Face Forward: When Can You Turn the Car Seat Around?

Boy have times changed.  Child safety seats are now recommended for all children younger than age 8.  But I remember the days when the whole neighborhood squeezed into my mom’s Buick station wagon (adorned, of course, with faux wood panel siding, in full 70′s style.) We cruised to the swimming pool or the ice cream parlor with kids piled on top of each other, baby sister in my lap and another child wedged nearby.

Gone are these clown car days (and, sadly, the summer days spent poolside….) Today we know that car seats, booster seats, and seat belts with shoulder straps save lives. And parents and children use them.

But as your child grows, the recommendations about which child safety seat to use and which direction he should face can seem confusing.

Here is a review of recommendations for car seat safety, with answers to questions that parents commonly ask me.

• When can I turn the car seat around?

Infants should ride in a carseat facing to the rear of the car until they are 20 pounds *and* 1 year old. Just because Johnny is a cherubic 21 pound 6 month old doesn’t mean he’s ready to face forward: those neck muscles need a bit more strength to hold his enormous noggin in the case of a forceful impact on the car. And if you have a petite one, wait until she is at least 20 pounds, even she doesn’t reach welter weight until well past her first birthday.

• My child is not yet a year old but has outgrown his car seat:  what do I do?

Many children outgrow their first car seat before they have reached 1 year and 20 pounds. Not to worry: you will easily find child safety seats that will accomodate your growing child and can initially face to the rear and then be turned forward at the magic 1yr/20lb moment.

• Do you have to turn the baby around once they meet the 1yr/20lb rule?

Some parents and organizations advocate for babies to be rear-facing for much longer, arguing that this position is safer for toddlers. You can weigh the risks and benefits for yourself. Depending on your child’s temperament, being able to see and engage with them easily from the front seat may be very compelling.

• When can I transition my child to a booster seat?

Before you know it your child will be on to bigger and better things. Current recommendations suggest that children weighing over 40 pounds may transition to a booster seat. If your car seat will accommodate a larger child, however, feel free to hang tight until they grow out of it: refer to the manufacturer’s manual for details.

• When can my child ride without a booster seat?

Soon the big day will come when your “little” one will be free from bulky travel seats: at 8 years old or when the child is 4’9″, they are large enough to use the seat belt without any boosting.

As my 8-year-old niece Jordyn said to me on her birthday this year: “I’ve been waiting for years to get out of this booster seat!” Forget about kindergarten graduation: that’s a milestone!

You go girl.

Useful Links:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics Car Seat Guide has useful photos and tips about how to install and keep your child safe in child safety seats.
• Further information can be found at the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, SeatCheck.org, and Carseat.org.

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