Car Seat Dilema

[Pete]

Boy grew out of his rear facing, kevlar, gyro stabilized baby deployment platform and I didn't have enough money to buy the "toddler" model so I just swiped a roll of bubble wrap from work and wrapped him up good and belted him in. I always remembered to cut air holes in the plastic.

 

[aosmiles]

It is not an "either or" situation. It is not safe for a child under 1 year to face forward. I have an almost 20 pound 9 month old. He is 28.5 inches tall. He is still rear facing. And he will be rear facing until he turns 1. Check out MD State Highway Administration website below. It gives specific guidelines on car seats and seatbelts. While some state laws do not say that seats shall be rear facing, it is always strongly recommended for them to be rear facing because of how small they are. http://www.sha.state.md.us/safety/oots/trafficsignalsandlaws/childpas.asp?id=S20+S5

 

[aosmiles]

He should have been in a convertible car seat and still rear facing. We had the same issue with our kids. Use a convertible one, keep it rear facing until that 1st birthday. Why rush it?

 

[kwillia]

It is not an "either or" situation. It is not safe for a child under 1 year to face forward. I have an almost 20 pound 9 month old. He is 28.5 inches tall. He is still rear facing. And he will be rear facing until he turns 1. Check out MD State Highway Administration website below. It gives specific guidelines on car seats and seatbelts. While some state laws do not say that seats shall be rear facing, it is always strongly recommended for them to be rear facing because of how small they are. http://www.sha.state.md.us/safety/oots/trafficsignalsandlaws/childpas.asp?id=S20+S5

So do you wrap his legs around his neck until you are allowed to turn him around on his first birthday...

 

[rack'm]

If it works for the Rednecks.......

<img src="http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_jan2001/RedneckCarSeat.jpg">

 

[sockgirl77]

It is not an "either or" situation. It is not safe for a child under 1 year to face forward. I have an almost 20 pound 9 month old. He is 28.5 inches tall. He is still rear facing. And he will be rear facing until he turns 1. Check out MD State Highway Administration website below. It gives specific guidelines on car seats and seatbelts. While some state laws do not say that seats shall be rear facing, it is always strongly recommended for them to be rear facing because of how small they are. http://www.sha.state.md.us/safety/oots/trafficsignalsandlaws/childpas.asp?id=S20+S5

It would have been "safer" for him to ride in a side that he didn't fit in. Also, because his torso is so long, the seat belts were cutting into his neck. And yes, I had the cushions on them.

 

[sockgirl77]

Most of my friends have kids. I have not seen one of them keep their kids rearfacing until the were 1 year old. :shrug:

 

[Nickel]

He should have been in a convertible car seat and still rear facing. We had the same issue with our kids. Use a convertible one, keep it rear facing until that 1st birthday. Why rush it?

In my son's case, his legs were way too long to be in a rear facing car seat, so his doctor suggested I turn the car seat around. By this point he'd been in a convertible car seat for awhile due to his height. Considering that he's 4 and wasn't killed or injured in a car accident, I'd say it doesn't matter anymore. :shrug:

 

[pixiegirl]

Soc, my car wouldn't accomodate a car seat in the middle position period. Pig number one was always on a side. When pig number 2 came along he went in behind the passenger seat and pig #1 moved in behind the drivers seat. You have a safe car, put the piglet behind the passenger seat. It's perfectly legal.

 

[vraiblonde]

How did we all live?

It's a miracle.

 

[aosmiles]

If his legs are long enough to fit around his neck, that might be a solution, but in the meantime, I think he'll be just fine. He might just have to scrunch up his legs or something. While I do want my kids to be comfortable in the vehicle, I am more concerned that they are safe.

 

[sockgirl77]

He should have been in a convertible car seat and still rear facing. We had the same issue with our kids. Use a convertible one, keep it rear facing until that 1st birthday. Why rush it?

My son was kicking the back of the back seat and moving his seat. It didn't matter how tight I made the seatbelt holding it in, he could loosen that baby up with a few good kicks.

 

[rack'm]

My son was kicking the back of the back seat and moving his seat. It didn't matter how tight I made the seatbelt holding it in, he could loosen that baby up with a few good kicks.

Sounds like a swift ass kicking was in order. :shrug:

 

[Pete]

It's a miracle.

I can't believe no one has suggested the obvious solution. A REAL concerned parent would go and immediately trade that firebox, baby unfriendly death trap car in on a new one.

 

[sockgirl77]

Soc, my car wouldn't accomodate a car seat in the middle position period. Pig number one was always on a side. When pig number 2 came along he went in behind the passenger seat and pig #1 moved in behind the drivers seat. You have a safe car, put the piglet behind the passenger seat. It's perfectly legal.

Thanks. That is what this thread was asking, wasn't it?

Pig#1 is behind the passenger seat now b/c I have to keep a close eye on him. He's been biting holes in Pig#2's pacifiers and such. She's in the center now but I guess I'll be putting her behind me so that her seat will be level.

 

[aosmiles]

All of mine do. I even saw a 15 month old in a rear facing car seat-why, I have no idea. A car seat rear or forward is better than none. It makes me crazy to see kids playing around in a moving vehicle. And, thank God, most people don't try to "hold" their kids while in a moving vehicle. I know, I know-they did it all the time back in the day. But, today, too many people drive like maniacs.

 

[aosmiles]

I can't believe no one has suggested the obvious solution. A REAL concerned parent would go and immediately trade that firebox, baby unfriendly death trap car in on a new one.

Hece why we traded in my sweet husband's Ford Probe GT for a minivan...Poor husband. He still misses that car from time to time....

 

[Pete]

Thanks. That is what this thread was asking, wasn't it?

Pig#1 is behind the passenger seat now b/c I have to keep a close eye on him. He's been biting holes in Pig#2's pacifiers and such. She's in the center now but I guess I'll be putting her behind me so that her seat will be level.

Re-read that. the older kid goes behind your seat so you can cuff him in the back of the head. The little one goes over behind the passenger.

 

[sockgirl77]

I can't believe no one has suggested the obvious solution. A REAL concerned parent would go and immediately trade that firebox, baby unfriendly death trap car in on a new one.

firebox? death trap car? My car has a pretty high safety rating.

 

[rack'm]

Hece why we traded in my sweet husband's Ford Probe GT for a minivan...Poor husband. He still misses that car from time to time....

Proctologist huh?