32 pounds at 21 months ... - Page 3

[MommaSuzi]

Less than 3 years ago I had 2 different pediatricians argue with me strenuously on this topic. The first insisted that I needed to turn my 19.5 pound 12 month old around to front facing. Then 3 months later a different pediatrician had the same argument with me about my then 20 pound 15 month old. Both insisted that I was endangering my child by having them rear facing at that age. Obviously, these pediatricians were wrong (and I faxed them a copy of the AAP recommendations highlighting the part about keeping kids rear facing as long as they fit and didn't exceed the weight limits of their car). My point is simply that "prevailing wisdom" has shifted over the course of a few years. I don't thing it's necessary to vilify people for following recommendations they may have been given by their pediatrician, or others, with the best of intentions. For goodness sake at least the kid is in a car seat! Any idea how many are not at almost 2??? Many.

[goodheartedmama]

Originally Posted by MommaSuzi

Less than 3 years ago I had 2 different pediatricians argue with me strenuously on this topic. The first insisted that I needed to turn my 19.5 pound 12 month old around to front facing. Then 3 months later a different pediatrician had the same argument with me about my then 20 pound 15 month old. Both insisted that I was endangering my child by having them rear facing at that age. Obviously, these pediatricians were wrong (and I faxed them a copy of the AAP recommendations highlighting the part about keeping kids rear facing as long as they fit and didn't exceed the weight limits of their car). My point is simply that "prevailing wisdom" has shifted over the course of a few years. I don't thing it's necessary to vilify people for following recommendations they may have been given by their pediatrician, or others, with the best of intentions. For goodness sake at least the kid is in a car seat! Any idea how many are not at almost 2??? Many.

I have mixed feelings over this. Yeah, it's awful that pediatricians are telling parents that they're fine FF at 1. Or even that it's dangerous to RF once their legs touch the back of the seat. But at the same time, as a parent, I have the responsibility to inform myself on all kinds of things. That includes keeping them as safe as possible in the car. I didn't do that at first. When my son was 1 and outgrew his 30 lb rear facing carseat, I turned him FF. I didn't know about ERF. By the time I knew, he was too large to RF in any seat they had at the time. I accept responsibility for that, though, and certainly don't go "well, at least he was in a carseat." The fact that some parents are too ignorant of basic carseat safety doesn't mean that every parent still shouldn't try to do what's best for their child. And it certainly doesn't mean that people shouldn't try to educate people on being as safe as possible.

[lonegirl]

Originally Posted by Smithie

"Your 'happiness' with your decision does not negate the fact that it was also a poor decision, an inadvisable decision and potentially a deadly decision."

I'm pretty sure that for some people, you could say all those same things about their decision to drive their kids around in a car AT ALL. The lady who crossed the center line going around a curve and almost hit me yesterday, for instance.

I'm glad the, um, "word on the street" is changing to "turn 'em at two!" rather than "turn 'em at one!" I'm so, so grateful for the new seats with higher RFing weight limits. But ERFing until 4 is not going to be a universal practice in America anytime soon. Parents will make the decision based on the existing safety data PLUS the experience their child is having PLUS their happiness with the quality of the RFing install in their car PLUS the ability (or lack thereof) to buy a new car PLUS the needs of any younger children who may have come along. A person who can do the RF/FF/RF "puzzle" pattern in the back of her small sedan is going to flip kid #1 when kid #3 is born.

Safety decisions have a lot of components. I wish the emphasis was more on installing/using seats and boosters correctly, rather than on extended harnessing or extended RFing or whatever the next "must-do" thing turns out to be. I seriously wonder how many parents are driving around my town with a RFing Britax they think is soooooo safe that is going to pitch their kid through the side window because it's not installed correctly.

Thank you! Well said

[Ducky5306]

Originally Posted by MariesMama

I have a Marathon for DD that she is getting close to outgrowing RF! Really, what would you techs do in this situation? I was thinking about a Radian to keep her RF, but really??? How much more height does the Radian have than the Marathon anyway. DD is 35" tall, not sure about her torso but she's fairly proportionate.

Blahhhhhh after my whole Roundabout (original RA) fiasco I'm so not thrilled. And jealous of my friends with teeny tiny little kids.

Any advice at all would be great.

my ds was 33 lbs at 17 months I had to turn him FF (he had a 33 lb RA) At the time I couldn't spend the money for 2 extra lbs but I wish I would have because he is now 3.5 and only weighs 36 pounds! They slow way down then they get close to 2 (Most kids anyway) If its doable i'd wait it out and weigh often or if you have the money i'd just get a 40lb RF seat (or the 45lb Radian) that wasn't an option when my son was 17 months old (2007)