[aclee]

Am I the only person on earth doing this? Everyone treats me like a moron.

[devildogwife]

Originally Posted by aclee

Am I the only person on earth doing this? Everyone treats me like a moron.

No way! You know how old Cameron almost is and he's still rear-facing. It's safer for him so that's what we're doing. He doesn't mind it at all either.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by devildogwife

No way! You know how old Cameron almost is and he's still rear-facing. It's safer for him so that's what we're doing. He doesn't mind it at all either.

Last I checked Cameron was still 1.5...right? No where near 2 yet? Someone the other day (at playgroup) did tell me, oh so and so has a daughter that is also almost two. Her and Ty will play well together. I still say Tyler is 19 months...even though it's 20 in less than a week

[DPline]

Originally Posted by aclee

Am I the only person on earth doing this? Everyone treats me like a moron.

My kids are 5, 6 and 10 so we are past that now, but I did keep them rear facing when they were your little one's age.
You are the smart one!!!

[mommytoEli]

i heard this JUST last week, but honestly, my guy is 22 months, and is extra tall......if i turned him rear facing again, he would have to sit cross legged for 2 more months. i feel like he'd be uncomfortable, unhappy, and unsafe due to his size. HOWEVER, if he were smaller, i would in a second. and my next baby will ride back facing longer. it is what i thought should be happening when my previous 2 kiddos turned one and their drs told me turn them around to face front. i didn't want to, but i figured since the dr told me to i was doing what was best.

[meghann]

We're going to RF until Julia hits the height/weight limit for the seat. And anyone who doesn't like it can suck my left big toe.

People seriously get judge-y about extended RF? That's so weird...

[mommytoEli]

AAP Changing Rear-Facing Car Seat Recommendations?
AAP - Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families - 2009

i just read these 2 sites for more information. the aap's reccomendations are still sort of vague. but i realized just now that i couldn't rear face him even though they promise me he will be safe with his big old long legs....bc my 22 month old exceed the rear facing weight requirement for his seat! yikes. so those of you who do rear face longer, make sure your child's seat can accomodate their weight in that position. just passing it along, bc i didn't know.

[Beth.]

Originally Posted by meghann

We're going to RF until Julia hits the height/weight limit for the seat. And anyone who doesn't like it can suck my left big toe.

Ditto!

My response to people who question it is "Well, yes, according to the law at one year and 20 pounds I COULD turn her seat forward facing. It's kind of like when your kid turns 18 -- he COULD smoke cigarettes legally, but is it safe? Studies show that rear facing is soooo much safer than forward facing, so we'll stick with it as long as we can."

[OnTheJourney]

Originally Posted by Beth.

My response to people who question it is "Well, yes, according to the law at one year and 20 pounds I COULD turn her seat forward facing. It's kind of like when your kid turns 18 -- he COULD smoke cigarettes legally, but is it safe? Studies show that rear facing is soooo much safer than forward facing, so we'll stick with it as long as we can."

Oh GOOD ONE!!!!!!
I will surely use that!

[aclee]

Ty is small (but does sit cross legged in his seat) and everyone say, "He's not 20 pounds yet!?!? When I say, No, he is, he's almost 25....they always say I should switch him around so his legs can go straight.

I'm not debating ERF vs. Forward facing here...I know the crossed legs is perfectly safe, and no child has ever broken their legs or had hip damage for that reason etc. But having to explain that to every Mary Sue and Martha, who haven't had a kid in a car seat for 10 years grates my nerves. I've shortened it to "Studies show it's safer to keep children rear facing as long as possible"...

I just can't believe so many people notice! My peanut will be rear facing for another year or so at least since we got a seat that rear faces to 35 pounds...

[Beth.]

Originally Posted by mommytoEli

i just read these 2 sites for more information. the aap's reccomendations are still sort of vague. but i realized just now that i couldn't rear face him even though they promise me he will be safe with his big old long legs....bc my 22 month old exceed the rear facing weight requirement for his seat! yikes. so those of you who do rear face longer, make sure your child's seat can accomodate their weight in that position. just passing it along, bc i didn't know.

FYI -- a lot of the newer seats have a 35 pound (one has a 40 lb limit) rear facing weight limit.

[Nevada Jen]

Its obviously safer. DS hated read facing (like screamed the entire time we were in the car). I turned him the second it was reasonably safe. DD faced rear till about 4 when she still was not at the 20 pound mark but her PT told us we needed to turn her around because she was likely to injure the bottom half of her body she was so tall.

Just watch the weight and heaight limits on your seats for the rear facing position (especially the height, in my experience). A seat that is read facing but that is not approved for a rear facing child that tall is not safer than forward facing.

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by Beth.

FYI -- a lot of the newer seats have a 35 pound (one has a 40 lb limit) rear facing weight limit.

i saw that. some of us are using seats from previous children though, and i know my limit is 30, i just went and looked. i just wanted to be sure people checked.

[naca]

The new convertible seat I bought for my youngest (almost 16mo) has a rear facing weight of 40lbs! I plan on keeping him that way until he reaches either the height or weight. I kept my now 3 & 4yr olds RF well thru 2yrs in their 30lbs Britax seats.

[Beth.]

Originally Posted by mommytoEli

i saw that. some of us are using seats from previous children though, and i know my limit is 30, i just went and looked. i just wanted to be sure people checked.

We could start a whole other discussion on people incorrectly using car seats!!