Speaking of carseats - When did you turn your kids around

mckayleesmom wrote: With Mckaylee, I waited till she was almost 2. She was only 19lbs for so long and so short that she still fit in it perfectly. We actually switched her 3 months before she was 2. I was going to switch her when she got to 25lbs, but we needed the seat for Russell. I read that most pediatricians were now reccomending that they change the wieght limit to 25lbs. They said that most kids seemed too small at 20lbs.

So Mckaylee was 21months and 23lbs.

Russell we just changed last week...He is 23lbs and 16months. He is also on the shorter side.

CantWait replied: With Anthony, that's as far back as I can remember, we switched him right at a year. Ron thought he would enjoy the car more if he was facing forward.

MyLuvBugs replied: I think Lorelei was 10 months old. But she is so tall that her little legs were squished. So, we finally had enough of the screaming and turned her around. (and yes we talked to our DR about it first, just in case you were all wondering).

boyohboyohboy replied: I think we change caleb to front facing when he was one, the law is one yr of age and at least 20 pounds.

Jamison'smama replied: Jama was about 17 months--Jack close to 13 months.

Cece00 replied: Between 12-13 months.

My3LilMonkeys replied: Around 10-11 months with both of them, and I did discuss it with our Dr. It was for their comfort and my sanity.

1lilpeanut2love replied: Kaylee is is 1 year old and 20 pounds and we still haven't turned her carseat around. We got it checked 2 weeks ago and were told it was safest to face the back as long as possible[by a cop and a carseat technician!]--it supports their little necks better. We probably won't turn it forward facing until more like 2 years old!!

luvbug00 replied: closer to, if not past 2. because she is soo small.

kayla's mama replied: We still have Kayla rear facing. We got her a new carseat but she doesn't weigh enough and I'm not comfortable enough to have her forward facing.

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I dont even remember exactly how old he was...I know it was around 12 monthes, maybe 11.

A&A'smommy replied: we turned alyssa around at 14 months I think she was 21lbs

Nathansmom replied: I turned Nathan at 1 year exactly, and he was 27 lbs, and tall, but I didn't want to turn him sooner.

coasterqueen replied: We turned Kylie around at 12 months. That was DH's choice, not mine...he won the battle. Anyways, she was 23 pounds 4 ounces and 32 inches tall. Yes, she was tall, but didn't complain. Even if she did, I'm the parent, she would have just had to complain.

Megan was just turned around today at 14 months. I'm not sure how tall she is. She's a shorty. I think she's about 30 inches if that. We weighed her on our home scale and she weighed just a bit over 20 pounds, so that's why we turned her around. Well that and we cleaned out the car and seats so we just decided to do it, lol. She goes for a weight check tomorrow and if their scales shows she's not 20 pounds we'll turn her back around.

I, personally, would keep them rear-facing for as long as I possibly could. Dh doesn't want that, but I compromise. I won the battle for the safest car seat for Kylie (for her age, etc) and that she will be in a 5 point harness until she doesn't need to be in a booster at all...or at least that's my hope. So far I've won that battle.

b&bsmom replied: Okay I am the bad mommy, I turned Brit around 11months doc said it was fine, I turned Bryce around at 9 months, he was walking but I do not rememberif he was 20lbs. He has always been small. We were in tennesse for a bowling tournament ( i live in pennsylvania ) and on the drive back he was miserable facing backward, it was about a 9hr drive, I had talked to the doc a few weeks early and because he was so strong and walking she said to wait a few weeks more. So we were on the border I guess, but a nine hour drive ( not trying to make excuses) with a crying child was tough. And the doc did say a few weeks prior that he was close to being able to turn around. Luckily everything was fine and he is a wonderful 3yr old almost 4yr old now.

So yes rate me right there with Britney Spears, I turned early.

However does anyone know how we all survived, my mom used to lay me on the floor of the car to sleep when we drove places. Here I am now at 30 plus years old. Imagine that!! If someone did that today ( and yes I do think it is horrible but that is how things were done back then) it would be tragic.


Funny how times have changed so much!!!

MyLuvBugs replied: I agree with ya Stacy! You me and Britney can be in the bad mom group. lol

coasterqueen replied:
We survived by pure luck I really do not like statements like that because times change constantly so you can't compare what we did back then to what we did now. There weren't as many cars on the road, oh geesh there are dozens of factors that are different today then back then behind why we do more now safety-wise then back then. What we DON'T hear is from all those who did have children in car accidents who were either hurt badly or died because of not using these safety precautions. It only takes a split second for something bad to happen. We may get lucky and never experience such a tragedy, but I bet if you asked those who have experienced it they would tell you they wish they would have listened to car seat safety techs/others who are experienced in car seat safety rather than to doctors (who deal with medical issues, not car seat safety) as well as themselves because they thought it would be more convenient to ff their child because they were crying or looked uncomfortable.

I'm not really directing this at you because I hear that statement all too much, from my husband included. I just wish people would really see WHY things change constantly as the years go by.

Bee_Kay replied: If I remember correctly (it's been awhile since mine were babies) with both Ashley and Tyler, it was around a year old (whatever age/weight was recommended).

I agree.... My sister and I are alive today by pure luck!!

I remember me and my sister in the backseat sleeping..... I was laid across the backseat and she was laid across the floor with pillows/jackets/blanets to make a comfy bed for herself.

My parents drank ALOT. It scared the heck outta me and my sister!!!!! when we would click our seatbelts, they (our parents) would get p*ssed and yell that we didn't trust their driving.... DUH! WE DIDN'T!!!


Now, since I've become a mother. The car doesn't move until everyone is buckled up no matter where or how far we are driving.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Wil was just a couple weeks shy of his first birthday!

b&bsmom replied: After the whole debate with the Britney thing I was just trying to lighten the mood by saying "we survived" i10 years from now our kids will say I can't believe that is how you took us in the car. Believe me I do my best to make sure all my kids ( the ones I watch included) are safe. And ask anyone I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to car seats and how they are put in ( tight wise) I didn't mean to upset anyone.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
EXACTLY!!! My mother cringes at the thought of how unsafe things were when we were little. She is so glad that we have these laws into place and all more safety items for our children. And no, not everyone survived...just as Karen said.

It's no laughing matter. Carseat safety is SERIOUS! I don't get how some of you can just laugh it off. You wouldn't be laughing if your child was injured in a car accident. I live in Dallas...I see it ALL the time. It angers me to no end when parents don't take the time to consider why these rules are in place for a REASON! It's not about being a good mother or a bad mother...it's about being a SAFE mother. A mother who makes sure their child is protected b/c that child cannot do it for themselves. It's one mistake...just one that could kill your child. You can't take that back. I'm not taking any chances.

BAC'sMom replied: @ 20 pounds

KingMom replied: Colin was about 12 1/2 months and just over 20 lbs. We waited until his 1 year appt to confirm if he was over 20 lbs to install them, we already had it purchased though.

amynicole21 replied: When Sophia hit 20lbs - I think she was 14 months. Nora is 1 year and 20lbs now, but still rear facing. She doesn't mind it, so I'll keep her that way until I feel like it's time to change.

As to the other conversation - I used to sleep across the rear dash (above the back seats, beneath the rear window) all the time - with both parents chain smoking in the front seat, not wearing seat belts I might add Crazy.

coasterqueen replied: Oh I remember the days of my sister sleeping in the back seat of the car and me sleeping in the floor board with pillows and stuff.

And FWIW, I knew a girl growing up that is lucky that she's alive, but she's not the same for sure. She was lying in the back seat of the car sleeping. Her father driving the car up front. She did not have a seatbelt on obviously. Someone hit them, she suffered severe injuries, didn't almost make it, but did luckily. She lived but now she will never walk normal again plus her hands are all messed up. It's so sad. She will never be "normal" again in any sense, she'd tell you that herself.

lisar replied:


Thats me. Raygen was screamming because she couldnt see anyone and she was thinking I left her there. So I turned her around one day and she could see the back of me and loves it now. And when she went to dr for her check up I told him and he said that would be fine as long as she was in the middle of the back seat and the car seat fit her right. Which it does so she is fine....

MyLuvBugs replied:
I hate to burst your bubble, but a kid can be hurt or even KILLED while in a carseat as well. Even if it is installed correctly. Yes carseat safety is SERIOUS! However, most of us don't like to be dictated to and told how to raise our children. And the fact that MOST of the comments that have been posted regarding Britney or even some on this post have been (albeit not intentional) judgements towards others parenting, is why some of us are TRYING to lighten the mood with a bit of humor.

Some of ya'll are getting REALLY judgemental and acting like the know all's and be all's of car seat safety, and that's not what this board is for. Its for our opinions and thoughts, NOT to be judged as parents. I realize that some of you might not mean to be acting this way, but you're coming across that way.

Do none of you remember Brianne's post from last week about our Parenting FLAWS. We ALLLLLLLL have them. And there are something's that I'm sure DCF would be all over us for, but yet we do them anyway and our kids are JUST FINE. Yes we all survived our parents mistakes and are making our own, and our kids will make their own as parents as well. Can't we all just agree that our kids safety is the most important thing to us, and if others have differing views that's fine for THEM. Geeze!

Bee_Kay replied:

I agree with this.
Honestly, there were some things (and I won't point them out) on Briannes post that made me go but I hold no judgement at all. I am sure, digging in my past, some of you would go at mistakes I've made or bad choices I've made (lord knows there have been a few) LOL!!!

b&bsmom replied: Thank you Erika and Bee Kay I was beginning to doubt myself and getting scared to post anything anymore. I didn't mean to make it such a big deal I was just trying as I said earlier to lighten the mood. thanks for your point of view.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I apologize I did not intend to sound judgemental whatsoever. I know that you would never do anything to put your babies in harm's way. I was in a horrible mood this morning and I should not have posted.

Love you all and hope I didn't hurt feelings here.

mom21kid2dogs replied: I turned Olivia at 2.5 years~the sad day that she outgrew the rear facing weight of her internal harness.

I got the "You can turn her now" info at my daughter's 1 year ped appt. I promptly sent him the AAP updated recommendation (at that time 2001) that children not be turned forward facing until 18 mo. I understand he now recommends 18-24 mo.

holley79 replied: I am going to have to remember this when it comes time for Annika. It's a while off though.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Logan was 16 months and 20lbs, 1oz.

Bee_Kay replied: I STILL, on occasion, see parents driving while the parent in the passenger seat is holding the baby!!!

My stepsister used to do that with her children and, even though I was a child back then, I thought she was crazy!!

Mom2Boyz replied: Conner was about 13 months and 25lbs, and Caden is still rear facing. He'll probably be that way for a while too since he's so tiny

PrairieMom replied: The Boy was just under a year. A few weeks shy of his birthday. He was over 20 pounds tho, and had been walking for about 2 months.