Car Seat Question

[all4fun]

And only if there's someone back there.....

I don't know about the rest of you, but my 17 mo would be very mad at me if she was still facing the seat. She LOVES looking out and I think 9 hours would be a long ride to look backwards. Looking forward helps anyone who might be prone to carsickness. Plus if she's alone in the backseat, it's much easier to help the foward facing person than in the bucket. Man, I don't miss that thing AT ALL.

Of course, this from the same child who got bored looking at the back of the couch while nursing at 6 weeks....

Either way, go with your gut. Try both for a little bit longer rides over the next week, maybe scheduled around naptime, and see which is more successful.

My ds happily r/f'd until he was 3-3/4yrs old. It was actually more comfortable for him as he had a place to prop his feet up. When I switched him to ffing he complained about his legs falling asleep because he had no where to rest them. Even now (at 5), I have a rolled up blanket under his feet so they don't dangle. And as far as long car rides go, it doesn't matter which way he's facing, he wants someone sitting in the back seat with him! Also as far as car sickness goes - I don't think the OP mentioned that being a problem but I might have missed it. Sometimes facing forwards helps, sometimes it makes no difference. It's looking out the side windows that tends to aggravate that condition...looking out the back window is really no different than the front in reality.

 

[Minniemouse07]

My ds happily r/f'd until he was 3-3/4yrs old. It was actually more comfortable for him as he had a place to prop his feet up. When I switched him to ffing he complained about his legs falling asleep because he had no where to rest them.

I totally agree. Both of my kids stayed rear facing until they couldn't any longer due to either height (dd) or weight (ds).

Dd was almost 2yo when we turned her ffing and ds was 2.5yo. Both were VERY comfortable and in fact were turned in one car and remained rfing in the other for about a month or two without any problems!

Both had someone to hang w/ in the back seat though. I sat w/ dd in the back (with dh driving) and ds had dd in the back w/ her.

 

[teresajoy]

I wish Lydia could still be rear facing! She gets cramps in her legs from them dangling down when she is forward facing.

I've seen platforms that you can use to rest the child's feet on. Does anyone know how safe those are?

Well, wouldn't you know, I can't find the one I've actually seen in stores, but this is close:
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/529755.html

ETA:

Here's the one I've seen in stores though:
http://www.tjskids.com/cart.asp?whi...brand=0&expand=categories&pagesize=&item=2061

and one more:
http://www.greatbabyproducts.com/Foot_z_Rest_Car_Seat_Support_p/basc-90047.htm