I know they say to keep your child rear facing till 2. But I've also read that if your child is the…

@santistevanmommie,

The Graco Extend to fit rear faces up to 50 lbs, and 45 inches tall. I would recommend that seat for him. Forward facing too early can cause him to be internally decapitated in a wreck.

@theinkedmommy, 😟 I can't afford that seat. I already spent like 120$ recently for the seat he has now, which will last him till he can just sit in the backseat. It does recline but I can't get a good install on it in that position :/ and idk how much extra room that gives him either.I'm so torn on this. Either way I feel bad and even worse forward if God forbid we got in a wreck. He meets the requirements to forward face for that seat though... Sigh I wish they made these seats where kids can actually sit in them till age 2 idk how I'm going to do it. It's hard to get him in there as it is.

@missjess, The requirements for children to forward face are bare minimum. You can always use pool noodles or towels to get a better install in your vehicle. @santistevanmommie Can give you a lot more car seat safety advice than me, however. I would much rather my child be uncomfortable than in a casket. But I also understand why you’re so torn.

@theinkedmommy, I'm glad we don't ride the car that often as I don't drive but he travels with his dad on the regular and he's going to do whatever even though I've told him not too. But just seeing him smooshed in there tonight he basically sits Indian style:( but you are right I wouldn't know what to do with myself if he was forward facing and got killed because of it 😢 I can't even get myself to do it in fear of that. I was just hoping that it would be ok to turn him if he met the requirements

@missjess, I understand. Dad’s just don’t have that same maternal love and instinct we have. That’s why they’re dads. His legs will be alright mama, I promise! I know forward facing makes it seem easier all the way around, trust me I know. You’re always entitled to do whatever you want though, as he’s YOUR child. But it’s a proven fact that their bones aren’t developed enough at this age to withstand car wrecks while forward facing. I’m not trying to scare you into keeping him rear facing, just wanting to share some knowledge I’ve learned over the past few months. 😊

@theinkedmommy, I totally appreciate it! And I know it's my choice and I ultimately knew all these things you are telling me. But I read something the other day saying it was ok if they met the requirements so that's why I asked just to be sure. I want him the safest he can be! I see so many people forward facing at 1 and maybe they are unaware or think the leg space thing us an issue. And although I feel bad he has no leg space and is crammed I don't think he's to bothered by it atleast for now.

@missjess, Well he’s at the age and weight where you can legally forward face. That’s definitely right. But the laws are just bare minimum, and I feel should be re-written because there’s so many moms out there that actually don’t know that it’s dangerous. I had no clue it was until someone told me.

@theinkedmommy, I didn't either till I read all this stuff on this car seat support group on FB but I unfollowed it cause it flooded my page. But it was super insightful on things. They even showed me how to get my car seat in there properly cause I had such a hard time with it at first. But I agree there needs to be more out there for people to know. I never would of known car seats expire either! I had to tell my ex and make him get a brand new one! Thank god for these groups or I'd be doing so much wrong 😶

@missjess, so one thing to remember is they aren’t cramped if their legs are scrunched. The height isn’t determined by the way the legs are in the seat. It’s by how close to the top of the shell of the car seat they are. My 2yr old is still rear facing.

And as stated before the laws and stats on seats are literally bare minimums. Even still forward facing before 2 has a huge risk of internal decapitation in an accident. No matter weight bones mature by age. @morgan.k, while most children may have lived forward facing early it doesn’t mean 1000s die from improper use of the car seat or turned forward facing early. There are pretty cheap seats you can buy to rear face until 40lbs which most kids don’t hit until 2-3yrs of age anyway.

This is my daughter in her seat still rear facing. Usually she crosses her legs or puts them on top of her cup holders.

@morgan.k, @santistevanmommie, thanks for all the info ladies!