RF v FF

[2chatter]

DS just had his three year well check.

In the AAP information distributed there is a bullet that says "Children should be restrained in the back seat in a forward facing car seat."  The next bullet talks about using booster seats.

It surprised me - DS is still RF comfortably in a seat that goes to 50 pounds (he is 30 pounds) and hasn't reached the height limit, either.  I plan to email through the portal that the pediatrician hosts, but wanted to get your thoughts/opinions.

And a vent - Appointment was for 8:10 and we waited an hour and a half. I book 8 AM appointments so I can get in to work, not so I can entertain my child in a waiting room. They were short staffed because people quit Friday AND they skipped us. Not a good start to the day!

[k3am]

I have elected to give up the car seat fight.

I know what's safest, and my kid will be rearfacing for as long as possible. If anyone asks, I'm going to defend that decision, but for the most part, I'm keeping my mouth shut. Most people have heard it and just don't care enough, and I don't have the time or energy to try to educate folks who generally don't care.

[frozenpeas]

Great question. My oldest will be 3 in less than 3 months, and we still have her RF. I can't think of a good reason to turn her any time soon (aside from the damage she's doing to the backseat with her shoes). I've always thought they are safest RF, unless they exceed the height or weight limit. Does your child seem to mind RF? Mine doesn't know any better so does not care.

But I've often wondered if I'm over-conservative--we still have our 14.5 month old in a bucket/infant car seat.

[k3am]

frozenpeas - does your kid still meet the height requirement for the bucket seat? Most babies have outgrown them by that age.

[frozenpeas]

k3am - sadly, she does. She's pretty tiny, although I think she's approaching the 30 inch height limit, so we plan to switch her out soon.

[MamaPhD]

Feb 9, 2015 12:18:41 GMT -5 k3am said:

I have elected to give up the car seat fight.

I know what's safest, and my kid will be rearfacing for as long as possible. If anyone asks, I'm going to defend that decision, but for the most part, I'm keeping my mouth shut. Most people have heard it and just don't care enough, and I don't have the time or energy to try to educate folks who generally don't care.

 This, exactly.

[2chatter]

k3am, I am pretty educated - which is why it freaked me out that the AAP said FF. I didn't think that was their recommendation or have I lost my mind?

[k3am]

frozenpeas.. well hopefully she's tiny all around and not just height-wise! I can not imagine lugging around a chunky kid in the bucket seat. That was our main reason for switching.

[tas1883]

I kept DD RF until just before her 3rd b-day when she out grew the height limit of 36 inches but only weighed 34lbs. We actually had more issues with her when we moved her FF. She messes with the straps now, kicks the seats, etc. this went on about 3 months before she figured it. Now DD keeps asking when she can sit with the buckle seat as some of the kids in her class are in boosters. DD now at 3.5 is 39 inches tall and 32lbs so not close to the 40lbs but is probably getting close to maturity level to sit correctly at least for town driving. Even with that I'm keeping her with 5 point harness for quite a while.

[mustardseed2007]

We used the bucket seat for DS until he was almost 18 months!! He was so small (all around) and DD is the same way. We didn't remove the bucket seat from the car at that point, though.

We did finally turn DS last month (3). Yeah, he could have gone longer and he wasn't complaining. He kind of likes sitting FF though and it's easier to get him into the seat. Our Pedi basically said it was up to us. My kids are so small they could probably stay RFing for a very very very long time, so I finally just pulled the plug.

I think you are 100% fine if you leave him RF though, it probably is the safest thing.

[frozenpeas]

k3am - yep, tiny all around. But at this point I don't carry her in the bucket anymore, I take her out. DH still carries the bucket b/c he does DC drop off & pick up and it's easier than corralling both kids through the snow (the 1 yr old will throw herself out of his arms kamikaze-style b/c she prefers to walk).

2chatter - I forgot to mention, DD1's after-visit summary from her 2 1/2 yr appt said the same thing & I remember being shocked, too. I just looked it up and the exact words were: "Your child should use a forward facing car seat as long as possible, up to the highest weight and height allowed by the manufacturer."

[sudokufan]

I thought the AAP recommendation was just "RF at least until 2" -that's what my ped is stressing. There's more awareness about car seat safety, but past 2 is still considered "extended rear facing" and can be an uphill battle to change people's minds about that. I know I'm going to have my work cut out for me in May to persuade my husband, for example. But when we bought our seats I picked ones that would theoretically hold my son RF until 4, so at least that half of my battle is already won. I'll hold out as long as I can, and if we make it to his third birthday I'd probably consider it a victory.

[2chatter]

It just makes me nuts that on an issue where it would arguably be good to get more people on board with RF, they totally blow it off. Thanks privacy that makes me feel both more and less sane!

frozenpeas that is exactly the issue!

I seriously just put on my to-dos "email the AAP re: seats".

And FWIW DD is 7, weighs 40 pounds and if FF in a 5 point harness. NONE of her friends are, and one of her friends called her out on it "why are you in a baby seat" and DD replied "I am in a safe seat, it's not big deal". WTG DD.

[frozenpeas]

Feb 9, 2015 13:05:35 GMT -5 2chatter said:

"I am in a safe seat, it's not big deal".

I freaking love this. 2chatter, I hope my girls grow up to be just like yours!

[helenahhandbasket]

If he's comfortable, and you are comfortable-- keep your LO as he is.

We turned DD at 2 when she met the height and weight parameters for FF.

[momofcatan]

I'm not 100% I have this right, but here's my take. The current AAP recommendation is to RF until at least 2. I believe there is currently no research to prove there is any advantage to RF past 2yo because the studies have not been done (its only recently that people started RF longer).

Honestly I would not be upset at all. But that's because where I live pedi's are still telling parents its ok to FF at 1. That makes me so so incredibly ragey. It might be nice if the pamphlet said they can still be RF at 3, but I don't think its that big a deal.

[culper355]

does it specify that it is their recommendation vs. what most state laws are? We have friends-we made through DC-both of our oldest are our firsts-that are the nicest, well-intentioned parents, that just never researched car seat safety. They allowed their daughter, at 2 1/2, to start using her convertible with the lap belt; while my DS (both are now 5) is still in the 5pt. They admit they didn't research, but wouldn't (at 4 we had this convo) switch her back because it would have been too much of a fight. Our second children are about the same age (2-ours 2 1/2-theirs) and they still turned her at 1 to FF, but said they will hold off as long as they can with the lap belt, but because her older sister does say they will probably use it sooner to avoid the fight

[jlaok]

It sounds like your pediatrician is using outdated AAP information. The AAP changed their recommendations in 2011.

[harperandco]

Feb 9, 2015 12:18:41 GMT -5 k3am said:

I have elected to give up the car seat fight.

I know what's safest, and my kid will be rearfacing for as long as possible. If anyone asks, I'm going to defend that decision, but for the most part, I'm keeping my mouth shut. Most people have heard it and just don't care enough, and I don't have the time or energy to try to educate folks who generally don't care.

This.  I've voiced my thoughts to friends with infants in snowsuits, FF 9 month olds, and 3 year olds in a regular seat, all to no avail.  DD is still in her infant seat (KeyFit 30; 18 lbs; 27 inches; 11.5 months).  I stand my ground and voice my opinion on other issues.