

Where will they put their legs? – children will happily sit with legs crossed or bent, and in fact one of the most stable positions for hips and knees is the frog position (think hip spika correction casts!).My child likes to see where they are going – they will in fact see things for longer out the back window, how many times have you said ‘oh look at the ….’ only to drive past and have your child say ‘where?’!.My child is distressed as they can’t see me – purchase a mirror to enable them to see you, you can also see them at a glance in your rear vision mirror.And even if it were true you can fix a broken leg more easily than any spinal injury. Their legs will break if we have an accident – there is no evidence to suggest that rear facing increases this risk.There are just as many struggles getting children in forward facing as rear facing! You can still talk to them as freely regardless of the direction they travel in. Recommendation: A child should remain in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the upper weight or height limit allowed by the car seat. My child is happier forward facing – if they don’t know any different then how can you be sure that it is rear facing they are unhappy with.You should also consult the laws for your province or territory. There may be an age minimum, a height and weight minimum, or even a developmental milestone (i.e., child must be walking sturdily) that must be met. Infants and toddlers need to be in a rear-facing car seat until the age of 2 or until they reach the rear-facing maximum height and/or weight requirement of. Your child should continue to ride rear facing for as long as she still fits her seat’s height and weight limits.Ĭheck the instructions for your seat to find out if your child meets the minimum requirements before using the seat forward facing.


Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more. So when can my toddler turn forward facing? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants ride rear-facing as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height limit allowed by their car seat manufacturer. Check that the harness is snug – with the chest clip level with her armpits. Considering that your child should be in a car seat or booster for the first 8 to twelve years of life, that could translate to over thirty-six hundred. When riding rear facing, the harness should be in the shoulder slot, level with or below your baby’s shoulders. The rear-facing belt path is the one closest to your baby’s legs. This can cause some infants to have trouble breathing. When in a car seat, your baby will be laying at an angle. Ages four to eight years old: Children whose weight or height exceeds the limit for a forward-facing car seat should switch to a belt-positioning booster. This test is done for a variety of reasons, but its purpose is to test your baby’s breathing (respiratory function) while riding in a car seat. She can bend her knees or stick her legs straight up.įor a convertible seat that can be used both rear and forward facing, be sure to use the correct belt path when installing the seat in your vehicle. The car seat challenge test is meant to make sure your baby is ready to leave the hospital. It’s fine if your baby’s feet touch the back seat. When it comes to choosing a booster seat, be sure to select one that uses your auto's lap and. The seat belt usually fits correctly without a booster when your child is 4 feet 9 inches tall. Transport Canada recommends that you keep your baby rear facing as long as possible according to your car seat’s height and weight limits.Ī baby or toddler has a higher risk of injury to their spinal cord if they are turned forward too soon. When you do make the switch to a bigger seat, that doesnt mean you should switch the way baby faces in the car. Given the fact that seat belts fit some shorter adults incorrectly, it's not surprising that most kids need to use booster seats until at least age 8.
