Extended Rear Facing

[RissaBusch]

 So Danica is officially riding high in her big girl car seat.  We bought her the Britax Marathon.

We've also made the decision to rear face her past 1 and 20 lbs.  I researched this subject quite a bit.  Oh and by research, I mean I did much more than google extended rear facing and watch some youtube videos.  I talked to our Ped, my best friend who's a car seat tech, and my FIL who is also a tech.  All of them agree that rear facing after 1 and 20 is much safer.  After talking to real life sources I went to the internet.  There are some pretty convincing crash test videos. 

I take car seat seat very seriously.  I wish more people would take car seat safety seriously.  I see so many people blow it off as dumb over kill.  It's been said a million times but I guess people still aren't getting it- car accidents kill more children than anything else.  How is protecting them from that "dumb."

So many of the reasons I hear for turning at 1 and 20 are not because the parent feels they would be safer.  Some of them are down right dumb.

1. My child needs to experience the world

2. I'm not sheltering my child

3. I actually let my child grow up. 

4. Rear Facing is for newborns

5.  Really babies can FF as soon as the can hold their heads up.

None of those are valid and yes I've heard all of those.  How does ERF prevent your child from experiencing life?  Seriously, please, explain that to me.

I am by no means the leading authority on this.  I know only the basics.  There are women on this site, however, who are so helpful and knowledgeable.  I am thankful for them for opening my eyes.  Before cafemom- I thought the law said you had to turn them around at 1 and 20.

So now that the ramblings down here's my DD in her new seat!

[mama2mycuties]

May. 13, 2009 at 10:47 AM

She's beautiful and great post! i love the seat, we have a boulevard in the cow pattern for dd lol......i agree w/ you i've gotten so much help from the car seat moms on here and its truly opened my eyes! I'm so glad that your ped. was helpful w/ car seat info, way to many are so uneducated when it comes to car seat safety, i've seen soooo many posts on here where the women actually got incorrect info from their ped or a police officer....its sad when you can't always trust them to tell you whats safest :(

She's just so cute! and i love her name!

[sallymoon]

May. 19, 2009 at 11:23 PM

Great post!  My boy is 14 months 25 lbs and still rear facing, and he will continue to rear face until he outgrows his True Fit.  I'm hoping by then there will be a seat available in the States that can RF to 45 lbs or more.  My mom and in-laws think I'm nuts, but to heck with them.  I've already lost 2 children, so I will take extra steps to keep my only living child safe.