Rear-Facing Toddler in Britax Car Seat

[spbindc]

Children should NOT wear coats when restrained in a car seat. It's tantamount to having the straps too loose.

[smalls181]

@spbindc Indeed. 

[JMDMBM]

@spbindc When they say coats they mean the bubble coats not light sweaters. Hoodies and light sweaters are NOT included in this "rule".

[MysteeDawn]

I am just starting to hear more about keeping children rear facing, longer.. Does it have to do with height? age? are there any good detailed articles about it? I am due in 6 weeks with my first & i have a britax marathon that i plan on using once i dont feel like lugging the infant seat around anymore, lol.. I have a graco snugride 35 for an infant seat and though i love it, it weighs 12 lbs without the child in it! Great video, love the carseat and your daughter is adorbale! :-)

[smalls181]

@MysteeDawn Age is the most important thing when it comes to RF vs FF. Between the ages of 3-6 years is when the spinal column ossifies and can with stand crash forces without breaking.. If you can keep your child RF til age 3+ then awesome. Thats the goal to shoot for. With a Marathon and an average sized child, you should be able to make it to age 3 or even longer. It will depend mainly on torso height. RF seats are outgrown by height when there is less than an inch of shell above their head

[smalls181]

@MysteeDawn There are a lot of resources that explain ERF in detail. Unfortunately, I cannot post links in comments. Google search "extended rear facing" and just start reading. Sweden has been RF to age 4+ since the1960s and the most the lowest child-vehicle mortality rates. Now, every major child safety organization in the country recommends RF as long as possible. The seats currently available in the US will RF the average kid to age 4, considering both height and weight.

[katmagicate]

Break a leg, cast it. Break a neck, casket.

'Nuff said.

I love how she's so miserable and tired for the video! She's absolutely adorable!

My youngest is almost 23 months old. Still rear facing and will continue to rear face as long as possible. As long as she fits the car seat properly and safely, she will remain rear facing. I get a lot of "Oh! She's getting so big and old! Turning her around soon?" I simply respond nope, not turning her around any time soon ;)

[leahestey]

She is saying you ready ready? I think anyway but thank you for the video.

[Shutterbug2k9]

My aunt just turned her 15 month old son FF, I sent her this video.

[smalls181]

@Shutterbug2k9 There are a lot of other great videos on youtube that explain exactly why its so dangerous to FF a toddler. Send her Joels story. He was 18 months and 30+lbs and broke his neck. Thankfully he survived.

[Shutterbug2k9]

@smalls181 Yikes! I emailed her and talked to her but she just isn't open to keeping him rear facing. :-( She said "We are comfortable with our decision to turn Wes forward facing." I just pray nothing happens to him.

[smalls181]

@Shutterbug2k9 Thats really sad to hear. Did you send her Joels video? Once you give them the information, there is really nothing else you can do. Just pray for the childs safety!

[Shutterbug2k9]

@smalls181 Yeah I did. :(

[jsrcamp]

@smalls181 I know that I had a Friend that FF her 12 month old daughter and sent her and all of my Face Book Friends Joles Video and she said wow I would never intetionaly do anything to hurt my Children. =) I am so happy that his Grandfather posted that Video it helps alot of people!

I am going to keep my now 9 month old ERF till the weight of the new carseat we are going to get her. and I ERF my now 4 year old till 2 1/2 because she out grew hers in height and now in Graco Natulis at 53lbs.

[rockabillygirl77]

so the child has to have their legs all bent up? i dont get it sorry.

[smalls181]

@rockabillygirl77 Have you read any of the research on why it is so important to rear-face for as long as you can? In the first place, her legs were barely touching the back seat. But even when they were, she never complained about being uncomfortable. When she rides forward facing, her legs go up on her lap because having your feet dangling causes them to fall asleep. Either way, legs are bent. And finally, even if she was uncomfortable, I choose her safety over her comfort.

[rockabillygirl77]

@smalls181 yes i have read all the research but did YOU actually know that if a persons legs are scrunched up for too long it can cause deep vein thrombosis that also kills when clots go to the brain?? When i child is sat front facing their legs are hanging down & blood can flow freely down the legs. So,to be fair,either can be killers,especially if a child is in that position for a long period of time!

[smalls181]

@rockabillygirl77 Thats funny. Sweden has been doing this to age 5-6 for 40 years, and they have yet to report any cases of deep vein thrombosis and blood clots. Yet, car accidents are the number one killer of kids in the US. I think I will take my chances of deep vein thrombosis over internal decapitation any time. BTW, how long would ones legs have to be scrunched up in order for this incident to occur? And RF children dont have to have their legs scrunched. They can hang them over the side

[Philonius23]

@smalls181

Another US person here. You have to understand that the person commenting is just searching for "information" to justify their own laziness and to make them feel "smart." Very common in the US unfortunately - I have met many people who never wear a seatbelt and are always ready with some story about "that one guy" who was hurt by a belt or trapped in a burning car. The fact that there are one million OTHER people who died because of no seatbelt does not matter.

[surberlm]

@Philonius23 Well said.

[illicitaucks]

@rockabillygirl77 HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! I have heard some really ridiculous reasons NOT to rearface but that one just takes the cake!!! Children DO NOT suffer from this condition often if at all legs scrunched or not!

Special needs children HAVE to ride backwards because of the lack of neck strength....So do babies...and every child under 6 yrs.I must warn my daughters teacher at mat time she is at risk and not to cross her legs all the time!! LOL!

[graygraysmama]

@smalls181 My 18 month old approximately 24 pounds and 31 inches tall automatically crosses his legs to be more comfy in his rear facing carseat. I hear the argument about legs being uncomfy or breaking on the back of the seat all the time and I am glad to see my child is not the only one who tucks his legs cross legged. He's got short legs and plenty of leg room but he still folds his legs once strapped in.

[CaptainSupernova]

I hate my 25mnth boy forward facing, I try to recline it as much as I can. If I could I would have kept him RF but because of his weight, it says he "should" be FF. But then I think about his legs being cramped as there wasn't much space RF for him to stretch out, like your daughter. I haven't seen any seats in uk that will allow him RF )= Also, the chest strap is brilliant! Even if she was FF she wouldn't fall forward half as much!

Thank you for showing this!!

[smalls181]

@CaptainSupernova You are right, there aren't many choices in England. You can import Swedish seats, such as the Britax Two-Way that will rear-face up to around 50-55lbs. They cost around $400 American, though.

[sensationaddict69]

How tall is she?

[smalls181]

@sensationaddict69 At the time she was 32 inches. Now she is 4.5 and 39 inches and still rear-facing.

[americathinks1]

This is going to be the next car seat of my little baby girl

[smalls181]

@americathinks1. Britax is now releasing updated versions of their convertibles. Keep an eye for those, as they will probably last you a little longer, have better plastic and foam, all for the same price.

[americathinks1]

@smalls181 thank you for the advice :)

[Laniemarie427]

Thank you for being an informed & WONDERFUL parent!!!!!!!!!!!! And thank you for posting this!

[caitdoh]

Good job!

[petelang]

We just bought the Radian XTSL for our DD (8 months old). I love that it RF to 45 lbs. We love it so far and are happy with our purchase!

[Teddi081]

Here in Sweden the recommendations is rear facing until the age of 4-5 years. Noone puts a 2 yearold front facing!!! My child is 5 years and rear facing in a Britax two Way.

[smalls181]

Sweden definitely knows where its at when it comes to car seat safety. In the US, it is legal to turn a child forward facing at 1 year and 20lbs! And people here actually believe that because its legal, its safe. They ignore all of the physics and crash force data and turn children facing front at 1 year.. My daughter is turning 4 in March and still happily rides facing backwards.

[Teddi081]

@smalls181

Thats great. What car seat do you have?

[smalls181]

In this video she was in a Britax Boulevard. We have also tried out the Compass True Fit, but it wasnt a good fit for our car. The seat that we have now is the Sunshine Kids Radian 65 and its perfect. The newest models will RF to 40lbs, and the company also makes a model called the 80 XTSL that RF to 45lbs.

[Teddi081]

@smalls181

Here we have models RF to 55 Ibs, but 45 is also good, better than 20...

[d103cc]

the radian XT SL rear faces to 45 pounds and farward faces to 80 pounds it is a car seat that will last from birth to 7 years old. it is a great choice it is the highest rear facing seat on the market. 45 pounds. it keeps the child harnessed much longer.

[BLACKBEAUTY8989]

once there two years old you can face them the other way

[smalls181]

Actually, you CAN turn them FF at 1 year and 20lbs. However, the safest way for anybody to ride in the car is facing backwards until they reach the limits of their convertible car seat.

[chicosmisses]

Hear in england we dont have rear facing after 12 months old witch i think is realy bad. i am despretly trying to find one that i can find for alot longer. I have come across the concord witch they say can be used upto about 18 months witch we are seriasly thinking about going for. Can anyone pleace tell me were i can get one that will last longer rear facing and that i can get shipped over to england. I need it from birth. My childs safety is more important than the cost.

[hassleandhurrylife19]

Birtax carseat are actually convertible so you can used it longer

[NickJonas431]

my 6 month old nephew is 15 pounds he's a big boy

[el9664]

Thankfully children can rearface up to 40 lbs now. A 6 month old absolutely has to be RF.

[abbielynn84]

My son was 20lbs before 6 months. He is definitely still rear-facing. I hope you aren't implying that because he's a "big boy" that he is now forward facing :(

Despite weight, children's musculo-skeletal systems mature at close to the same rate and even if he is 30 lbs at 6 months, he spine and neck are NOT newar mature enough to FF.

[stbrown1289]

My son was born with a disorder where the muscles on one side of his neck are significantly tighter than the muscles on the other side. Because of this one of his shoulders droops a lot lower than the other one. Anyway, my question is,because of his shoulder droop, no matter how much I try I can not get the shoulder straps to not dig into his neck on one side! It drives me crazy!! Is this dangerous or just uncomfortable?

[jsrcamp]

stbrown1289.....have you tried a soft strap cover for both sides? you can pick those up at a walmart or anystore as far as I know. it might help in the comfort level for your son. you can get them in fun colors and some of them even have animals or cars or even airplains on them. I had the same problem with my now 3 year old and found that they worked wounders for her in the comfort level

[abbielynn84]

Actually, strap covers are not safe. They are against manufacturers guidelines, and effect the use of the seat. They can cause the straps to be too loose, and many are so long that they cause the chest clip to be too low. Chest clips are meant to be at arm-pit level always.

Jsrcamp - if you must use them on your child, the only good thing you can do (other than remove them) is fit your child in the seat without them, get the perfect fit, then put them back on and see if the child still fits.

[jsrcamp]

@abbielynn84 Haha you dont have to worry about me. I am a carseat safty freak and I know all about that. Yes I did make sure the seat straps where propley placed and tight on my daughter befor I even put the seat straps on her older seat. Now she is in a Graco Natulas, witch she will be 5 point harnessed in till 65 lbs and backed booster till 100 lbs.

[jsrcamp]

@abbielynn84 I did not mean to sound mean in that last post, I am jsut saying I am a safty freak when it comes to my daughters. Her new seat actually came with the strap covers and she knows how the chest clip and straps are supposed to be on her. she gets mad when sombody else buckles her in and the chestclip is not at arm pit level. lol I think I made a carseat safty freak out of my almost 4 year old.(witch is not a bad thing.

[tjensen19]

@abbielynn84 Actually, that only applies to aftermarket products. Some seats (Britax, SK) come with pads that are perfectly fine to ise as the seats are tested with them ;)

[casipie]

I like this.... I am 13 now.... I know everything you could pssibly think of about carseats, When I have children I will make sure I keep them rear-facing as long as possible, of cource by then they will probably have 100lbs rear facing abbility! :) I CANT WAIT! tee hee! thanks for posting this!

[smalls181]

I am so happy to see a young person passionate about her future childrens safety. When I was 13, I never gave it a second thought.

There are now 3 car seats in the US that will RF to 40lbs. Graco MyRide, Dorel Air, and the Sunshine Kids Radian just upped their RF weight limit from 35 to 40lbs. So we are definitely on our way to being able to RF our kids to 5/6 years old like they do in Sweden.

[casipie]

I think here in Canada we havethe Graco MyRide, No Dorel Air though... I like the true fit carseats and the Britax ones but they only have a few models here. I like the click and Safe kind but thoses havnt come out here yet :)

[smalls181]

I accidently removed your other comment. I meant to click reply, but clicked remove instead.

I didnt realize you were Canadian. Im sure it won't be long until they start following suit. Definitely by the time you have kids...

[casipie]

I aggree, Im going to recemend that my cousin turn her daughter back to rear facing, her daughter is 17 months old and is foward facing in a saftey 1st Alpha Omega convertable carseat witch can hold a baby rear facing until 35 lbs and her baby is 25 lbs so ill see what I can do :)

[NuggetAshley]

Love this video... I got myself a boulevard because of this vid, and I like it a lot. thanks for posting!

[madilov11]

oh, shes so cute and she says the cutest things!

[kerriebeth21]

I wish my baby boy wasn't so big! We are trying to squeeze another 2 months of RFing in, to make it to his 2 year birthday. He's 29 lbs and about 35.5 inches. It's the height that's the problem! I've heard too many sad stories about children between 1-2 years old suffering from internal decapitation due to being FFing during an accident. Laws NEED to change!

[annaestep]

THanks for posting this! I just bought a Britax First Class (not sold in the US, and I live overseas) Mine is a little different as it must be installed with a 3 point lap belt. Anyway, I'm worried that it's not properly installed, as I can rock it quite a bit at the opposite end of the belt path. Is this OK as long as it's very firm at the belt path? Also, my son's head hangs forward when he falls asleep? ANy ideas? Also, what is rebounding? Thank you so much for any advice you can give me!!

[smalls181]

I can only speak for US seats, but here you test for tightness at the belt path.

Is your seat RF? How old is your son?

Rebounding is when the seat goes toward the front of the car and then 'bounces" back towards the backof the car, in an acciident. That movement cradles the childs head, neck, and spine, keeping it aligned. That is how the seat is able to absorb so much of the crash f orce.

[chicosmisses]

I am from the uk and went to halfords today to look at the same one and i was worried about the exact same thing. The woman who fit it said it was ment to be like that but i dont think its safe so left it there. We are going to see if a concord ultramax fits it better on saterday.

[jfmom]

yeay!!! I am adding this to my favorites, We just turned my 3 year old 33 lber around front facing, in her radian.. (we have radians and safety 1st apex 65 seats)

We also extended rear face and extended harness all three of our kids! yeay!

[smalls181]

Great job on ERF and EH. My sister just turned her 4 year old FF in the Radian, as she is just hit 33lbs.

[jtmidnight]

I'm also a big car seat safety advocate. Great video! But did you mention that Britax allows a tether in the rear facing position for added safety.

[smalls181]

The safety of RF tethering is a much heated debate amongst car seat techs these days. I, personally, would use it for children over a year, but not with infants. I feel the rebounding is important for infants. It does stabalize the car seat better in roll over accidents, but those are very rare. You are much more likely to be in frontal crash, and thats where the debate is.

[smutz82]

well done mom!! Keep that baby rear facing until 35lbs! Its too bad that the Britax doesnt go up any higher than 40lbs using the straps. I got the Graco Nautilus carseat for my 3 yr old (35lbs), 4 1/2 yr old (42 lbs) and 6 yr old (45lbs) You can use the straps until they are 65lbs!! Awesome video! Thank you for sharing!

[babyboomboom0029]

This Britax goes to 65lbs. The Marathon, Decathlon and Boulevard all RF to 35lbs and FF to 65lbs

[MrMasidonio]

okay my question is..

both of my kids used the same RF seat..on the seat it said that it was UNSAFE for a child over 20 lbs to be in the seat..i took that as a warning that the straps or plastic was not designed to hold a baby of that weight or higher..

are there RF seats that are made for children weighing more???

[smalls181]

Yes, absolutely! The seat that you had for your children was probably an infant seat that RF only, and would snap into a base? After babies outgrow the infant seats, you move them to a convertible seat, which will do both RF and FF. Convertible seats in the US will all RF to 30, 33, or 35lbs, and there must be at least 1 inch of hard shell above their head. (Newborns may fit in some convertible car seats from birth. Depends on the seat and the size of the baby.)

[MrMasidonio]

right it was one of the ones that snapped in a base...

hmm maybe i need to look at the manual for the new ones and see if they are possible to be put in RF...

Thanks for the help

[smalls181]

You are welcome. Feel free to message me anytime if you need any help.

[NicolaMonk]

Adorable :) . I needed to see this after watching a dozen or so videos with straps so loose you could fit a second child in them, and clips positioned above the belly button.

What are some people thinking???

[smalls181]

Most people dont even give car seat safety a second thought. Most do try.. but without a clear understanding of the physics behind car crashes, they think as long as they are strapped in, they will be fine.

[bookofsnow]

Here in Europe we don't have chest clips and the safety record with seats here is better than in America so I'm curious if those chest clips aren't as great as they seem to be.

[smalls181]

The chest clips on American seats are a pre-crash positioning device. They are there to keep the straps positioned correctly. European straps are designed differently. I haven't actually seen one in person, but from what I understand, they are narrow at the top, then become wider. American straps are the same size throughout.

I think the biggest problem with Americas safety record isn't the seats themselves, but the improper use of such seats. Rarely do I see a child properly restrained.

[bookofsnow]

Thanks, that is true about the straps. Since I'm an American living here, our first seats were from America and I did notice that about the straps here.

[smalls181]

European straps look so weird to me, because I am not used to them. I see it and I think "how in the world are the straps going to stay on the shoulders?" But of course I remind myself of the design difference. I do wish the US seats were without the chest clip. It is just one more thing for parents to do wrong in these seats. They pose a huge risk to the child's abdomen it is placed on the belly, which I often see.

In the European statistics, do they consider Scandinavian countries as well?

[Herzcool991]

My 22 month old is still rear-facing in that same seat! :) We love it!

[alb319]

Your daughter is adorable! So glad you posted this video.  My daughter is extended RFing as well (in a Marathon at 16 months with plenty of room to grow!). My son is still harnessed FF (of course) in his Marathon at 4 years old, 39 inches and 35 lbs.

[carseatsafety]

Awesome vid :)

[roadie200]

Yay for RF! I love her vocalizations - so cute!

[boricuamom87]

Yeah to RF!

[MorganandEedna]

is this seat installed with latch or seatbelt

[smalls181]

lap belt only. I want to get it tethered, but the tech who helped installed it said she couldn't find anything to anchor it to.

[MorganandEedna]

O ok just curious:)

[boosmom440]

hey i seen this before you posted it on cafemom

[chrissybliss]

yea for you! We just turned Haley back to rear-facing last week (she was turned forward at 12 months, and she is 33 months now). We were thinking of getting that very car seat. Thanks for the demonstration!

[smalls181]

Its a great seat!! I highly recommend it. And Haley is pretty petite, isn't she? She probably will have plenty of time both rear-facing and forward facing in it. You will definitely get your moneys worth. Buy from hipmonkeydotcom because they have theese seats that RF to 35lbs.

[chrissybliss]

Which seat is it? Doesn't the Boulevard RF to 35 pounds or is it 33? I've seen both. Either way, I have a feeling Haley will outgrow the height first.

[smalls181]

The Boulevards that are manufactured after Feb 7th 2008 will RF to 35lbs. I figure that Scarlett will outgrow it by height first (when there is less than 1 inch of hard shell above her head) but I want the higher RF weight limit in case another child in the family needs it.

[MorganandEedna]

I wouldnt get a 33 month old this car seat. She will outgrow it too fast. Perhaps a Radian 80 or Something that has a higher weight limit for foward facing and extended harnessing. But this is a great car seat! :) Just a suggestion.

[smalls181]

An 80lb harnessing weight limit isn't usually necessary because most kids will outgrow it by height loooong before they outgrow it by weight.

[MorganandEedna]

Still you never know but it sounds like you know Haley is it? I just ment that it's an option, but that is a really good point :)

[MorganandEedna]

Does the Boulevard go to 65 or 40? The website says 65 but i thought it only went to 40 thats why I suggested the Radain for that person. I agree with you about the 80lb harness thing not completly necessary :D

[smalls181]

It does FF to 65lbs. The Marathon, Boulevard, and Decathalon are the 3 convertible seats that harness to that height. The Roundabout only harnesses to 40lbs.

[MorganandEedna]

Yea I know I got it mixed up with the weight limit of the roundabout (40lbs) :) Thanks.

[MorganandEedna]

Shes soooooooooooooooo cute! :)

[azraelshotmomma]

Great Job Mom! Good job Extended rear-facing. My DD is 22 months and ERF. Keep it up! LOL!

[MorganandEedna]

Wahoooo!! Yeay for extended rear facing!I have a neightbor who has a 1 yr old and they day he turned one she turned him FF, I dont understand why parents are in such a hurry to make their kids less safe in the car, but you are doing a FANTASTIC job. Keep it up!

[blueberryanthill]

AWESOME video! Kudos to you! I have 2 ERF kiddos--a 13 month old and a 33 month old :)

[smalls181]

Thank you! I recognize your kids' names from MDC/ =)

[babyboomboom0029]

This video is so awsome!  I am so happy to see another mother as concerned about their child RF as I am! Great job! BTW you little one is so cute!

[queenriley]

Great job! She's so cute, even when cranky, and she's very safe! It's nice to know others are getting the word out on just how safe extended rear-facing really is.

[umothra]

wonderful! It's so good to see a toddler rear facing. My 4 year old is still rear facing and he will continue to be until he hits 30 lbs! we have 2 lbs to go still.

[pingbns]

yay!! keep it up, show more vids of rear-face

[KatMomof3]

she's so adorable and great to see her rearfacing!

[zoebugsmommy]

She's adorable! Great Job Mommy! - a fellow cafemom