Rear facing after 12 months and 20 lbs?

Question

Why is it considered "weird" in the US to have a child over 12 months and 20 lbs still rear facing? Why can't it be normal? Why is it not practiced more and more with new findings and research?

Answer 1

I feel your pain.  Most people just do not know any different though.  I did not with my daughter.  You would think that pediatricians would at least mention it but any paper I have seen from them says to keep them RF until 1 and 20lbs.  My son is 25-26lbs and 20 months old still rear facing and will be until he outgrows the marathon RF.  My daughter is 6 and just last month came out of her 5 point harness into a booster seat and NO she will not go into a seat belt at 8.

Don't know why ppl have issues with it but too bad for them.

** I see ppl marking this as interesting so I wanted to put some links.....

The importance of rear-facing (you tube video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhs...

Kyle David Miller you tube video on extended harnessing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcq...

and a TON of info on rear-facing

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRea...

Answer 2

It's considered "weird" because people don't know better.

Ignorance might not be an excuse as one other mother said... but when you know better, you do better.  I'm sure with your next child, you'll keep them rear facing longer.  I was in the same boat.  It was a whole to-do about turning our oldest around on his first birthday.  He loved it!  Had I known about the safety issues, I would have kept him rear facing for longer.  

My little one is now 12 months and close to 30lbs and he's still rear facing (and he will be until he hits 35lbs- the rear facing limit for his seat).

The other day, my mother in law and I were having a conversation about this.  She was saying how it "looks retarded to have older kids rear facing or in booster seats"...and I said "I'd rather my kid look retarded than be dead- it's a matter of safety".  She rolled her eyes at me and I think I annoyed her because she wanted me to agree with her.  Oh well.  :)

Answer 3

maybe because the option is there for them to see you and a new world. I was so anxious and ready for my babies to face forward. And I was so excited when they could. I jumped right on it. So maybe it's just that they can so why not? Yes it is safer, but I don't think that most people think of it that way (i didn't) or maybe the research isn't out there as it should be. (it's not)

Answer 4

I think it's because a lot of parent's just don't know about all the benefits to extended rear-facing. At least, I didn't.

I didn't know anything about how much safer it was/is to keep them backwards. Like everyone else, I've heard the saying " 20 pounds and 1 year of age" since my daughter was a newborn. So, when my daughter was about 11.5 months old, I turned her around. It wasn't until here recently that I started reading up on the advantages of extended rear-facing ( most articles from you, actually...LOL). Of course, my daughter is almost 21 months old now. And there is no way in the world she would allow me to put her backwards facing after almost 9 months. She cam barely sit in it as it is, without having a cow...:)

I know that ignorace is no excuse, but I simply didn't know. But, because of people like you, who practice extended rear-facing, and give out information about it, I'm thinking my next child will be turned backwards a little longer than my first.

Answer 5

we turned my son around close to his second birthday.  my niece is smaller and still rear-facing a 2.5.  i very much believe in extended rear-facing and most of the people i know do, too.