At 9 months do they HAVE to have a forward facing seat?

[em_here]

My lo abbi is just over 9 months old, and I just have not got around to getting a forward facing seat, is it so so important she faces forward?  Just pondering as DS had a forward facing seat when he weighed 9kg at 6 months old (i know they say go by weight), Abbi is around 22lb and I keep thinking hmmmm, she looks really big in the rear facing one, and dont want to cause any damage if (heaven forbid), I did crash or get bumped by anyone.

TIA 

[Lolly]

Does your rear facing seat have an upper weight limit? I would check that, also how well is she sitting as I think they are supposed to be at the weight limit and sitting well to be forward facing (not sure where I got that from mind!). We bought a convertible car seat and turned him around a bit early weight wise but he was sitting unassisted and the seat reclines so I felt it was fine.

I turned him around when I went back to work and was spending 30 mins at a time driving with just him and me - I hated not being able to see him properly!

Laura

[dbj]

In Canada the regulation is that infants must be rear facing until at least 1 year old and 22 lbs.  I'm not sure what the requirements are in the UK or US.

We've just been out looking at some convertible seats as my DD will be soon be outgrowing the height limit on her infant seat, but is nowhere near the weight limit.  We will likely have to keep her rear facing well past a year since she won't have reached the weight requirement.  Most of the convertible seats go to at least a 30lbs or higher weight limit for rear facing and go up to at least 40lbs forward facing (some are higher).

[Samuel's mum]

In the UK it's definitely about weight and not age and also whether the crown of their head sticks above the top of the seat. We don't have the '1 year' thing.

Rear facing is safer and you should stay rear facing if you can but obviously you've got to weigh up different considerations. Rear facing does reduce neck and head injury. If she's 22lbs then she's around 10kg so she may be need the limit for a group 0 seat.  I think it depends on what your seat says. If you've got an O+ you can go up to 13kg. I would stay in rear facing as long as you can.

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/buyingforbaby/carseats/whenforwardfacinge/

[KathrynK]

Emma can she still straighten her legs easily? We put Sophie in a forward facing seat early as she is really tall for her age, and couldn't straighten her legs in the car set; her legs went up the back of the seat, iykwim? My HV said if we had a crash she could break her legs so that's why we swapped.

[deb]

Here in Maryland it's 1 year and 20 pounds before going forward-facing. I think other states have their own variations on that, but I think it's still a year throughout the States.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

[RachelC]

I think the whole US is one year and 20 lbs.  Both my girls were rear facing well beyond the first year.

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

Check the weight the seat will hold and as another poster said can he extend his legs? We didnt move dd out of her rear facing one until she was about 13 if not 14 months old and she was fine in it until then.

[em_here]

Hi all, thanks for the advice, well. her legs kinda stick up in the air kwim, so probably is getting a bit big for it, she looks too big for it, but not completely "unable" to fit in it.  I suppose the fact she cannot properly extend her legs is not great, never thought of it like that, she is very long.  Oh god, I cant afford a forward facing one until payday (end of month), she'll be ok until then wont she 

[em_here]

Luckily, my mother has gave us some vouchers for christmas so we can get her a forward facing one tomorrow, phew, am glad, was looking at her today thinking omg how did I never notice she cant extend her legs 

[NoSleepBaby]

Emma- she shouldnt be forward facing yet.. not at all.  You can move her to a convertible that can go rear facing and forward facing, but she should still be rear facing.  If you get into an accident while she is in foward facing at so young, it wont be good.  She has to meet the age requirement as well to go forward facing (1 year) because this is when her spine is stronger.. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not face her forward yet

[tylersmommy]

Generally, forward facing isn't recommended until after 1 yr and 20 lbs. The reason is that babies younger and smaller than that don't have enough neck strength to support their heads in a crash if they face forward. This puts them at risk for serious head and neck injuries. It's still recommended to keep them rear facing even if they're tall enough for their legs to look squished. Yes, there's a possibility of broken legs in an accident, but broken legs are far more easily repaired than head and neck injuries.

[em_here]

OK      my hv said as she is 22lb and over 9 months to put her in one so I have she really does not fit in the rear facing one now so she is now forward facinbg ds was at 6 months as he was 22lb and I was told that it was the general thing to do by hv and car seat specialists

[NoSleepBaby]

You are putting your child at risk by moving her to forward facing.. and a 6month old should NEVER be forward facing at all.  Who told you to turn them forward facing?  I sure hope not a car seat inspector.

It is rear facing until 1 Year AND at least 20 lbs.  So if 30lbs and 8 months.. still rear facing.  1 year and 17lbs.. still rear facing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8

http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/qt/rear_facing.htm

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4209/Car_Seat_Safety:_Rear-facing_is_safest.htm

[em_here]

um ok, this is standard uk advice, from manufacturers and hv so am having pretty conflicting advice here