Rear-facing to forward facing switch?

It's up to you at this point. Rear facing is supposed to be safer if you were to get into an accident or have to slam on your breaks. I've seen comments from other moms that they keep their kids rear facing until they're 5 and 6

I'm personally going to wait as long as possible. In the chances of an accident they are safer rear facing as their neck muscles don't fully develop until 2 or older.

As soon as mine hit the weight requirement I flipped her forward. She would scream the entire time facing rear. I flipped her and she’s happy.

Check your local laws. Most states have a minimum of 2 years old before forward facing. It is safest to keep them rear racing until they max out height or weight. After 2, it is parental discretion.

We are going to rear face as long as possible. Like until age 5 if we can based on my son’s height and weight as he gets older. It’s just much, much safer because their bones are ossified yet at this age.

Them looking cramped isn’t a reason to switch them. Meaning, they’re not uncomfortable even if their legs aren’t out straight. They’re much more flexible than we are as adults - think about the weird positions they often sit or lie in when not in the car.

Honestly my kids are 5 and almost 3 and we haven’t switched yet and everyone’s comfortable and happy and wayyyy more safe that way!

My daughter is forward now since she reached height and weight requirements. She's happy to get in the car now and doesn't scream her head off anymore. Lol

It’s not safe AT ALL before two. It’s not just about height and weight, but down development. Even at two, a child is significantly more protected from severe injury/worse. RF the seat absorbs most of the impact vs the opposite FF.

Internal decapitation is a thing. A child’s bones do not ossify until about 4.

You should read face until at least 2, but best practice and the safest would be until the height/weight are maxed out-whichever comes first.

The seat weight minimum to forward face means that your child should be at least that amount and at least two. Not that you should FF as soon as they hit the minimum.

My oldest is 5 and still RF 95% height.

fyi in CA, it’s illegal to FF before 2. Meeting the minimum weight limits does not mean that it’s safe to FF before two. If she’s actually out of the weight and height limits for all convertible seats on the market, I’d ask a CPST on how to best navigate that. That isn’t likely though.

exactly right! My sister is a pediatric pt and has dealt with so many kids even up to 2 and older that were front facing and were in accidents from very minor to severe that now have permanent traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage and paralysis. Based on how those injuries occur, almost all could have been avoided if the child was rear facing. So sad

@Chanel I'm not in cali anymore, but thanks. So the "actually" wasn't really necessary since she Is. Shes not OUT of them, she's AT them. Also considering how we basically walk everywhere (since stores and parks are less than or at a mile away from me and she hates car rides) we are hardly even in a car. Lol

it’s the law in most states. Either way, FF before two isn’t safe. Your child’s body simply wouldn’t be safe in an accident. Best practice is maxing out limits for RF.