Four. They just toss their legs over the sides or cross cross applesauce.

Our oldest was RF until a couple months before turning 4. Our second has been 4 for a month and is still RF but will probably turn her around soon as she’s 39 pounds and the weight limit for our car seat (britax boulevard) for RF is 40 pounds. Our older child turned FF due to outgrowing his seat’s height limits for RF. He has a Diono radian and I believe the height limits for that seat for RF were 42 inches? When we bought our convertible seats we made sure to get ones w the longest RF capabilities. I’m sure there are seats w even higher RF height/weight limits on the market now than there were when we bought our seats a few years ago as so much research keeps showing how much safer RF is for young kids.

But, that said, both of my kids were/are perfectly happy to be RF in the car: never complain about cramped legs or car sickness or anything like that. If they had, I’m sure we would have turned their seats sooner. Actually, my oldest complained after turning FF because he didn’t like his feet just dangling there.

Anonymous wrote:This debate reminds me of sleep training. Those who don't need to do if for their kids (because they have good sleepers) think it's barbaric. Those of you lucky enough to not have kids who puke or cry the whole time their rear-facing congratulate themselves on their superior parenting. Believe me, people don't turn their kids around because they like to live on the edge, we do it because we have no choice.

I don't think anyone thinks you should keep a kid rear facing if they're puking. That negates overall the potential harm reduction of an accident.

At 4.5

This debate reminds me of sleep training. Those who don't need to do if for their kids (because they have good sleepers) think it's barbaric. Those of you lucky enough to not have kids who puke or cry the whole time their rear-facing congratulate themselves on their superior parenting. Believe me, people don't turn their kids around because they like to live on the edge, we do it because we have no choice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Age does matter. It has to do with the maturity of the muscles and bones of the neck.

Legs being scrunched up really isn't a problem, unless the kid is uncomfortable. Think about it, you don't fully extend your own legs when riding in a car.

https://thecarseatlady.com/when-should-your-child-turn-forward-facing/

I mean...that's a pretty big problem. I imagine most people turn their kids around because their kids are uncomfortable. I know we did. What kid is comfortable sitting like that?

Some kids prefer it to having their legs dangle. It depends on the kid. I used to sit cross legged a lot when I was little.

Right at two due to extreme carsickness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Car seat tech here: to answer your question, is it horrible to turn it around when she is 2....... It will be horrible for everyone if you get in a bad accident and she breaks her neck or gets a serious spine injury right? Keep her rear facing until she exceeds the height/weight of the seat she is in. Our recommendation is at least age 3, preferably 4. Don’t worry about their legs, they can hang over the side or sit cross crossed. It’s the neck/spine you need to be concerned about.

NP here. Is 2 not the current recommendation?

It's generally against the law under 2, it's recommended to keep your kid rear facing as long as they don't exceed the weight limit of the seat or are uncomfortable rear facing.

Anonymous wrote:Age does matter. It has to do with the maturity of the muscles and bones of the neck.

Legs being scrunched up really isn't a problem, unless the kid is uncomfortable. Think about it, you don't fully extend your own legs when riding in a car.

https://thecarseatlady.com/when-should-your-child-turn-forward-facing/

I mean...that's a pretty big problem. I imagine most people turn their kids around because their kids are uncomfortable. I know we did. What kid is comfortable sitting like that?

Age does matter. It has to do with the maturity of the muscles and bones of the neck.

Legs being scrunched up really isn't a problem, unless the kid is uncomfortable. Think about it, you don't fully extend your own legs when riding in a car.

https://thecarseatlady.com/when-should-your-child-turn-forward-facing/

Does age really matter? Or is it weight that's important? A small 4 year old can be lighter than a large 2 year old.

In DC without a garage it was a special form of torture to keep her rear facing in the summer when she was nearly 3. We turned her around. AC access is also important.

Anonymous wrote:Car seat tech here: to answer your question, is it horrible to turn it around when she is 2....... It will be horrible for everyone if you get in a bad accident and she breaks her neck or gets a serious spine injury right? Keep her rear facing until she exceeds the height/weight of the seat she is in. Our recommendation is at least age 3, preferably 4. Don’t worry about their legs, they can hang over the side or sit cross crossed. It’s the neck/spine you need to be concerned about.

NP here. Is 2 not the current recommendation?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have a taller daughter, she is currently 20 months but she is already kicking up the backseat. I know it's safest to keep them rear facing as long as possible, but just wondering what other folks turned their. carseat forward facing? Is it horrible if I flip the carseat by the time she turns 2?

Why do you care if she's kicking the backseat? If you're worried about the seat, then just buy a seat protector, but it's not like she's uncomfortable. She's just looking for something to do. If she was forward facing, she'd still be kicking her legs around.

I turned my both of my children around 3.

This, she's probably kicking as she's bored. Its fine to have the legs overhang.

Anonymous wrote:Have a taller daughter, she is currently 20 months but she is already kicking up the backseat. I know it's safest to keep them rear facing as long as possible, but just wondering what other folks turned their. carseat forward facing? Is it horrible if I flip the carseat by the time she turns 2?

Why do you care if she's kicking the backseat? If you're worried about the seat, then just buy a seat protector, but it's not like she's uncomfortable. She's just looking for something to do. If she was forward facing, she'd still be kicking her legs around.

I turned my both of my children around 3.