Car seat safety

Hoosier Kitty · #1 July 20th, 2009, 03:09 PM

I just found out this info I saw on a siggy... I clicked her blinkie on JM. It took me to
YouTube - The Importance of Rear-Facing: Version 2

I never knew anything about Front face seat or rear face seat.

I went over and lurked at Car seat safety.

Read Maddie's response:
http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f7...ng-please.html (Can I get some info on RFing please??)

what do you think? (Not trying to set up a debate.. just part of education and learning)

BTW there's a site to find professional seat checking at Home | SeatCheck.org
Safety tips Safety Tips | SeatCheck.org

Celry · #2 July 20th, 2009, 03:19 PM

It's pretty standard not to move your infant to forward facing until he/she is at least a year. Some people are now advocating not switching them until they are two. My niece and nephew are both very large kids. My nephew grew out of the weight limit for his infant car seat by 6 months. There are many car seats out there that can be rear or forward facing. You keep the kid rear facing until he/she is old enough and then take the seat out and flip it around. My nephew is now 11 months and the size of most 2 year olds. He's still rear facing since he's less than a year.

BabyBird · #3 July 20th, 2009, 04:31 PM

I will be rear facing as long as possible. Obviously there comes a point where legs get in the way and things like that so I am not setting a time limit but it will be more than a year. Just because the recommendation (actually isn't it a law to rear face for a year? I think it is in Indiana) is one year doesn't mean you Have to turn them around at a year. Research does show that it is safer longer.

~April04~ · #4 July 20th, 2009, 05:03 PM

It's recommended now that you keep your child rear facing until at least 2. Which is what we'll be doing. It's just so much safer.

Christine-MA · #5 July 20th, 2009, 05:17 PM

I think the law is one year AND 20 pounds, not one or the other.

I will be RF as long as possible. Even if the legs are long, it's safer for them to sit cross legged or have them hang over the sides.

Oreobaby · #6 July 20th, 2009, 06:46 PM

I don't really know much about this, but will be learning more...this video is very informative though...I wasn't sure exactly what the guidelines were...I still have so much to learn!!

Boo · #7 July 20th, 2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christine-MA

I think the law is one year AND 20 pounds, not one or the other.

I will be RF as long as possible. Even if the legs are long, it's safer for them to sit cross legged or have them hang over the sides.

Complete ditto. It's 1 year AND 20 lbs before you should even think about turning your LO.

I plan on keeping Christian RF as long as possible, hopefully until he reaches the weight or height limit for his car seat (Britax Boulevard CS), which is 35 lbs and 49". I started lurking on the Car Seat Safety board here on JM a few months ago and have found so much info there and I only wish more people would do their research. There are babies in my PR who are not 1 yet and are FF already. It makes me cringe! Also, I now see so many install errors in pictures of friends' babies on JM, facebook and myspace. From chest clips being at tummy level, to shoulder straps being too loose or too high, to kids that should be in boosters but are not and have no more protection than a seat belt intended for adults to people using shoulder pads, infant inserts for their car seats, or any other car seat accessory that did not come with the seat-- huge hazards as the car seats were not crash tested with all these things in them and they can do more harm to your child than good in the event of a crash. I urge you all to visit the car seat board on JM and do your research.

Sorry, kind of got on my soap box there. Car seat safety is quickly turning into a new passion of mine.

samspain · #8 July 21st, 2009, 05:11 AM

They recommend a 30lb weight limit on infant car seats here (Anas is 30lbs, but she will outgrow the height limit before then).
My nephew is 18 months and RF, my sister bought an extended rear face seat when she was working in Denmark and they reaface till 5. The seatbelt goes under the seat not over their thighs, so he can get in himself and the way its designed, theres plenty of room for his legs. Its a maxi-cosi the model I think is Moby and its great.

Celry · #9 July 21st, 2009, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boo

...From chest clips being at tummy level, to shoulder straps being too loose or too high, to kids that should be in boosters but are not and have no more protection than a seat belt intended for adults to people using shoulder pads, infant inserts for their car seats, or any other car seat accessory that did not come with the seat-- ...

Wisconsin now has laws about kids being in boosters. I can't remember what they are, but a kid has to be pretty old and heavy before he/she can be in a car without a booster.