress this enough.
Babies younger than one year do not have strong enough muscles in their neck to protect them from serious injury or even death if they are forward-facing during an impact.
You should call your local police department for information on safe car seat installation and how to place your baby safely in the seat. Next, you should call the manager of the ignorant person you talked to at BabiesRUs and tell them that they have opened themselves up to massive liability by passing on such erroneous and dangerous information. It's not 'illegal' to put the car seat front facing. BUT it IS recommended to keep the baby rear facing until at least 1 year of age AND 20 lbs.
My son is about 23-24 lbs. right now and is 10 1/2 months old and is still rear facing.
He will continue to be rear facing until he turns 1.
If I were you I would buy a Convertible Car Seat and keep him rear facing until he turns 1, even though he's already reached the 20 lb. mark.
He still hasn't reached the 1 year mark. The baby HAS to be 20lbs and 1 year. Their bones are not strong enough to handle an accident front facing. Most of their bones are still cartilage so they can grow. Look at an x-ray online somewhere that shows a childs hand you can see the bone and you can see the cartilage. I would buy a car seat with a 5 point harness because it is safer. Not trying to be rude but I wouldnt listen to the minimum wage payed teenagers at babies are us. Call your local police dept or fire station and ask them what the laws are in your state. Im sure there is a website if we looked hard enough.
pretty sure its rear facing until 20-25 pounds AND 12 months in all states though
the site that I'm looking at, most states dont have a law about rear facing. so i guess its a use your own judgement type of thing. I don't know where you live, but here the baby has to be 20 pounds and at least 1 year old. You may want to call your local police station to check the law where you are, and I would go ahead and buy a convertible seat so he can sit rear facing until he is a year old. I'd ask your pediatrician if you aren't 100% sure about everything that you're hearing.
I recently saw a report (can't remember where???) that said babies would actually benefit more if they stayed rear facing until 30 pounds! Obviously, you'll want to do what is safest!
We own a Britax, it goes up to 65 pounds. Noah faced backwards until one year of age :) They have to be a year old, even if they are already at the weight requirement (or, a year and 20 pounds, so if your one year old weighs 18 pounds, you'd have to wait until they weighed 20 to turn them) Though - I guess that's MN law - could be different in your state. i still have my daughter rear faced at 8 almost 9 months, i was always told it was the law i'll have to check that out, but the britax convertable is a good one
edit i just checked and my state requires over 20 lbs and 1 year old your state may have different requirments i always thought it was backward until 20lbs and 1 year.
even if they are 20lbs before 1 year they still have to face backward until that 1 year mark.
i know my son is right around the 20lb. mark, but we will still have him face backward until he is 1 your right someplaces is not the law...but knowing the information that rear facing is the safest seat for ANYONE wouldnt you want to keep ypur child rear facing s long as your seat allows? each state is different on the laws regarding car seats I know Missouri just changed the age and weight for booster seats. So check your states wesite and see what the laws are there BABY KILLER! LOL They are supposed to be 20 pounds AND 1 year old first. Why would you want to risk their safety over it? Who cares whether or not it's illegal. A 5 month old's neck is not developed enough to handle forward facing. If you get in a car crash his little neck couldn't handle the impact, it could easily snap and break killing him instantly or paralyzing him for life.
A car full of teenagers pulled out of front a me a couple of weeks ago and broadsided them hard. Bradley didn't even cry. Why? Because he was facing backward. I thank the stars in the heavens he was! You just never know. Why would you risk it just because some clerks at a baby store said it was okay. Do your research for your baby's sake.
Forward Facing: Real accident experience has also shown that a young child's skull can be literally ripped from its spine by the force of a crash.
When a child is facing rearward, the head is cradled and moves in unison with the body, so that there is little or no relative motion that might pull on the connecting neck.
Not rude. Just facts.
Rude would be for us to tell you to do whatever you want it's your baby, what do we care? We care enough to give you facts. this goes by each state's law. http://www.elitecarseats.com/custserv/cu...
personally i'd keep him rear-facing as long as possible because it's safer. Please, please, please don't risk your childs life because of legalities...it's a safety issue. Baby must be at least one year AND 20 lbs, and if you can leave them rear facing longer, then please do so. Do it as long as possible. A baby is at risk for serious injury if you front face them too soon...Also, try to fit them in the center rear of the vehicle to avoid injury from side impacts. You can buy a convertable seat that will allow you to have the baby in from birth (5lbs) to 100 lbs, so you can use it for a really long time...Safety 1st makes a great one, with the highest crash test rating...It is their higher end model just under the Eddie Baugher price point, at around 160.00. Worth every penny. Please don't front face your baby. It's not illegal, but it is UNSAFE! If they are forward facing, and you are in a frontal crash (the MOST serious kind - think of a head -on collision or hitting a pole), the force is very likely to seriously injure or kill your baby. The force of the crash could easily snap your baby's neck. If the baby is rear facing, the force of the crash would be spread out over his back, thus being much less likely to kill him.
You should keep your baby rear facing until he is AT LEAST 1 year AND 20lbs. Preferably longer. It is your child's life at stake!
Edit: Why would people give thumbs down for wanting to potentially save the life of a child because he has a misinformed mother? To all who give thumbs down, please read: http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html I'm not adding anything new to this post. But if it helps, I just had this conversation with my brother yesterday. He is a police officer and certified in installing/inspecting car seats. It was a very intense training so any certified car specialist will have the answer. He installed my car seat and said it's 20 pounds AND 1 year. Not whichever comes first. At least that's the case in Colorado and NH...not sure if other states are the same. Maybe the 5 point harness seat has different specifications than a typical car seat? We have the Chicco Key Fit and the manual says 20 lbs & 1 year too. I would just call the police dept or fire dept (quick search on google) that is certified to inspect seats and get that question answered for sure! I definately wouldn't take any of our answers for the Bible...you want to make sure you get the truth from people who truly know the safest thing to do! :-) Good luck and I'd like for you to add an edit with the answer you find out. i SAID THE same thing the other day and I got like ten thumbs down. A front facing 5 point harness seat IS safe for even a 5lb baby. I have one that goes from 5-65 lbs. My sister put her baby in a front facing at nine months because she was 20 lbs. They do make front facing seats with support for collisions. The best place to go for a definate answer is your local fire department or police station. The will know exactly what the law is b/c it varies from state to state. If you can find some extra time, stop by the fire station with the seat. The guys over hear are always happy to help out with any questions, and they will even install the seat properly for you. You've already gotten a lot of answers...a few of them were even good, lol. ;) The problem with just talking to other parents is that sadly, most of them don't research the decision and just take the word of other uninformed parents. The problem with just calling up a police/fire station is that not every station has a certified CPST (child passenger safety technician) on staff who has actually been trained to perfectly answer that question. However, the guys there will usually attempt to answer you anyways b/c they want to help, not realizing the consequences their misguided advice can have. Pediatricians aren't the be all end all in car seat advice either - b/c they have to keep on so many things, its one of the areas that falls through the cracks, and they will routinely give out the 20lbs/1year rule if they say anything at all.
Here's the truth of the matter: the 20lbs/1year rule came about in the 1980's! Yep - almost 30 years ago, when only aboutr 75% of the population was even using car seats, and the ones at the time were only capable of rear facing to 20lbs. Many babies then hit 20lbs right around 1 year, so that became part of the adage. We now know its not enough. Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life!
1)A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 5 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age.
2)A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
3)Current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing.
4)In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
It works this way: when you get in an accident and run into something, the car stop suddently, but everything and everyone in the car keeps moving in the direction the car was moving when it stopped, in most accidents, this is forward. So in an accident with a child in a forward facing seat, his head, the heaviest part of the body on babies and toddlers, flies forward very forcefully and easily snaps. If that same child is in a rear facing seat, his head tries to fly forward but is supported by the back of the rear facing seat, so there is no stress put on the child's neck and spine.
Check out this photo album exclusively of rear facing kids, many of them much older than 12 months: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum... There isn't a single documented case of a child breaking their legs b/c they were rear facing in an accident. There are, however, lots of cases where children have been killed and seriously injured where a rear facing seat would have protected them better.
Inconvenience? Sometimes. although, having an almost 4 year old who is now forward facing, I find it inconvenient that he kicks my front seat! And no inconvenience is going to keep me from keeping my child safe.
So at 5 months and already 20lbs (which actually above average these days) he'll need a rear facing convertible car seat. Check my other answers and you will see the best options for them. :) People are uninformed and unfamiliar with current research/recommendations if they are telling you that it is okay to let a five-month old baby sit forward-facing. The only laws that I would be concerned with are the laws of physics, which dictate that a rear-facing child is 5 times safer sitting that way.
The importance of rear-facing:
Why You Should Consider Rear-Facing Your Child Past the Minimum of 1 Year and 20 Pounds
鈥淩ear-facing 鈥?Unmatched Safety鈥?A fairly comprehensive article from CPSafety.com
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrea...
MSN Article 鈥淐hild Car Seat Advice Questioned鈥?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868/
You Tube Video 鈥淏enefits of Keeping Baby Rear-facing鈥?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI
鈥淲hy Rear-Facing is Safest鈥?A fairly comprehensive article from Car-Safety.org
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html
Rear Facing Seats 鈥?Yet another fairly comprehensive article for thecarseatlady.com
http://www.thecarseatlady.com/car_seats/...
Pictures of How a Child鈥檚 Spine Develops http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.ph...
AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) Policy
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi...
Highlight of the policy - 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
Why RF is Safest Even in Rear End Collisions
One Family鈥檚 Story of Being Rear-Ended While at a Stop by a Car Traveling at 60-65mph
http://myangelsaliandpeanut.tripod.com/i...
A childs' vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old. Before then, he/she is at great risk for spinal injury. When rear-facing in a crash, the forces are spread out among the strong carseat shell and baby's strong back. The harness holds baby down in the seat and he/she is cradled and protected. When forward-facing, the harness holds babys' body back, and his/her head flies forward violenty, putting tremendous stress on the neck.
Here's the catch...the spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches, BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 of an inch before it snaps and baby is gone. This is referred to as internal decapitation. Babys' head will be slumped over like he/she is sleeping.
It's very important to keep babies rear-facing to 1 year AND 20 lbs. (both, not either/or) at the very least. It's actually much safer to rear-face to the limits of a convertible carseat, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A forward-facing child is 4-5 times MORE likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age...not a risk I'll be taking with my babies.
Check out this video for some great information and crash test footage...you'll see the HUGE difference: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI
And this one has lots of pictures of older rear-facing kiddos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7Qr...
And here鈥檚 another great link:
http://www.childrestraintsafety.com/rear...
http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum...
Here is a list of great convertible seats that will allow your baby to sit rear-facing for longer, as well as forward-face in a harness for longer....
Higher Weight Limit Convertible Seats
Britax Marathon, Decathlon, or Boulevard (MA/DC/BV) 17鈥?top slots, RF 5-33lbs, FF up to 65lbs in 5 point harness. Awesome seats, allow for rf tethering, has lockoffs to replace locking clips, very easy installs, many bells and whistles that make them easier to use correctly every time, lasts most kids to age 5-6y/o. $220+
Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (FPSVD) 17 inch top slots, RF 5-33lbs, FF up to 55lbs in a 5 point harness. Made by Britax, sold under the FP name--basically a stripped down Britax Decathlon. Great seat, awesome price $129 (regular $199), and will last most kids to age 5-6 y/o. DISCONTINUED DUE TO POOR SALES--As of right now Britax is not manufacturing. Old seats have been shipping鈥p to a year & a half old! Take this into consideration as the seat has a 6 year lifespan.
http://www.albeebaby.com/fiprsavodeco1.h...
Evenflo Triumph Advance RF to 35lbs, FF to 50 lbs. Max harness height of 17鈥? The Triumph Advance has the infinite-like harness adjuster too鈥o rethreading the harness! Much nicer than the old Triumph! Much taller shell than the old Triumph too. We think it will be small enough for newborns! $129
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.d...
Sunshine Kids Radian 65/80 18鈥?top slots, RF 5-33lbs, FF up to 65lbs in 5 point harness. Great seat, only second to Britax because it has some compatibility issues in some vehicles when installed with seatbelt. Really good seat otherwise, allows for RF tethering, lasts most kids to 6-7y/o. 8yr lifespan (most have a 6yr) $175+ www.skjp.com has the manual available for viewing.
Recaro Como & Signo Recaro makes seats for NASCAR and has made car seats for the European market and a few for the US market for years. RF to 35lbs, FF to 70lbs. Bottom slots of 9", so not ideal for newborns. The outside width of the seat at its widest point is approx. 19 陆鈥?to 20鈥? The Como & the Signo are basically the same shell the biggest difference is that the Signo has an infinitely adjustable harness (whereas the Como has to be re-threaded) and the Signo's latch straps are on a bar--similar to Britax (on the Marathon and Boulevard)--so you don't have to re-thread the latch belt if you're going from rear facing to forward facing. Como is $249; Signo is $289 and has 17.75鈥?top slot.
*having problems with the interior shoulder room being too narrow for children to be comfortable.
Compass True Fit Convertible Car Seat Estimated availability 1st Quarter 2008
RF 5-35 lbs, FF to 65lbs, 10鈥?bottom slots, 18鈥?top slots. 3 crotch positions, designed to fit smaller cars鈥攈eadrest removes to allow rf seat to recline to 45掳, put headrest back on after older child is 22 lbs. and adjust seat to be more upright when rf. Cover removable without unhooking the harness, lockoffs for rf & ff, harness adjusted with a knob, everything adjusts by sliding something. Covered in EPP Foam. Estimated to be $179.
http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum...
ADDED: The fire department person that you spoke with is misinformed. I cannot think of any seat that is only a foward-facing seat that will allow a child your son's age/weight to sit in it. Seats that will only forward-face will not allow children under one to sit in them according to manufacturer instructions. You will need a convertible seat anyhow, so you may as well sit him in it rear-facing.
Liz,
You don't have a forward-facing car seat that is for babies 5-65 pounds. There is no such thing. You have a convertible car seat that is for babies 5-65 pounds. It is designed for babies to sit rear-facing until they reach the height and weight limit for the rear-facing position. If you look at the instructions, I will bet that this is exactly what it says. it may not be illegal, but it isn't safe, nontheless.
i have a Britax Decathlon that can be front or rear facing
AAP recommends: Children should face the rear of the vehicle until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 lb to decrease the risk of cervical spine injury in the event of a crash. Infants who weigh 20 lb before 1 year of age should ride rear facing in a convertible seat or infant seat approved for higher weights until at least 1 year of age.3,4 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. |
