Anonymous wrote:Other than car sickness, what are the reasons that rear facing is hard for people? Several posters have talked about how forward facing is easier but that wasn't my experience. My DD rear faced until she was 4 and it was only in the last month or so before we switched her seat that it became an issue, with her being frustrated that she couldn't see us or participate in our conversation, or where passing things back to her was annoying.

In some respects, I found rear-facing easier because I think it enabled her to fall asleep in the car more easily. I don't know if this is just a coincidence because of her age, but DD used to nap very easily in her rear-facing car seat, and since switching she has not fallen asleep in the car once. Not even on long car trips or when we are driving home in the evening after her bedtime. Even when she's obviously tired! I think facing away from us and the front window made it easier for her to nod off. Might also have to dow with the recline of the seat -- most car seats are more reclined in the rear-facing position than when forward facing.

Anonymous wrote:Our pediatrician said we could switch at the 18-month visit. We did it a couple of months later and it made car rides so much more sane.

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid almost 5 still rear facing and honestly it's mostly just personality and size (and the fact of no older siblings) that let us last this long. I figured we'd turn much sooner but she never pushed it or complained and I didn't feel pressured to do it for any reason other than her comfort. She's pretty small for her age (around 30 lbs) so she's nowhere near weight limits, which means to me that it really is safest for her to rear face. She never gets car sick and she entertains herself with toys etc in the car. Leg space started to bother her last year and we switched to a Graco Extend2Fit carseat which gave her a little more leg room and haven't had any complaints since. She has just started to ask to face forward after doing it with friends on playdates and we're thinking about it once she's 5 this fall at least for around town trips (vs long distance). My issue is her 2-year old brother will then want to face forward and I'd like to get him to at least 35 lbs first (he's nowhere near as small). But if it happens, it happens.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did a bit before 2 because DC had severe motion sickness and could not be in the car for more than a few minutes without throwing up. It helped DC a bit, but really helped me being able to pass back the barf bag before it got all over the kid and seat. But the evidence is clear that everyone, toddlers to adults, are safer rear facing. I wouldn't rush it if everyone is happy and not throwing up everywhere.

Our DD gets motion sick too, but we rig a trash bag around her to ensure the seat and she doesn’t get dirty. It’s sort of poncho like and cut with holes for the buckles. She will remain rear facing until she hits the limits of the seat. She’s 4 now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look-we all know rear facing for as long as possible is “safest”. But when the driver is constantly distracted by screaming/vomiting it becomes a “what is the lesser evil”. Not getting in an accident at all is safer than getting in one rear facing.

+1
We switched our twins at 2. Suddenly we could actually use the car to happily go places as opposed to the massive meltdowns we were dealing with before. They’re 3.5 now and I truly cannot imagine what having them stay rear facing would have required. But… kids are different so if yours don’t care, I suppose going longer makes sense. However, wrapping your puking toddler up in a trash bag seems, ahh, suboptimal.

Anonymous wrote:Look-we all know rear facing for as long as possible is “safest”. But when the driver is constantly distracted by screaming/vomiting it becomes a “what is the lesser evil”. Not getting in an accident at all is safer than getting in one rear facing.

Anonymous wrote:We did a bit before 2 because DC had severe motion sickness and could not be in the car for more than a few minutes without throwing up. It helped DC a bit, but really helped me being able to pass back the barf bag before it got all over the kid and seat. But the evidence is clear that everyone, toddlers to adults, are safer rear facing. I wouldn't rush it if everyone is happy and not throwing up everywhere.