Phone Call with DCM

[SilverSabre25]

When you put a child rear facing where do their legs go (the older kids)? Seems like it would be so uncomfortable with them either scrunched up or having to go around the back of the seat.

They cross them or stick them up in their air or squish them up with their knees near their face.
Kids are bendier than grown-ups, they don't care. Most kids I know prefer rear-facing because they're tucked up all cozy and their toys don't drop far out of their reach :P The pictures are my daughter when she was about 2.5 on a long car trip (8 hours). She was happy as a clam, and rear-faced until almost three (outgrew seat by height).

[Daycarelady1979]

Hmmm...never heard of that. My peds office hasn't said anything & they have no info posted. I'll look into it. Thank you!

[SilverSabre25]

Hmmm...never heard of that. My peds office hasn't said anything & they have no info posted. I'll look into it. Thank you!

Not surprising; there's very little chance you'll hear of it from your ped. Most people don't understand the need to RF and peds are no different.

[Hunni Bee]

:confused::confused:

I dont think she has a choice in the matter. I'd personally report her for transporting a 4 month old infant in a forward facing seat. I dont know know how it is in your state, but here that's definitely a moving traffic violation and possibly child endangerment.

[Nickel]

Shes not putting him fwd now. But when hes one. But i dont want to turn him at one. The conversation was for down the road.

[Country Kids]

What would you do with a child that was to big to turn around or if it doesn't fit right in your car turned around. The two carseats my parents have provided wouldn't allow me to rear face them plus the kids are 3 but not 40lbs. Also, I wouldn't be able to get them in and out of their car seats if they were rear facing.

[countrymom]

so I had a police officer tell me that, you use the rear facing up to 18 if they still fit comfortable. The picture above with the feet is very unsafe and you shouldn't be having your child sit that way at all. Oh pushing the 2 yr old mark is too old because the carseats are not ment to be used as rear facing when your child is over 18 months old. Also, having the child rear facing that is older doesn't work as well as one thinks, children tend to push on the seat, loosening the straps (and yes they do start to loosen). This is from the saftey carseat clinic. There are many articles online, so it doesn't matter what anyone says, if your unsure get it checked out.

if you are really unsure go to your fire department and they will check your carseat and let you know if the child is ready to move.

[Country Kids]

so I had a police officer tell me that, you use the rear facing up to 18 if they still fit comfortable. The picture above with the feet is very unsafe and you shouldn't be having your child sit that way at all. Oh pushing the 2 yr old mark is too old. It all depends on the child too. Also, having the child rear facing that is older doesn't work as well as one thinks, children tend to push on the seat, loosening the straps (and yes they do start to loosen). This is from the saftey carseat clinic.

if you are really unsure go to your fire department and they will check your carseat and let you know if the child is ready to move.

This is what I was thinking but really wasn't sure. I really don't think my daycare parents would want their kids feet like that when riding in the car. Usually kids don't weigh 40lbs. till they are a little older. I can't imagine having a child ride like that and them be comfortable.

I have a parent that works with the fire/police dept. I might double check with them even though I know their child was faced forward at a year or so.

[Nickel]

Because i feel strongly about extended rear facing, i provide my own car seats. I am big on carseat safety, correct positioning, strap adj. Most car seats are used incorrectly so i adj the straps and install the seat correctly and i check the seat every time i drive so no worries about kids loosening straps. I also dont use bulky clothing in thr car seat and instead use blankets or those seat covers.

Aap guidelines state 2yrs old. The seat you get should be the correct seat for youe vehicle. I know thats not always possible. Some car seats never fit right in some cars. Like my itty bitty ford focus. But now i have an suv so its much better. It is safer to keep them rear facing as long as possible however the law is 1yr. For me, i choose extended rear facing and will continue to do so.

Years ago they thought a childs legs would get hurt in a crash if they were bent in the rear position. They have since debunked that theory. My oldest was in a booster seat until she was nine and fit correctly in a seat belt. It is one of the things i am very big on.

[SilverSabre25]

so I had a police officer tell me that, you use the rear facing up to 18 if they still fit comfortable. The picture above with the feet is very unsafe and you shouldn't be having your child sit that way at all. Oh pushing the 2 yr old mark is too old because the carseats are not ment to be used as rear facing when your child is over 18 months old. Also, having the child rear facing that is older doesn't work as well as one thinks, children tend to push on the seat, loosening the straps (and yes they do start to loosen). This is from the saftey carseat clinic. There are many articles online, so it doesn't matter what anyone says, if your unsure get it checked out.

if you are really unsure go to your fire department and they will check your carseat and let you know if the child is ready to move.

No. I'm sorry but this is just not true. Weight and height matter, not age. ERF is practiced in other countries and seats ARE designed to withstand it. What is your source for this other than this one officer? What is HIS source? I have NEVER heard any of that before and I've researched extensively. I just did a search again (Google: Extended rear-facing safety) and saw NOTHING like what you said. I think that officer was full of either a) crap b) outdated information or c) crap.

Children may push, but straps should be checked every time the child is put in anyway--and honestly, I've never had to fix them after a good PROPER install. Maybe I'm lucky, I don't know, but two kids, almost 4 years combined of rear-facing, and they never loosened the straps.

I'd rather have broken legs than internal decapitation or a broken neck.

Not all police officers know what they are talking about, just like not all docs do either.

All the car seat safety stuff *I'VE* done says ERF to the limits of the seat NOT the age of the child.

Rear-facing as long as possible saves lives.

[SilverSabre25]

What would you do with a child that was to big to turn around or if it doesn't fit right in your car turned around. The two carseats my parents have provided wouldn't allow me to rear face them plus the kids are 3 but not 40lbs. Also, I wouldn't be able to get them in and out of their car seats if they were rear facing.

In that case you go with the set-up that fits best and is safest (i.e tightest install).

They should be able to scramble in and out by themselves by three

3 years old and almost 40 lbs I would probably FF if the install was safer that way. I wonder about their height, as well--by three they might be getting too tall for RF

My DD FF'd in my mom's car before she FF'd in ours, because I couldn't get the seat in my mom's car to install as tightly RF as I could FF (no LATCH in mom's car). She was over 2 when I switched her and i did it because I felt that the tighter installation was a better choice for that situation. She was also tall enough.

[SilverSabre25]

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx/

Lots of links and videos

http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html

more information

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/03/21/car.seat.guidelines.parenting/index.html

and more

http://www.joelsjourney.org/

story of an 18 month old child who was severely injured in a car accident--if he had been RF he would have been fine. Instead he broke his neck and has spent years recovering.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868#.UBhejaP-3-s

good article

[daycarediva]

No. I'm sorry but this is just not true. Weight and height matter, not age. ERF is practiced in other countries and seats ARE designed to withstand it. Children may push, but straps should be checked every time the child is put in anyway--and honestly, I've never had to fix them after a good PROPER install.

I'd rather have broken legs than internal decapitation or a broken neck.

Not all police officers know what they are talking about, just like not all docs do either.

All the car seat safety stuff *I'VE* done says ERF to the limits of the seat NOT the age of the child.

Rear-facing as long as possible saves lives.

My 4 year old is STILL rear facing, he is a tiny guy with a short torso. We probably have another 6 months or so until he has to be turned around. My almost 7 year old ds is still in a 5pt harness and will continue to be until he reaches the max weight/height limit of the seat. My older ds was 10 until he maxed out on the weight limit of his high back booster.

[Country Kids]

Here is what I found for our state.

Requires children ages 7 & under who are 4’9” or shorter to be secured with a child safety system.

Children less than 1 year of age or who weigh 20 pounds or less must be secured with a child safety system in a rear-facing position.

Children ages 7 & under who weigh 40 pounds or less must be secured with a child safety system designed for children weighing 40 pounds or less.

Children ages 7 & under who weigh more than 40 pounds and are 4’9” or less in height must be secured with a child safety system that elevates the child so that a safety belt or safety harness properly fits the child.

[Nickel]

Yes, the laws are for age one. But it is still.safest.to do extended rear facing. And remember up until a few years ago there wasnt any car seat laws