QUESTION ABOUT CARSEATS?

HELLO TO EVERYONE,
OK SO MY QUESTION IS ABOUT CARSEATS....DUH! ANYWAY MY DD IS 8 MOS. OLD AND I HAVE OBVIOUSLY REMOVED HER FROM HER INFANT CARSEAT, SHE IS PAST THE WEIGHT LIMIT AND HER LEGS WAS HANGING OFF THE END, I DID THAT ABOUT 3 MOS AGO....I THINK, IT WAS WHEN SHE STARTED SITTING UP ON HER OWN. ANYWAY I HAVE HER IN MY SON'S OLD CARSEAT AND IT IS ONE WERE YOU CAN ALSO USE AS INFANT AND I HAVE HER FACING FORWARD IN IT BECAUSE SHE IS AT THE WEIGHT LIMIT WHERE I CAN LET HER FACE FORWARD PLUS HER LEGS ARE ALSO HANGING DOWN. I DID HAVE HER FACING BACKWARDS TILL SHE MET THE WEIGHT REQUIRMENTS AND HER LEGS WERE ALWASY BUNCHED UP AN DI WAS AFRAID THAT EVEN A MINOR WRECK COULD CRUSH HER LEGS SO ONCE SH EHIT THE WEIGHT I TURNED IT FORWARDS. MY NEPHEW IS 5 WEEKS YOUNGER THAN MY DD AND IS STILL IN AN INFANT SEAT, HIS LEGS HANG OFF, I MEAN THEY CAN'T EVEN LATCH THE BELTS WHEN HE IS IN WITH HIS SNOW SUIT ON...HE IS A BIG BABY. ANYWAY I TOLD HER IT WOULDN'T HURT TO TAKE HIM OUT THAT HE IS BIG ENOUGH TO BE IN A BIGGER ONE OF COURSE TELLING HER THAT IT IS HER DECISION, SHE ASKED ME WHAT I THOUGHT. SO TO MAKE A ONG STORY SHORT HER DOCTOR TOLD HER HE NEEDED TO BE FACING THE BACK TILL HE IS A YEAR OLD, MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THE OPPOSITE, AM I DOING THIS WRONG OR IS IT JUST HER BEING CAUTIOUS? I KNOW WE WILL ALL HAVE DIFF. OPINIONS AND THE LAW IS DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT STATES SO PLEASE JUST SHARE YOUR EXPERINCES OR THOUGHTS. THANK YOU!!!
TIFFANY

[jen_KE]

I have a friend that is a local policewoman around here.  One of her jobs to make sure everything with car seats is correct (fitting the kids in them, installing them in the car, etc).  She asks you to bring the car, seat, and child to the station and does them individually.  Call your local police station and see if they do the same around you...

[anxiousmomtobe?]

Here in Canada the rule is rear facing until 12 months, due to the strength of neck muscles, this positions lessens the liklihood of whiplash in a child under one.

This is a relatively new position.  We also have to have our kids in boosters until 7 or 60 lbs, whichever comes first.

[Momoftwogirls]

in our state it is one year AND 20 lbs.  Also we were going to borrow a "big girl" car seat from a friend and then saw a note on it that it was only to be used until 2006. I think it is the plastic that can age and then cause it unsafe. My advice is to contact your local DOT or I know our Saturn dealer has car seat safety checks - find out what they say...and be sure to check your son's car seat online to make sure it hasn't been recalled and that it is still safe to use.

[JJety]

I'm not quite sure what your doctor was talking about.  He is wrong.  They have to be facing backwards until they meet BOTH the age and weight requirements.

[baby4Staci]

YIKES! I would buy a convertible seat ASAP if i were you and let your dd face the rear.  IS IT WORTH THE RISK???? You were 100% right in getting your DD out of the infant seat and any child who's feet hang over the edge should also be removed.  THey MUST be rear facing until 12 months.  The only brand of infant convertible car seat that is appropriate for rear facing is the Britax.  It has a teather that connects under the passenger side seat to keep the seat sturdy.  Do not skimp on a carseat.. your childs life is at risk here.  Many children are harmed in car accidents due to improperly installed seats..  I dont mean this post to sound threatening.. LOL just do a lot of reasearch and make the choice that is best for your baby.  You can buy the Britax on Ebay for a lot cheaper than what they sell for in stores.  my local carseat nazi recommends the Britax Decathelon.. LOL

[baby4Staci]

Also.. let your nephews parents know that EVERYONE recommends that you do NOT strap your child into a carseat wearing a snowsuit.  use a carseat boot.. (that reminds me i should register for one..) LOL

[Mertek]

With my oldest, she was walking at 9 months and at that check-up the dr told me it was okay to turn her forward, (100% height at the time and 20 lbs). I waited until she was about 10.5 months old, when she was so scrunched up to the back of the seat I didn't think that was safe anymore.

I don't mean this to sound like a dumb question, but is it law or a giudeline for the rear facing for an entire year? I know there laws about booster seats and general car seat use.

I did a quick google and didn't find anything concrete (but I didn't spend a whole lot of time on it either). I did find this interesting link.

http://www.carseatsite.com/rear-face_article.htm

[jd1419]

I kept my son's rear facing until the wer one--they did meet the weight requirments before that time.  I used the Graco car seats--with the bar that goes over and snaps in between the leg.  If it positioned right their lettle legs shoudl not hang over (unless they are really long)  for when it is backwards it is reclined more--Also another thing with car seats make sure your straps are not set to high--there shoulders shoudl be above the strap mark to hold them securely.

[deanne11]

I believe that in the US and all states the child must meet both weight and age limit to face forward.  I have been told by all drs and law enforcement that is the rule.

My friend's husband was chief of fire dept in AZ and advised me of that when I lived there...I moved to PA when my DD was 9mos and again...same rule

BOTH age and weight must be met before facing them forward....And I'll tell you my DD hated facing the backwards...would scream bloody murder.  I faced her forward the day she turned 1!!!  She had met the weight requirements at 9 mos as well

[Crritter]

Wow, big babies!  My son met the requirement for weight early too, but our Dr. told us that it is because of the neck muscles, as someone else mentioned.  We waited, plus it is the law, remember that whole Britney Spears issue?  I think that's what the fuss was about, but can't totally remember or care to.  Maybe you can get some car toys, the soft kind to entertain your baby, or get some CDs that have someting your little one likes.  I had to sing to my son all of the time.  Watch out for some toys in teh car though, I was warned not to have anything hard or sharp in the car, not even those link toys that are meant to go on the carseat handle.  Apparently a big no-no.  We also had our carseat inspected by a fireman before we brought baby home.  They also offer clinics, or whatever where they will set up and allow you to come in and have your seat inspected.  We did it again when we got a new car.  It was great because they were able to look at how our son was strapped in and let us know what was okay and what we could do to improve.  It's always nice to get a pro to help you out.

[myproblem]

Baby's size is the best indicator for when they should face forward. 20 lbs. is the earliest they should face forward. An infant seat is too small if baby's legs hang out. My daughter was small, and did not hit 20 lbs until about 18 mos., but I had her in a bigger car seat at about 12 mos.

[pmom]

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH...I WILL DEF. TURN HER BACK TO THE BACK. I KNOW SHE WILL HATE IT BUT I WOULD RATHER BE SAFE THAN SORRY. MY DOC. TOLD ME HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FINE SINCE THAT IS WHAT THE CARSEAT SAID. ALSO I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO GETTING A NEW CARSEAT SO IT IS AN UPDATED OR NEWER THAN THE ONE I HAVE. I ALSO DIDN'T KNOW YOU SHOULND'T STRAP YOUR BABY IN THE INFANT SEAT WITH A SNOW SUIT ON. I ALSO ALWAYS USED THE COVER OR BOOT. HE IS JUST SO BIG I HONESTLY WISH THEY WOULD TAKE HIM OUT OF IT. I WOULD BE AFRAID TO CARRY IT QITH HIM BEING SO HEEVY, I WOULD BE AFRAID THE HANDLE WOULF BREAK. I AM UNSURE OF HIS WEIGHT NOW BUT I KNOW THAT 3 MOS AGO HE ALREADY WEIGHED OVER 20LBS. ONCE AGAIN THANKS SO MUCH!
TIFFANY

[Crritter]

I think that it may depend on your state.  Out here it is the law to have babies rear facing for the first 12 months and the weight requirement be met.  I think that was the whole issue that Britney Spears (sorry Britney) ran into as well, it's regulated by state.  Most Dr.'s say that the neck muscles are not as developed so they want you to wait till they are at least 12 months and developmentally ready, not just weight and height.  There are lots of carseats out there that go from rear to forward facing.  My son was out of the infant carrier by 4 months or so, he was a long little guy, but you just bump them up to the next carseat.  We are now on our 3rd carseat, moved to a booster, but ours has a back on it that we can eventually remove and transition him to just the regular seat.