The most important factor is that your child’s head is the one inch below the shell. Otherwise, the exact height depends on how long your kid’s torso is and where the top shoulder strap falls. For RF, the straps need to be at or below your child’s shoulders, while forward facing, the straps should be at or above your child’s shoulders. So as long as the head is below the shell, it’s possible that a rear facing child could fit longer than the forward facing child, assuming they haven't exceeded the weight limit. |
| Age 2. My DD has severe car sickness and her pediatrician told us it would be the most helpful thing to do. (It has helped but not a cure all). I have a small kid, in 10th percentile for height and weight, so she is nowhere near growing out of the car seat safety guidelines for facing backwards. I really struggled with it and still dislike she’s flipped, but it is what it is. |
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I believe the big study that said we need to rearface til 2/beyond was debunked several years ago? That doesn't mean we shouldn't rearface, but I dont think the science is as clear as people on here make it out to be.
https://carseatblog.com/43048/everything-we-thought-we-knew-about-rear-facing-is-being-questioned/ |
+1 And how do you manage getting them all in and out! I can barely manage my 3 with a much larger age span. Anyhow, OP. My kids are tall and I found that with extended rear facing seats they weren't bothered at all. Turned 1st at 5, 2nd at 4.5, 3rd is still rear facing at 15 months. |
I skimmed that article and it seems basically they’re saying that, while RF isn’t “5 times safer” than FF as was previously claimed, it is still likely safer but they just don’t have enough information or enough studies to conclude how much safer it actually is. Is that right or did I miss something? Anyway, if you have your seat installed correctly, check to make sure your child is buckled in correctly (snugly and with chest clip at armpits, etc) every time, and make sure your child fits the seats height/weight requirements, particularly checking that their head is at least 1 inch below the top of the shell of the car seat, and if you are a very safe and unimpaired driver, then your child should be very safe in the car whether RF or FF. |
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^^
Not exactly. I think the study shows that a properly installed seat that fits your child is very safe. There is no data- really at all- that indicates that extended RF is safer than FF. It might be safer, and it also might be less safe. |
| Turned right at 2 - ds gets carsick and the only driving we do is slow city driving |
| Still rear facing my 4.5 year old...he still fits and doesn’t complain, so why not? |
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I thought I read something about how they aren’t even sure that car seats work period....depends on whether crash is survivable or not.
Also see the article about car seats as contraception (seriously). Add it to the list of the extra labor foisted on parents for minimal benefit. Anyway, I RF until 2. |
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Around age 3.5 for one kid and around age 4 for another.
I currently have three rear-facing kids aged 2.5 and under. Two are in Diono seats and one is in an Extend2Fit. |