Car Seat - Fort Worth,TX

NO ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! :o) the safest way for a child to travel in a car seat is rear faceing. so keep him rear faceing as long as POSSIBLE up to the seats maximum weight for rear faceing... he will get over being board and there are some toys they make for rear faceing seats! you can even put one of those over the top of the seat dvd players over the seat so he can watch baby einstein or something as he travels!

Good luck
A. J

By law, the child must be BOTH one year old AND weigh at least 20 pounds to have him face the front, so legally you must tough it out a couple more months.

It's my understanding that they must be 1 year and 20 pounds before you can change them to forward facing. I know he's probably bored, but it's better to have a safe bored child than the alternative. My daughter wasn't much into watching TV at that age either, but she loved having an animal or music video on to watch for car rides. Baby Einstein has many to choose from, there are also some great ones from Discovery Channel if he's into animals.

Warning - my post is going to be very long! I'm giving a ton of links to research, videos, and articles to help you find your answer. It really drives me crazy when I hear people say "well, my pediatrician said it's ok to forward face them at 1." While your pediatrician may have told you that, they may not be up to date on the current research - how long have they been a pediatrician? I'm sure there are a lot more things for them to be keeping current on (medications, etc) than car seat safety. So, do your own research and don't just rely on what your pediatrician says! My own pediatrician gave me a brochure that said it was ok to switch my baby around at 9 months as long as she was 20 pounds...it is NOT TRUE! Pediatricians and other doctors are not the be all end all source for everything! And, if your pediatrician was up to date on the research, they wouldn't tell you to switch your child, because it's recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, who your pediatrician practices under, to rear face as long as possible!! Here are the reasons why you DO NOT WANT TO SWITCH YOUR CHILD TO FORWARD FACING until they are at the limits of the car seat.
A childs' vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old. Before then, he/she is at great risk for spinal injury. When rear-facing in a crash, the forces are spread out among the strong carseat shell and baby's strong back. The harness holds baby down in the seat and he/she is cradled and protected. When forward-facing, the harness holds babys' body back, and his/her head flies forward violenty, putting tremendous stress on the neck.

Here's the catch...the spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches, BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 of an inch before it snaps and baby is gone. This is referred to as internal decapitation. Babys' head will be slumped over like he/she is sleeping.

It's very important to keep babies rear-facing to 1 year AND 20 lbs. (both, not either/or) at the very least. It's actually much safer to rear-face to the limits of a convertible carseat, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A forward-facing child is 4-5 times MORE likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age...not a risk I'll be taking with my babies.

Check out this video for some great information and crash test footage...you'll see the HUGE difference: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI

And this one has lots of pictures of older rear-facing kiddos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8
And now for extended rear facing!
“Rear-facing – Unmatched Safety” A fairly comprehensive article from CPSafety.com

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

MSN Article “Child Car Seat Advice Questioned”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9916868/

You Tube Video “Benefits of Keeping Baby Rear-facing”

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI

“Why Rear-Facing is Safest” A fairly comprehensive article from Car-Safety.org

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

Rear Facing Seats – Yet another fairly comprehensive article for thecarseatlady.com

http://www.thecarseatlady.com/car_seats/rear-facing_seats...

Pictures of How a Child’s Spine Develops http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&a....

AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) Policy

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/ped...

Highlight of the policy - for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back

Why RF is Safest Even in Rear End Collisions

One Family’s Story of Being Rear-Ended While at a Stop by a Car Traveling at 60-65mph

http://myangelsaliandpeanut.tripod.com/id5.html

And here’s another great link:

http://www.childrestraintsafety.com/rear-facing.html

European study showing that rear-facing is better through age 4: http://www.anec.eu/attachments/ANEC-R&T-2008-TRAF-003...

www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/04/rearfacing-car.html

Celebrity Baby Blog rear-facing article written by BC regular Andrea (BookMama).

www.CarSeatSite.com/rf.htm

CarSeatSite.com’s explanation of why rear-facing is safest.

The rear facing is safest for a child because of the neck muscles response in a car crash. It's fine to turn them around if you don't plan on being in an accident, but who really plans on those things. It's safest to keep them rear facing as long as they will tolerate it because of the type of accidents that are most common. The law limits it to at least a year, not because it's not safer after that, but because of practicality. But if your children tolerate, I say keep 'em rear facing as long as the car seat is safe in the rear facing position - and I believe that's by weight. You'll be glad you did if you ever do get in an accident, but it doesn't matter if you never do.

My two little ones were miserable rear-facing (both were frequently car-sick), but I did it anyway, knowing that it was necessary for their safety and required by law. I would have felt much better about "tormenting" them had I known more! Please follow the links that Jaime H provided in her response. I saw several of these videos a few weeks ago while researching which convertible car seat to recommend to my sister-in-law, and wished I had known what a difference it makes which way your baby is facing! The crash tests show such a difference that I was tempted to reconsider having my five- and nine-YEAR-olds forward facing!!

Distractions are a sanity-saver for sure! When mine were riding in the car at a sleepy time, I would put the same musical toy for them to feel comforted, a little bored, and sleep; but for times when they were alert, I would try to grab "new" toys each time they'd be in the car more than a short time, depending on their developmental interests. I do not mean that I purchased new "car" toys, I just attached a toy or toys that they were interested in when it was time to go. From a safety point, do make sure that the toys are secured and won't injure you (or a child) in an accident.

All the best to you! It sounds like you are a great mom who wants the very best for your son, and he is blessed to have you!

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_inform...

They are not supposed to face the front until 1 year.

Our pediatrician told us if he has good control of his head and can sit up on his own he can face forward. That is what our doctor told us for our son. You could call yours and see. It all depends on the child.

I thought my responce to call the doctor and ask what their oppinion was was a good one however I recieved a responce that I was incorrect. I, like all of you do not have it all figured out. Sorry if I offended anyone. I don't understand why Mothers can be so quick to judge one another I thought this site was where we could help each other out not judge. Thanks

Hi Cassey,

I don't like that they have to face the rear either...but I guess it's for their safety. I've been told 12 months & 20 lbs. So, it sounds like it can't be before a year??? Hope this helps! Have a great week!

S. J

One year old and 20 pounds - that's the law, no ifs, ands or buts. Don't be Britney Spears! ;)

A minimum of 1 year old. Even though he is 20 lbs you have to wait for the 1 year birthday. They are beginning to say now that 2 years is even better. However 1 year is the minimum amount of time to face backwards, its also the law in Texas.

It is against the law to turn him around yet (and really unsafe, bored or not), in fact in Europe they don't turn kids around until they are 3 because it is so much safer for them. At least wait till his birthday minimum (it's less than 3 months away)and then turn him around- his safety is too important to be weighed against bordom. My daughter hated rear facing but we didn't turn her around until 18 months- and I am glad we waited. At 16 months someone rear ended us and her neck could have been seriously injured had she been forward facing.

Wait til at least a year AND 20 lbs. This is because the neck and back muscles aren't strong enough if you were to be in a wreck, even a small one.

I kept my kids rear-facing until they were too big for it, which was beyond the recommendations. If he still fits rear facing I would leave him that way, turning him around is not going to make a difference, if he is bored, he will be bored facing front as well.

His body (muscles etc) are simply not developed enough at 9 months to face front. God forbid if you were in a car accicenthis body couldn't brace himself.

We didnt think that our little guy would care about a dvd player either since he wouldnt sit still long enough to even watch a commercial at home but we went on a long trip so we took one anyways and brought a few cartoons along and he actually loved it. Maybe because he's strapped in and really has no where that he can just run off to and its something better than just watching the cars behind you. Its worth a shot! And it didnt really make him want to watch any more tv when were at home which I was kind of afraid that maybe since he liked it so much in the car that he would be glued to it at home, but he wasnt. Good luck!! those last couple of months facing the rear suck, and when you finally DO turn them around, they dont always like that so much at first either :)

We waited until our little girl was thirteen months old before we face her forward. Two weeks after facing her forward, we had a horrible accident (my husband and little girl almost died). Because she was facing forward, her head was shaken so violently that she had bleeds on her brain and the vertebra in her neck seperated. She has permanent brain damage (but was thankfully young enough to grow new pathways and is expected to have a normal life) and she had to have the first three vertebra in her neck fused to the base of her school, which caused her to lose 75% of her side to side motion in her neck for the rest of her life.

I tell you all of this because I want you to understand how dangerous facing your child forward before they are ready is. My child met the requirements to face forward but her neck was not strong enough to handle the impact. If I had it to do all over, I think I would leave her rear facing for as long as it was safely possible!

Sorry, I've been told by my 10.5 month old son's pediatrician that TX state law says 20 pounds AND 12 months of age is rear facing...

I went to have my car seat inspected and they said it is best to wait until they are about 30 lbs. or a year. (I have the booklet at home, sorry!) They believe in extended rear facing... they say it is safer. And if you have anchors make sure they are properly installed. My baby is 10 months and weighs 19 lbs., so I know what you are talking about. Did you get the convertible seat?

Here is a link to the flyer they gave me: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/Public_inform...

Try looking at this as well: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/safetycheck/TypeSeats/

Hope this helps! And if you can find a pediatrician's office that is sponsoring inspections (mine did) and drop by to get yours checked, I'd look into that! It helped me a ton!

P.S. any objects that are heavy, have plastic, like toys, sun shade, etc., can pose as a projectile in an auto accident and injury your child... DPS told me this! So be careful!

Hi Cassey

My son is 14 months and almost 31 lbs. We switched him to a front facing car seat when he was about 8 months b/c he was too big to sit facing the rear. He was within the requirements based on his weight for the car seat so I didn't see any problem with it. We received different responses about this as well but I felt that he was safer facing forward since his legs had more room and he was more comfortable that way. Good luck!

I thought my daughter was bored too...when I turned her around, it made her ever more mad because then she could see everything she couldn't get too! GOod Luck!

Keep him facing the rear...20lbs and 1 year are the minimum...and both minimums need to be met before turning the seat. In the event of an accident he would not developmentally be ready to handle the front facing position. Many people are advocating rear facing up to 35 pounds.

I will add that I hear ya! I have a 10 mo old and the HUGE seat is such a pain in the rear facing position. I looking forward to the day that we can turn the seat around LOL

Texas law states that the baby needs to be 1 year and 20 lbs.

It is not ok to have him forward facing according to the AAP. They recommended 20 lbs and 1 year of age. I have heard it is safer to keep them rear facing even longer. It has more to do with injury to the head and neck is lessen when they are rear facing when in a collision. Here is the link about car seat safety http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
I still have my 7 year old in a booster seat because he is not tall enough to fit in the seat belt correctly. He doesn't even know any different. I just feel better knowing that I have done all in my power to make my children the safest while riding in the car.

He has to be at least 1 year of age and a certain weight limit. Its the law so you will get in trouble if you are pulled over.

He is big enough to face the front and probably be a lot happier baby while riding.

Everyone will tell you the longer you can wait to turn them around the better. I turned my son around at 1 year. That's what our ped. always told us, has to be 20lbs and at least 1 year old.

He needs to be back facing until at least a year AND 20 lbs. So, in your case, he needs to wait 3 months.
I kept DS backward until 2 yrs old. The longer they can stay backward until the backward weight limit, the safer.
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html

Babies are to stay rear facing until they are 20lbs AND 1 yr old. The reason they require them to be one year old is that at 1yr they have the coordination and neck muscles and neck control they need to avoid harm in case of an accident while facing forward.

Turning your child forward at 9 months nay not be the best thing even if je is big for his age. Just think how much stronger you would become after lifting weights for three months...same goes for his neck muscles.

Find new toys and alternate them and yes, possibly a dvd player with Baby Einstein to watch.

Best of luck!

Hi,
It is 25lbs AND 1 yr of age minimum before you can turn them around.

One year at least. It is the law for safety reasons. Kids have imaginations even at that young age. DVD players worked for my girls who did not watch tv at home much at all.

Texas law/guidelines last I checked were 1 year AND 20 lbs.

No earlier than one year of age. It is all about neck strength, which only comes with maturity. So at 9 months your son may be big, but he still doesn't have the proper neck strength.

My little one was the same way . . . did not like rear facing at all! But your child's safety should always take priority . . .

Hi Cassey,

There is a website you can go onto from the state about child carseat safety, you can google it. I don't think you are supposed to switch his infant seat until he is atleast 22 pounds or at least 1 years old. I think the bigger seat for his age is unsafe right now, because he is so little. Also you are not supposed to switch them to the front facing until 22 pounds and at least 1 years old as well. But please research it online to be 100%. You can also go to your local fire station, and they would be able to give you all the right information as well. They will also be able to tell you if you carseat is installed properly as well. Good Luck!! Take care!

Weight is not the most important factor in when to turn the car seat. Babies aren't ready to face forward until one year because of their neck strength. My daughter was the same way. She was 20 pounds early on, and she outgrew the carrier at about 6 months. We didn't turn the seat until one year though. I know they get bored, but they are bored in the forward facing one too at that age.

20 lbs AND 1 year old.

Of course you know the rule is 20 lbs. and 1 year, but I turned mine around a little earlier. Only about a month though. My son was well above the 20 lb. mark by that time, too. I would not turn around a baby as young as yours. His neck could be seriously injured or worse if you are involved in an accident. Have you tried talking and singing to him while driving? Does he like to look out the window? What about books?

Wait until a year. Until then, they don't have the back/neck strength to help them in an accident.

We just went to an open house at our local fire dept and they had car seat demonstrations...The LAW is 20 pounds AND 1 year old. Not one or the other, both. So definitely dont turn him around!
I had one of those bar type of things for my boys at that age and they loved it. Think it was called a busy bar or something. You could strap it to the car seat and it had a whole bunch of toys/activities on it. They have them at toys r us/babies r us I think.

Don't turn him around. They say 12 month AND 20lbs. Not just one or the other. It has to do with how well their neck muscles are formed I think. They are safest facing the rear for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!

I recently asked my pediatrician and she said that you should wait til they are a year because of the formation of the muscles in their necks, etc. In case of an accident, facing backward protects them more. I have a 9 1/2 month old, too, and she is almost 21lbs and really tall, so we wanted to turn her already, but am going to try and wait until a year.

The rule is to wait at least one year AND 20 pounds. Some even say to wait longer than a year if possible. MY son was 14 months before we turned him around.

I suggest different cd's and toys that he can play with.
I know it's hard but for safety reason you NEED to wait til the child is at least one year and 20 pounds before you can turn his around. I believe it's the law.

Hopes this helps.
M.

The current recommendations are at least 20 lbs AND 1 year old. Some even say to keep them backwards for as long as you can as it is the safer way to travel. Try letting him look at board books or something new to keep him entertained for longer trips. Good luck

You may want to check your state car seat laws. In Texas, you are legally required to keep your child rear facing until they are 20lbs and 1 year old.

The rule is 20 lbs AND 1 year.

Never put a baby under one year old facing front!

Is he in the car often enough/long enough that he is getting bored?? I always figure at that age they don't know any different, so don't change it until it is time to or he will know different!! Only a few more months I am sure he'll be fine. Maybe some board books to chew on would be fun? Or some kids music CDs (They Might Be Giants has some good ones)

The rule is 20lbs AND at least 1 year old. You really should wait the extra couple of months, as hard as it is.

I know that it is tough to wait but it is for his safety. Unfortunately, I do not have any suggestions to keep him occupied. For my little one we just put a small box of toys in the seat next to her and she would just take them out and play with them. Of course by the time we got to where we were going the toys were everywhere, but at least she was semi occupied.

Good luck

I believe that you can turn them around at 22 pounds, but I would check with your pediatrician or look at the info on the side of the car seat - it should direct you at what weight they can face forward. At least mine does.

Don't do it!!! Safety experts say they shouldn't be forward facing until at least 1 year old and 20 pounds. We were told by the local police who check car seat installation, better to have your child alive from an accident than dead. Most safety experts recommend rear facing until 2 years.

Hi we had the opposite problem our daughter was over a year old and still didnt weigh 20 pounds and she was getting car sick from being backwards. But we had to tough it out because they have to be a year old before you turm them around and my mom is actually a pediatric rn and their saying now 18months would be ideal but we didnt wait quite that long. We did get a dvd player and that helped alot hope you find something that helps! S.

My Dr. was very clear about not switching until 1 yr. He said even if they are big enough in weight, their neck and back are not strong enough to handle a front collision.

On that note, I've been in an accident that totaled my car with both of my boys. The older one that was forward facing had bruises and cuts on his shoulders where the harness was. I had to strip my baby (10 mo.) down to his diaper at the scene b/c he was too little to tell me if anything was hurt. He did not have a single red mark on him.

Keep him rear facing until his first birthday.

Here is the state website that will answer all your questions.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_inform...

Don't do it until he's closer to one. I wish they didn't generalize with 20 lbs - they do that on the assumption that most 1 year olds are around 20 lbs. The real reason you don't switch them until almost 1 (or older) is because their neck muscles are not developed enough, not because they weigh 20 pounds. An accident where you get rear-ended or t-boned even if it's minor could really injure him.

For safety it is recommended that a child face rear for as long as possible. Injury to child is reduced by having them facing the rear. We kept our child facing rear until it started to become uncomfortable for her... when her legs were bending. I think she was well past a year. I would recommend having him stay facing rear for as long as possible!

My Dr. said if my son was walking before he was one, I could have turned him around earlier (he was very tall for his age and already 20 lbs). Something about his neck muscles being strong enough then but he wasn't walking yet and didn't start until after his birthday, and I wouldn't have switched him until then anyway.

Hopefully by now it's clear that you should leave him facing backwards! As for keeping him entertained, I have a couple of suggestions. Firstly, do you have one of those sun shades on the window? If so, take it off! It will help if your DS can look at birds and clouds and other things out the window, even looking backwards. Then, I'd recommend setting up the carseat so it's on the opposite side of the car from you (i.e., behind the passenger seat), so you can reach to hand toys back to him. Keep a bag of little toys next to you, and simply hand them back as necessary--he'll drop one on the ground, then hand him another. I had GREAT success with little stuffed animal rattle socks, which I found at Marshall's--you put them on him like socks, then he can reach the toys on his feet and play with them, but not drop them. I wouldn't do the DVD for many reasons--first off, you don't want to have a 9 mo old handling a $300 machine in the back of your car, for safety and financial reasons! Plus, the American Academy of Pediatrics says kids shouldn't watch movies or TV until they're 2 anyway--I know most folks don't abide by that, but at the least you shouldn't encourage more than necessary! My DD won't sit through more than 5 minutes of Baby Einstein, and I think that's great! And finally, as another poster said, try to get some baby-friendly CD's to listen to and sing along with. And finally, just limit your driving as much as you can--I rarely go more than 20 minutes away if I can't bring my husband or someone else to sit in the back and read books to my DD! GL!

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

The MINIMUM is 1 year AND 20lbs. however it is now recommended that children be kept rear facing until they reach the rear facing limit for their car seats which is generally 30lbs or so. The link above provides info and other links with more info. on this.

I would not get a dvd player for him. That isn't really good for his brain development at this age. There are "toys" that he can play with in the car, specifically designed for car seats. I would use something that attaches to the car in some way though since loose objects can become dangerous projectiles in a crash.

I had to put my son in the bigger car seat at 10 months as well & when we did we put him front facing. I think it has more to do with weight. Kinda like medicine, you don't go by their age but by their weight.

Rule is: 1 yr or 20 lbs....However, I'd double-check with your pediatrician, since he's only 9 mos old, the weight issue is covered, but his neck muscles/strength may not be fully developed yet.