OT: Rearfacing carseat question

[goofy4wdw2]

DD 18 months is rearfacing in her Britax carseat. Her legs are long and it looks unconfortable to me how she has to bend her knees to sit that way. Does that just come with the territory of rearfacing in an older child, or am I missing something about how to situate the carseat back there? Thanks!

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that children only had to be in a rear facing seat until one year.

 

[jessica52877]

Law requires until atleast age 1 AND 20 lbs BUT it is safest to keep a child rear facing for as long as possible. Most companies and evey baby classes don't really tell you that in my opinion. I only learned after my own son was too big to be rear facing anyways. If I only knew then what I know now I would have been such a better mommy!

OP, you are not missing anything, kids tend to sit indian style or with their legs out, not straight, like almost indian style. They do not notice at all they cannot stretch and most of the time don't seem bothered by it in the least. It is so much safer to keep her rear facing!

ETA: Check out www.car-seat.org

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Yes, I also believe the law says 1 year and 20 pounds. Their neck muscles aren't strong enough before 1 year old to withstand an accident if the car is hit from the rear and the baby's head snaps forward.

If your DD meets the above criteria, I would definitely turn her carseat around. She would be more comfortable being able to stretch her legs forward.

 

[macmahony]

we extend rearfacing, it is better to bend there legs,and risk a broken leg, than a broken neck.
Yes, the law is 20 lbs AND 1 year, but it is much safer the longer they stay that way. My oldest was almost 3 when she went forward, the second one was over 2, and the baby was a little over 2 as well.
They did not care, they had no idea they could sit forward, so for them it was not a big deal.
United states actually have very lax carseat laws compared to other countries that have carseat laws.
Don't worry about the legs, she will get comfortable, most kids sit on there legs all day long anyway, watch your child play, watch how they sit, most will tuck there legs under there body, so really it is not bothering you.
We only had one other friend who kept there son rear facing until 18 months, but for me, carseats saftey is one thing I feel like it is not worth messing with.
I just read about a wreck in ca, where the car went 100 feet down an overpass, and the mom died, the kid, rearfacing survived, with minor injuries, the paramedics were amazed to find anyone alive .
heidi

 

[lil mermaid]

We turned our daughter around when she was 18 months old. If I had to do it over again, she would be rearfacing until she reached the rearfacing weight limit of the seat (which she hadn't at 18 months.)

Here is some info on rearfacing carseats - check out the video clips. It is definitely the safest position.

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

 

[all4fun]

The AAP has been recommending since 2002 that kids stay r/fing as long as their convertible seats allow. Here are some links I'll quickly post as I have to get off the computer very soon.

Front Facing too soon article with crash test videos and down at the bottom there is a photo album showing older kids in r/fing seats.
MSN article on extended rear-facing
AAP statement
links from two other reputable car safety sites:
http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html
http://www.carseat.org/Technical/tech_update.htm#rearfacFF

Extended rear-facing video
Thread from BBB forum showing how the spine develops.

I think that about covers it. hth!

Btw, ds pictured below was happily r/fing in a Britax Blvd until 45mos old & 41.5", when he finally met the 33# weight limit.

EDIT TO ADD: Since you have a Britax seat, you can tether it rear-facing, which makes it even safer. Definitely take advantage of that! now I really have to go.

 

[WantToGoNow]

It won't hurt her legs to be bent. Many rf children sit with their legs crossed. I turned both of mine early but now I wish I would have waited. It is safest to keep them rear facing as long as you can. I turned my dd3 on her first birthday at the recommendation of our doctor because she got motion sickness really bad and would scream the entire time we were in the car.

In an accident, it would be better if her legs got broken than her neck/back. Just a thought.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I totally agree with the safety aspect, but honestly, if the kid is uncomfortable and is big enough I would turn her. My kids don't sit with their legs scrunched up and I know I wouldn't want to. As I sit here watching watch Sesame Street they are all sitting with their legs stretched straight out. Do what makes you most comfortable. This is JMHO. I would not keep them turned if they are uncomfortable and it was okay by law to turn them.

 

[Oceana]

looks unconfortable to me how she has to bend her knees to sit that way.

OK 1st question does your child complain when he/she is uncomfortable? Most babies do. However remember that babies come with the swaddle scutched up in the womb world so bent legs to you and me might not be comfy but to them its just fine.

My DS 20 months sits rear facing with his legs bent or crossed... his neck is more important to me unbroken than his legs. Leg breaks can be fixed... spinal injuries are far more challanging.

 

[Princess Roo]

I agree with the others who say that that position is not uncomfortable for little kids. We didn't flip DS until he was ~20 months (and he was 36" and 32 pounds at that point). His neck was SO much more stable at 20 months than 12.

 

[rt2dz]

We leave ours rear facing until they start to complain (screaming in pain) consistently, for not being able to move their legs. We tend to take many long car trips which makes it more uncomfortable to not stretch. DS#1 (who is very tall, way off the charts) was about 14 months; DS#2 was 18 months before he started complaining; DS#3 is 17 months and is showing no signs of complaint what-so-ever--he'll probably make it to at least 2 years.