rear facing is getting old! - Page 2

[Maedze]

So it sounds like you were given good information...to a point, and then someone interjected a silly opinion not based in fact.   

If I had a toddler complain about me taking a butter knife from her so she couldn't stick it in an electrical outlet...well, too bad so sad little one!  And if a toddler complained about rear facing (And my fairly extensive experience is is that they DON'T unless parents put it into their heads that they SHOULD), my response would be the same.      

Kids are perfectly comfortable rear facing, and can see plenty.  And even if they felt cramped and couldn't see a thing, that's still not a justification to turn forward facing considering the absolutely horrid potential results. 

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

So it sounds like you were given good information...to a point, and then someone interjected a silly opinion not based in fact.   Yes.  Admittedly, you might have caught this the first time had I not said "Seriously".  Though, contrarily, beginning a sentence with "seriously" is a sure fire sign to not take the following statement all that seriously.  Oops.  I think I'm getting snarky again.

If I had a toddler complain about me taking a butter knife from her so she couldn't stick it in an electrical outlet...well, too bad so sad little one!  And if a toddler complained about rear facing (And my fairly extensive experience is is that they DON'T unless parents put it into their heads that they SHOULD), my response would be the same.      Interesting.  I can confidently say that this is not what happened in my experience.  But, I have frightfully limited experience with my own two girls, so perhaps I shouldn't count that as legitimate, let alone "fairly extensive"?

Kids are perfectly comfortable rear facing, and can see plenty.  And even if they felt cramped and couldn't see a thing, that's still not a justification to turn forward facing considering the absolutely horrid potential results.   My kids were not perfectly comfortable.  I'm not entirely sure where they would put their legs at that point.  (We have Britax Boulevard seats, pretty giant, and they still have not outgrown them yet.  Forward facing, that is.)  And like I said, while they might be a safer time to turn them face forward as you suggested by posting your excellent information, forward facing still is not as safe as rear facing, even for kids who are old enough to be turned around.  

[Carlin]

Britax are pretty well known for being exceptionally poor for leg room unfortunately, so I imagine your kids probably weren't all that comfortable rear facing once they got tall.

To the poster with the 2 year old, here's a couple youtube clips that really helped me understad forward vs rearfacing and the stresses on the body. I think it's a good idea for anyone to watch. After seeing this combined with the information provided above on spinal ossification I think it becomes clear that keeping a toddler rear facing to as close to 4 as you can get is the best option. Obviously there are going to be some cases (severe carsickness for example) when I'd consider turning somewhat earlier but I think in any situation a two year old should be rear facing.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsqE-uOtMM4&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sssIsceKd6U&feature=player_embedded

[SweetSilver]

Originally Posted by Carlin 

Britax are pretty well known for being exceptionally poor for leg room unfortunately, so I imagine your kids probably weren't all that comfortable rear facing once they got tall.

You're right, that was my experience.  I managed to keep dd1 rear facing until she was close to 3 before she got too cramped.  I don't remember dd2 as well, but it was around 2-2.5.
 

[Breathless Wonder]

Rr

[Maedze]

Here there be consonants.  And dragons. 

Originally Posted by Breathless Wonder 

Rr

[SweetSilver]

[McGucks]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

If you'll go to the NHTSA page on child passenger safety, you'll see that children under 4 years should remain rear facing as long as they fit.  
 

Thank you for your well-reasoned, obviously informed responses.  If you get a chance, will you post a link to the NHTSA page?

Also, I have had some criticism regarding possible hip dysplasia for keeping my two year old RF if he sits cross-legged.  Anything good out there I can use to refute that?

[Maedze]

You can point out that 5 decades worth of children have been sitting in the car rear facing to 4 with no such concerns, and there is no documented history of a child developing hip dysplasia due to rear facing.  

http://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2
 

Originally Posted by caedenmomma 

Thank you for your well-reasoned, obviously informed responses.  If you get a chance, will you post a link to the NHTSA page?

Also, I have had some criticism regarding possible hip dysplasia for keeping my two year old RF if he sits cross-legged.  Anything good out there I can use to refute that?

[erigeron]

Having legs spread to the side (which is what you mean by cross-legged, right?) is better, not worse, for hip dysplasia. The heads of the femurs are positioned optimally in the socket in that position. If we were to assume that sitting a lot in any one position could cause hip dysplasia in a 2 yo, it would be in a position with legs together and straight out in front. I don't know that that position WOULD cause hip dysplasia, but the brace our daughter was in to TREAT hip dysplasia held her hips in this position, with her femurs at right angles to her body.

[leighi123]

Ds turns 5 in July, and he just hit 30lbs/37".  He is still rearfacing, and will be until he outgrows his seat. rearfacing (he has a XTSL, so it will be a while).  He can see just fine out the windows, I have his seat installed more upright

[hildare]

gonna just take this elsewhere and say.... my dh was just dying to ff our toddler -- she's finally tall enough to merit ff, and she is now driving him bonkers by putting her feet all over the back of his seat.  this just makes me smile sweetly. 

something else to consider!