Forward Facing Carseats

I have a Graco and an Eddie Bauer. The Graco seemed to be a lot tighter (more secure) and a lot easier to put in the car. Also it seems to take a lot more wear & tear than the Eddie Bauer. We had to wash the Eddie Bauer and it shrunk and tore up and it was SO hard to put back together.

I have two daughters, ages 1 & 2. We use the Graco Nautilus forward facing seats for both of them. They are durable, easy to put together and install, easy to clean and both girls really like them. My youngest has only been in hers for a few days, but my oldest has been in hers since she was 13 months old. They work great. They can be used as a foreward facing carseat with a 5 point harness from 20-65 lbs. and as a booster seat up until they reach 100 lbs. They are reasonably priced as well.

Actually the AAP recommends 2 years old.  I have a Britax for my 15 month old.  She is still rear facing, but it converts to forward facing.  It is an awesome carseat.  I love it!  Just because you said you are researching the topic, I thought I would share some research below for you.  I am not a mom that is trying to tell you what is right for your child, just sharing some info that I found. 

it's my understanding that Britax is one of THE safest brands

now i have gone to the AAP website and it is still reccomending 1 year & 20 lbs.

if this is true please send me the link FROM the AAP website.. not a site that just says they have changed it.

thanks

Quoting ohmommamia:

Actually the AAP recommends 2 years old.  I have a Britax for my 15 month old.  She is still rear facing, but it converts to forward facing.  It is an awesome carseat.  I love it!  Just because you said you are researching the topic, I thought I would share some research below for you.  I am not a mom that is trying to tell you what is right for your child, just sharing some info that I found. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed their recommendation for keeping your toddler’s car seat rear facing. Most parents are familiar with the previous recommendation that an infant should be 12 months old and at least 20 pounds before riding in a car in a forward facing car seat, but many are unaware that the current recommendation has been changed to age 2.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.” New research has proven that toddlers are 5 times safer riding in a rear facing car seat until age 2. That is a dramatic increase in safety and a study that no parent should ignore.

Read more: http://infant-toddler-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/keeping_toddlers_rear_facing_until_age_2#ixzz0XdDnS6aq

Read more: http://infant-toddler-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/keeping_toddlers_rear_facing_until_age_2#ixzz0XdDhKmf0

Since you like to research things, I would highly recommend looking into the benefits of rear facing beyond the bare minimum of one year and 20lbs.

joelsjourney.org is a great place to start.

I had found out about extended rear facing when my DD was 9 months old, in 2006, and she conntinues to rear face to this day. Fortunately for us, she is a petite little girl!  Most are too big for RF by about 3.

Does this count?

Quoting MommyOnLI:

now i have gone to the AAP website and it is still reccomending 1 year & 20 lbs.

if this is true please send me the link FROM the AAP website.. not a site that just says they have changed it.

thanks

Quoting ohmommamia:

Actually the AAP recommends 2 years old.  I have a Britax for my 15 month old.  She is still rear facing, but it converts to forward facing.  It is an awesome carseat.  I love it!  Just because you said you are researching the topic, I thought I would share some research below for you.  I am not a mom that is trying to tell you what is right for your child, just sharing some info that I found. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed their recommendation for keeping your toddler’s car seat rear facing. Most parents are familiar with the previous recommendation that an infant should be 12 months old and at least 20 pounds before riding in a car in a forward facing car seat, but many are unaware that the current recommendation has been changed to age 2.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.” New research has proven that toddlers are 5 times safer riding in a rear facing car seat until age 2. That is a dramatic increase in safety and a study that no parent should ignore.

Read more: http://infant-toddler-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/keeping_toddlers_rear_facing_until_age_2#ixzz0XdDnS6aq

Read more: http://infant-toddler-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/keeping_toddlers_rear_facing_until_age_2#ixzz0XdDhKmf0

It also says here that it is best for toddlers and preschoolers to ride rear facing. But of course, the law is still 1 and 20, or the manufacturers specifications.

In fact, its on that page several times.

now i am not trying to start an argument, i want to do whats best for my baby.. but isnt it weird how their "official" website has not been updated, if they made a publication in their magazine...

you would think they would change their website.

Quoting mamalinzie:

Does this count?

Quoting MommyOnLI:

now i have gone to the AAP website and it is still reccomending 1 year & 20 lbs.

if this is true please send me the link FROM the AAP website.. not a site that just says they have changed it.

thanks

Quoting ohmommamia:

Actually the AAP recommends 2 years old.  I have a Britax for my 15 month old.  She is still rear facing, but it converts to forward facing.  It is an awesome carseat.  I love it!  Just because you said you are researching the topic, I thought I would share some research below for you.  I am not a mom that is trying to tell you what is right for your child, just sharing some info that I found. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed their recommendation for keeping your toddler’s car seat rear facing. Most parents are familiar with the previous recommendation that an infant should be 12 months old and at least 20 pounds before riding in a car in a forward facing car seat, but many are unaware that the current recommendation has been changed to age 2.

 

The American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.” New research has proven that toddlers are 5 times safer riding in a rear facing car seat until age 2. That is a dramatic increase in safety and a study that no parent should ignore.

Read more: http://infant-toddler-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/keeping_toddlers_rear_facing_until_age_2#ixzz0XdDnS6aq

Read more: http://infant-toddler-health.suite101.com/article.cfm/keeping_toddlers_rear_facing_until_age_2#ixzz0XdDhKmf0

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx

We've been very happy with the Britax Marathon.  It can even be tethered RF.  My daughter was RFin it from about 6 mos, when she outgrew the 26" length limit of her graco infant seat, until a month before her 4th bday.  She will be 5 in Feb & is FF in it now.  She is about 33.5 lbs.  When she is too tall for this (or it expires), she will be harnessed in probably a frontier.