for those who forward face your carseats

I am not looking to insult or accuse anyone of being a bad mommy. Please bear this in mind. Rather, I am looking to pass on some important info that for some reason is not becoming part of the conventional wisdom in our parenting culture. The other day there was a thread about when to forward face your baby. For many years now, the common response has been 20 lbs and 1 yr old. However, this figure has been reconsidered by many safety and child health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics. I know it is more convenient for parents to be able to see their kids when they are driving, but I beg you to reconsider your decisions by visiting the link below. As some of you know, my brother is an intensive care pediatrician in a major university hospital trauma center. This is a big issue for him based on witnessing many preventable tragedies. Please take the time to visit the link I have posted. And again, I am not looking to offend anyone's choices, just trying to share something I think is important. Thanks
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx

Thanks so much!! THis is WONDERFUL to know!!!

i saw a show on tv (dateline or 20/20) while i was pg about this. the footage of the impact really says it all. we don't intend to turn Jade around for a long time.

I really want to see the footage but its not working right at work so I will wait until I get home. I have thought about turning her back around and see how she does, maybe she wont scream so much on the way home....

I COMPLETELY and UTTERLY agree with you.






However, Iain freaks out so much in the car that I think I am a more unsafe driver when he is rear facing, therefore increasing our chances of getting into an accident. He is actually pretty happy forward facing now. (I actually turned his seat around when he was 10.5 months and 19lbs, hanging head in shame. I was going to drive off an overpass though!!)

Thank you so much for posting this Jeanne. We had already turned Daniel around in one vehicle, although he's barely 20 pounds. I didn't realize how much safer it is to be rear-facing as long as possible. Those crash test images are persuasive. We're going to turn Daniel's seat back around this weekend.

I had fully intended on keeping Kylie rear facing until it was absolutely necessary to turn her forward facing, but DH had other plans.

I also agree with Steph. Kylie would scream her head off the entire ride, even if it was a 2 minute trip to the sitter or a 1/2 hour ride in to the grocery store. We waited til she was a year old, but when we turned her, she was much happier and so was I. I used to be so stressed out driving when she would scream her head off, not now.

I think it's ideal if your child likes to ride rf and easy to say it should be done that way, but not if your child doesn't.

As I said in my initial post, I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty about their particular situation or decision. I just wanted to be sure that everyone had access to an important piece of information, much in the same way people post recall info on baby products. Mainly, I hope none of us ever has the occasion to test the reliability of our babies' carseats.

BTW- Corey used to be a car screamer as well. I absolutely dreaded any kind of car travel. When we switched her to a different carseat, she eventually stopped and now seems pretty content (much to the relief of her older brothers).

This post has been edited by jcc64 on Mar 20 2004, 08:13 AM

I did nor percieve your post as a "finger shake"..i learned alot from it!! I wan't to thank you. I thought i had researched this topic well enough. It is too late for Kari and Sean, but i intend to keep emily r/f for as long as possible.
Thanks again!!

Ditto...Thankfully Mckaylee doesn't cry for very long...and sometimes she doesn't at all if she has a stuffed animal friend or something...Usually I give her a toy she hasn't seen in a while to play with...that usually works.

The info posted was informative and yes for a lot of children rear facing is best for as long as possible but you also need to follow the weight and heigth requirement son your seats AND the directions that they should face for each weight in each seat. Which on our seat is 25lbs to be turned forward on one and 20 on the other. Not everyone can afford the $200 carseat that can accomodate at 35lb rear facing child. When we bought our car seats the only ones in our price range (since we had to buy 3 in 4 months- one for each car and he grew out of the infant seat befor ehe was 3 months old- he was too long and we were told by both the ped and the state police at a car seat check that he needed to be in a convertible seat. ) were not top of the line seats, they are safe and purchased new but they were not the best ones offered. I also happen to know a child who was severly injured and partially paralyzed during a car accident because she was rear facing at 2 1/2 years and her legs were too long to fit properly in the seat. She crushed a few ribs and shattered one leg because she had one foot propped against the backseat and the other against the door. The car was struck in her side door and the inpact caused her leg to slap into her chest and the one that was against the door was crushed and she now has to walk with a brace and cane for that side due to partial paralysis. So rear facing may not always be the safest, each child is different and needs to be treated that way, follow the LAW and the advice of your doctor adn police officers and trust your own instincts when you feel something is not right. WE turned Cameron around when we felt he was at the right weight and age according to the laws in our state, and based on the advice of our doctor. This in no way compromises how we love him or how we are as parents. Nor does turning your child around because of comfort/crying issues when they have reached the correct age/weight. It is far safer aand easier to concentrate on driving without a toddler screaming in the back, especially on long trips. Sorry if i offended anyone but others feel free to post their own opinions and here is my

Thanks for the information.

Thanks for the info!

As I said in my initial post, I am not trying to make anyone feel guilty about their particular situation or decision. I just wanted to be sure that everyone had access to an important piece of information, much in the same way people post recall info on baby products. Mainly, I hope none of us ever has the occasion to test the reliability of our babies' carseats.

BTW- Corey used to be a car screamer as well. I absolutely dreaded any kind of car travel. When we switched her to a different carseat, she eventually stopped and now seems pretty content (much to the relief of her older brothers).

I'm sorry, I think what I typed came out wrong. I knew you weren't trying to offend anyone and you didn't offend me.

I'm glad I didn't Karen. It's difficult info to share, I realize, and I'm glad it was received in the spirit in which it was intended.