A New Day Has Dawned
My view from the front seat.
How many of you remember the day this happened (see picture)? Looking at the picture and not sure what you are seeing? You are seeing a forward sitting 1 year old! Oh HAPPY DAY!
I’m not sure who was more excited, me or him. Yes, we were “good” parents and waited until the day (actually the day after) our son turned 1 to turn the car seat around. I contemplated doing it sooner but ultimately decided I didn’t want to have any regrets. (You know, get in a terrible accident two days before and think “what if”). Just didn’t want to go there. I was actually quite surprised that some of my conservative friends turned it early. Again, I considered it many times myself and then just decided to wait.
It is so much fun though. That first ride. I loved all the “ooooooosss,” “aaaahhhhs,” “oooohhhs”. Although, have to admit, I was getting kind of a complex driving because he was making very similar sounds to when he falls down. I was wondering if he was trying to tell me something about my driving.
At any rate, it is new milestone around here. If you aren’t there yet, it is coming. . .and it definitely is SO MUCH better than rear-facing. To have a conversation with him while we are driving is just plain fun. I just have to make sure that I am paying attention and not distracted by him.
My daughter was still less than 20 pounds at 12 months, so we waited. She had a big growth spurt right around 15 months, so that was when she finally met the weight requirement to be forward facing. However, I don’t think we bought her a new carseat until later around 18 months. She loved it being able to see what was going on after we finally switched her around.
We tried buying a forward facing carseat for my car around 15 months, but returned it to BRU. The stupid thing would not work with my car. No matter how hard we tried, it would not tighten down. There was a lot of wiggle and we just did not feel comfortable strapping DD in a seat that moved around that much. I gave up looking at that point until she outgrew the large rear-facing carseat we had.
It’s actually so much safer for them to stay rear-facing until the limits of their seat. My son is almost 3 and is still rear-facing. He still has about 5 lbs. to go until I have to turn him. Of course it will be easier to hand him things, etc. But in case of an accident, their little heads/necks are incredibly safer to be rear facing.
The “1 year/20 lb.” rule is the minimum (by law) in many states, but the AAP actually recommends 2 years now. I’ve got to go chase a kid or I’d post some links…
How exciting!! Congrats to both of you! My son is 8 months old and I cannot wait for him to be front facing.
i remember them with my daughter and we did turn her early because she was too long for her car seat! we were at the peds and he actually told us that it would be ok. she was barely under the weight limit.
my son on the other hand is 15 months, barely 20 pounds and still rear-facing. the limit on his car seat is 22 pounds and we will be waiting until that time. his car seat is different than my daughters and although he is about the same length as she was at this age, he still has at least 3-4 inches of room to go! so we have not reached that day yet! but like you i can’t wait as it will be nicer for him, especially when no one is behind him in the van for him to look at!
Aw that’s so exciting! I can’t wait to be able to do that with Amelia. She’s 10 months and still only 12 lbs though…so who knows when I’ll get to do it! The cake you made for him is really cute!
)
I”m excited for the day when Amaya gets to be front facing as well!!! How exciting:)
Ah, yes. Happy Day! My little guy quickly out grew his carrier, so we went ahead and had the big car seat rear facing until he turned one. It’s so much easier on car trips now. We have a Sentra, so the passenger was always eating their knees when he was rear facing, but now it’s just about normal. Worth the wait!
Such a big boy!! That’s a fun day.
Who are these “conservative friends” you speak of?
what i’m looking forward to is the day when shep can just hop in the seat, buckle himself in and go. we have to contort so much in the backseat to get him in right now that i’m always sweatin’ before we leave
pffblt.