Keep kids rear facing till age 4 message hits the mainstream media

[riverscout]

I was sitting watching a little GMA this morning and was pleasantly surprised when I saw this segment about how much safer it is to keep kids rear facing till age 4. : It was based on a British study that was released today.

[pixiekisses]

Oh, finally. USA is starting to catch on!
Great news!
I was wondering why she didn't mention high-back booster in that last part there, but ok.

And yeah, I live in a scandinavian country where RF-ing is the standard up til 4-5 (maybe even 6) yo. and then HHB. And it's been recomended for years and years, at least as longs as 8-10 years probably. And not only sugested to be safer like the lady said in the video, but proven to be many, many times safer. There's really no doubt here, keep them RF-ing as long as possible. But we also have seats to make it happen with, I dunno what the highest RF-ing seat goes to in the States, but here it's up to 25 kg. (55 pounds 2 oz).

[soxthecatrules]

Riverscout....you beat me to the punch.

Now maybe my family won't look at me like I've grown a 3rd eye in the middle of my forehead!! Way to go GMA!

[aprildawn]

I have a purely logistical question about rear facing children beyond 1 year. When we turned both of our girls around their legs were already scrunching up to fit since they couldn't hang off the end of the seat. If your child is 2-4 yrs old, where do you put their feet/legs in a rear-facing situation? My girls are tall and I just can't imagine it. They'd have their knees in their face if they were rear facing.

I'm genuinely curious. I've wondered about this ever since hearing on MDC and elsewhere that it's safer to keep them rear facing longer.

[Astrogirl]

Originally Posted by aprildawn

I have a purely logistical question about rear facing children beyond 1 year. When we turned both of our girls around their legs were already scrunching up to fit since they couldn't hang off the end of the seat. If your child is 2-4 yrs old, where do you put their feet/legs in a rear-facing situation? My girls are tall and I just can't imagine it. They'd have their knees in their face if they were rear facing.

I'm genuinely curious. I've wondered about this ever since hearing on MDC and elsewhere that it's safer to keep them rear facing longer.

Me too. I'm sure its safer, I have no doubt in my mind about that. I am also sure its safer for all of us to sit in car seats rearfacing (assuming you could get one made where your legs lay appropriately)....or not drive at all. I just wonder when its going to end - At 2 yrs old RF is safer than FF, at 3 yrs old its safer than FF, at....8 years old....etc.

I'm really surprised to hear that about the Scandinavian countries though. I live in Germany and always considered the Americans to be a lot less lax than the Europeans on the issues of car seats. Maybe things have changed since I last tried to buy an infant car seat, but I was forced to turn my first child FF a lot younger than I wanted to because of my lack of options for RF car seats. I actually had to bring back car seats from the U.S. to get the RF for longer.

[soxthecatrules]

From what I've learned (mainly on this board) is that bent legs don't break. But, a child bracing them for impact will be more likely to have his/her legs broke. Many European countries are more safety conscious in this regard than the U.S. Across the ocean they have seats that RF to 50-55lbs. In the US we finally have one that will RF to 40lbs. Once the west coast & midwestern people finish getting out of bed this morning I'm sure you'll get more responses.

FWIW....DS is 2.5yrs, FF in a Nautilus. We went on a long trip a couple of weeks ago and probably 3/4 of the time his legs were bent just like a child ERF would.

[indie]

Legs are no big deal. My kids put their feet up on the back of the car's seat. I've seen kids cross their legs. I've never heard of a documented case where rear facing caused injury to the legs but either way, its better a broken leg than a broken neck.

[katie9143]

oh im gonna post this on FB....i have lotsa mommy friends that think im crazy! i would so LOVE on of those european seats!! my 36lber is ffing now and only 2.5

[pixiekisses]

Originally Posted by aprildawn

I have a purely logistical question about rear facing children beyond 1 year. When we turned both of our girls around their legs were already scrunching up to fit since they couldn't hang off the end of the seat. If your child is 2-4 yrs old, where do you put their feet/legs in a rear-facing situation? My girls are tall and I just can't imagine it. They'd have their knees in their face if they were rear facing.

I'm genuinely curious. I've wondered about this ever since hearing on MDC and elsewhere that it's safer to keep them rear facing longer.

I'm just the person to ask then, I have my two 5.5 yo. RF-ing still.
One is about 45 inches and the other about 46 inches long. My girl has really long legs. They cross their legs, or have them out on the sides.
It's really not a big deal at all, they never complain. It is not dangerous at all.

[aprildawn]

My question isn't about the safety of their legs, but about the logistics of where their legs go. My girls would literally have knees in their faces if they were rear facing. I'm not exaggerating. I guess they could sit with their legs criss-crossed. My oldest just turned 7 and her feet hang about 6 inches from the floor of the car when in a high-back booster. (She's tall enough to ride most roller coasters. She afraid to ride them, but could because she's tall enough.) But according to one of the PPs, if we lived in parts of Europe she'd be rear facing as well. I just need help seeing a picture of where their legs/feet *go* when rear facing...that's all.

ETA: thanks pixiekisses. we cross-posted!

[MomOf3boyz]

I saw the news piece as well and wasn't as thrilled. I agree with the others concerned for the child's comfort and in my DS 3's case worried about hip displacement (He already has hip issues). Even the child in the segment couldn't get into the seat and decently place his legs, I know because I was watching to see what the little guy did. I know that for babies it's bad to put them in jumpers or baby bjorns where their hips are forced to be in an unnatural position for a prolonged period of time. If a child is scrunching to fit their legs while they sit in a car for a prolonged period of time I don't see a major difference. Yes a child could try to move their legs in the seat, but it wouldn't be an easy or natural movement.

For those that it works for, great, I just don't see us shifting my 3 year old right now.

My youngest DS, now 14 months, is still rear facing, and he will stay there until his legs get scrunched and he's contorting himself to be rear facing. Once he reaches that point I am still going to move him forward facing. I hope that this study stops parents from automatically facing their children forward when they turn one.

For those making it work til your child is older - good for you!

[chickabiddy]

Most long-legged rearfacing kids sit criss-cross-applesauce or hang their legs off the side of the seat. I agree it doesn't look all that comfortable to me, but I'm old and fat and kids are amazingly flexible and seem happy in all sorts of positions that I wouldn't be!

[RunnerDuck]

Originally Posted by pixiekisses

I'm just the person to ask then, I have my two 5.5 yo. RF-ing still.
One is about 45 inches and the other about 46 inches long. My girl has really long legs. They cross their legs, or have them out on the sides.
It's really not a big deal at all, they never complain. It is not dangerous at all.

I can see the legs going over the side if you only had one kid in a center spot... but it looks like you have 5 kids from your sig?? So don't you have a lot of car seats smashed together? What are you driving that they have room for their legs to flop over?

I have 3 car seats in a row, no ones legs are going anywhere.

My girls are rearfacing and probably will be until the leg thing gets ridiculous. They're still tiny with tons of room at 14 months...

[Mrsboyko]

My DD actually stretches her legs out to the headrest whie RF and sleeps that way. Or she crosses them. Once the seat is fastened she is fine, but getting it buckled can get a little tricky, especially if she is fight it.

Oh, and FWIW, we have DD RF in a boulevard and an infant in a bucket next to her so the 3rd seat is open for another adut. We have a boneville.

[soxthecatrules]

IMHO....I know the idea of RF to 3, 4, 5 years old sounds great. But, I think our real focus right now should be teaching and convincing parents to at least RF until 2 or to the RF limits of the seat. That should be the real focus right now. My 2 cents worth.

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by soxthecatrules

In the US we finally have one that will RF to 40lbs.

We do? Which one?

[riverscout]

Originally Posted by soxthecatrules

IMHO....I know the idea of RF to 3, 4, 5 years old sounds great. But, I think our real focus right now should be teaching and convincing parents to at least RF until 2 or to the RF limits of the seat. That should be the real focus right now. My 2 cents worth.

I completely agree. Someone mentioned that in the segment...to keep them RF to the limits of the seat.

While I don't think the segment was perfect, I was really glad to see something that got the message out there to so many people to not turn their kids at one year and 20 pounds.

[chickabiddy]

Graco MyRide 65.

[jillmamma]

Originally Posted by riverscout

We do? Which one?

It is the Graco MyRide65

My DD is almost 4 and still RF. She puts her legs over the sides, up the back of the seat, or in a diamond shape. But this is awesome to have something else to show the grandparents that think I am nuts for keeping her RF still.

[DahliaRW]

It would be nice if we actually had seats here that would get most kids rfing to 4...sigh!