When to Use Rear Facing vs. Forward Facing Car Seats
It can be confusing to decide when to use rear facing vs. forward facing car seats. The type of seat you need is determined by several factors including your child’s size and the type of vehicle you have. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants be in rear-facing car seats starting with their very first car ride home from the hospital! Then it is recommended that children should remain in the rear-facing seats until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the seats manufacturer. At the very minimum children should travel in rear-facing seats until they reach at least 1 yr of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. There are two types of rear-facing car safety seats: infant-only seats and convertible seats.
You will know when to use rear facing vs. forward facing car seats when your child has reached as certain weight and height. When your child has reached the highest weight and height allowed by the manufacturer of the seat then they can ride forward facing in a convertible seat. Your child can ride in a convertible seat that is forward facing with a harness until they reach around 4 years of age or at least 40-65 pounds. Also, if you are going to travel by plane you can use either the rear facing or forward facing seats but the booster and travel vests can’t be used. These seats tend to be chunkier and don’t come with the parts that an infant seat comes with but they have a higher weight and height limit and are good for bigger babies.
If you have to drive more than one child you may wonder when to use rear facing vs. forward facing car seats. If necessary you can put a child in a forward facing car seat with a harness in the front seat. Just make sure the seat is as far back from the dashboard and airbag as you can get. Then there is the issue as to whether your child will be driven by other people? Make sure the seat is appropriate for the vehicle and age and size of the child. Also, make sure the person transporting your child understands how to use the seat and when to use rear facing vs. forward facing seats to transport children just in case you have more than one seat.
You will know when to use rear facing vs. forward facing car seats when your child has reached as certain weight and height. When your child has reached the highest weight and height allowed by the manufacturer of the seat then they can ride forward facing in a convertible seat. Your child can ride in a convertible seat that is forward facing with a harness until they reach around 4 years of age or at least 40-65 pounds. Also, if you are going to travel by plane you can use either the rear facing or forward facing seats but the booster and travel vests can’t be used. These seats tend to be chunkier and don’t come with the parts that an infant seat comes with but they have a higher weight and height limit and are good for bigger babies.
If you have to drive more than one child you may wonder when to use rear facing vs. forward facing car seats. If necessary you can put a child in a forward facing car seat with a harness in the front seat. Just make sure the seat is as far back from the dashboard and airbag as you can get. Then there is the issue as to whether your child will be driven by other people? Make sure the seat is appropriate for the vehicle and age and size of the child. Also, make sure the person transporting your child understands how to use the seat and when to use rear facing vs. forward facing seats to transport children just in case you have more than one seat.
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