Turning Carseat to Forward Facing Position

I'm sure this question has been asked a million times.  When did you turn the carseat from facing rear to facing forward?  Jayden will be 1 on the 20th and his feet are already hitting the backseat.  Do I wait until he's uncomfortable?  Do I do it when he turns 1?  When's the best time?

[Crritter]

Most states reeuire them to be backwards till 1, I would make sure you check on the law first.  You are so close I would wait, then you can do it on the B-Day.  We did with both of ours.  Make sure you have a carseat that fits your baby though if you haven't switched out of the infant one.  Hope the B-Day is a wonderful day!

[mami1323]

Oh Jayden's big boy self has been out of the infant one since 5 months.  I wasn't planning on doing it until he turned 1 but didn't know if it would be better to wait until he was older.  Thank you, I'm nervous to celebrate it.  He won't be my baby any more :(

[Crritter]

I know, it's so exciting and sad at the same time.  I know at the peds office the paperwork has the age of the child on it, I always thought it was cute that they said 0, kinda choked up when it turned to 1.  My oldest went to school this year, and really it was slow till he turned 3, then he was potty trained and pretty independent.  He acts like a little teen most days.  He even told me I was embarrassing him awhile back- he's too little for that...I keep hugging the 1 year old tight hoping he will slow down.

[mami1323]

Yeah, it is fast.  I can't even believe it's been a year.  When I look at his newborn pics, it feels like a dream.  

[Crritter]

I miss the newborn pics.  I love looking at them so much, but it makes it even harder.  I am so proud of how well they are growning up though.  It just seems crazy that they grow so fast and become so inependent.  Cam is 19 months old now and is at that stubborn I can do it myself stage.  It's cute to watch.

[mami1323]

Jayden is not even 1 and already extremely stubborn.  I'm going to have trouble with that one.  But I do to love watching him grow.  I miss my baby but I love the boy he's becoming.  I'm always entertained.

[becca_3456]

Amelia is 15 months and only weighs 17 1/2 pounds. She still fits comfortably in her infant carrier..... it goes up to 22 pounds. I bought her a sunshine kids radian 80 and it can go rear facing until 35 lbs. I know rear facing is safest but I think she would like a different view. Should I switch her to forward facing in her new seat or should I leave her rear facing?

[Crritter]

Oh, you have a tiny one!  I don't know what the rules are, but I think they go by weight too, talk to your ped on that one, maybe some of the gals here will know too...my boys were that weight in the first couple months!

[mami1323]

My son was like that at 4 months....lol.  Becca has a tiny, beautiful little one.  I think weight plays a factor in it as well.  That's why I was asking.

[becca_3456]

Yeah she is a tiny little monkey:) She is short too, 27 inches. We definitely got our money's worth out of her infant carrier:) Our 6-9 month clothes have lasted forever. She just now can wear 12 month stuff.

[becca_3456]

I just looked it up and they say they should at least weigh 20 lbs before forward facing. Wow we have a ways to go:)

[peekawho]

I just turned Mr. Peeks carseat forward this week.  He was getting rather cranky about sitting backwards.

[kjbutcher]

My doc said 1 AND 20 lbs.  AJ is 14 months and still has not hit the 20 lb mark so we still have to wait.

[Quinns momma]

My ped insisted 1 year old and at least 20 pounds.

[pcarsey]

Hi Ladies,

My friend is a State Trooper and he said if you go against your state laws (I think most states are 20 lbs and 1 yr old) and you should happen to get pulled over and/ or wreck, you will be in major trouble. He also went so far as to say that if your baby is even two days from turning 1 and under poundage, and should happen to get injured or heaven forbid, killed, it would be on your hands. Now I don't know if he said all that as a scare tactic or not but it sure scared me!

It's best to look up infant car seat laws in your state, and make sure the info they provide is up to date.

[Crritter]

I think they are pretty serious about hte car seats.  I was told to wait till the first year, they didn't talk much about weight, but both of mine were past the minimum so I kinda breezed past that part on the handouts.  I would wait honestly till the 20 lbs., but would look up your state laws too to be sure.  Never can be too safe with those little munchkins!

[pertykitty]

there are many reports that say to wait even longer than the 1 and 20 rule.  i would love to turn addison around but she is only about 16 lbs right now and her safety is more important than anything else.  california state law is 1 AND 20lbs.

[CYW]

well i switched from the carry carseat to the 3 in 1 about when cameron was 9-10 months old i think...and i just put it front facing because he has reached 22lbs...

[ma2isiah]

It is safer to  wait. I kept my son rear facing until 18 months. Dd cried everywhere we went until we turned her seat around at 14 months. I wanted to keep her rear facing longer, but the screaming was terrible and very distracting while driving.

Mami- I would wait, he will be safer.

Becca- wait until she is atleast 20 lbs.

[babyscience]

I have heard many recommendations on leaving them in a backward facing position for as long as possible.  It is safer to have their legs all crammed up then for them to be facing forward.  I am going to ask the ped at his one month check up, just to make sure it is okay.

[GNicole]

The law is they have to weigh at least 20 lbs. and be 1 year old.  Only 8 more days until the big day!! :)

[cantwait4baby]

They have to be one year old and 20lbs.  If he is one but still not 20lbs you have to wait.  My dd lost weight and I almost had to turn her car seat back around when she was one but thankfully she never went below 20lbs.