Car seat question

What car seat do you like? Why?
Also, when do you put the car seat facing forward?  Is it when the baby reaches 20 lbs?  Thanks.

[AndiJ78]

I liked my snugride and transitioned to a cosco turiva or something of the like. I have one for each of my lighter boys. You don't turn them forward facing until they reach 1 year AND 20lbs. So if your baby is big like mine were, they will remain rear facing until their first birthday even though they hit 20 lbs much earlier. Mine on average hit 20 lbs by 4 months old, way too young to be forward facing..

[cutiemama]

I have a britax marathon in one car and the britax roundabout in the other car and I love them both. They're really comfy for the kids and have an impeccable safety record. Well worth the money in my opinion.

[rubyolivia]

Mine is a Safety 1st from KMart and like the above poster said...the base for that makes the carseat look miserabley uncomfortable! We are going to try propping a pool noodle under the base (recommended by the hospital to a friend of mine) to make it recline more. Otherwise I will not be able to use my base......which will suck because I really like being able to just push the lever and pull out the seat for the travel system instead of messing with the seatbelt! Whichever brand you choose......TRY it in your car first!

I think most states vary a little on carseat laws, but in Ohio and quite a few other places, the child must be rear facing until they are 1 AND 20 pounds. They also must be seated where there is NO airbag or the airbag is turned off. (My dh was totally unaware of that fact......so just thought I'd let anyone else know too)

[Wooly25]

I have a graco one from Kmart, anyways with ours the base cause the carseat to sit very upright so we don't use it, because the our dd's head falls forward and she isn't strong enough to hold it back yet, but without the base just buckling it in, we like it much better, it clicks on the stroller really quick, and isn't to big.  But using the seatbelt is still very quick to put it in.

[surprisebaby]

they say that it is to do with babies capabilities.  it has to do with strength of neck muscles.  they aren't ready to face forward until baby is at least 1 yr old and at least 20 lbs.  

[kris123]

I got the sungride to use for when my baby is born.  I read and most of the women on this forum recommended it to me

[Me2mommy2b]

DD is already 8 mos old...We do not like the car seat that we have right now (we got a used one from my sister in law) and we were thinking of getting another one once DD is older.  I guess we need to wait until she's 1 :((

[AndiJ78]

Our car seats are rear facing up to 40 lbs, but once they hit a year they can also be forward facing until 4olbs. That gives plenty of time for them to grow before moving into the booster seat after 40lbs.