When Can I Turn My Baby Around to Face Forward in the Car? | SafeWise (2024)

FAQs

When Can I Turn My Baby Around to Face Forward in the Car? | SafeWise? ›

Making the Switch to Front-Facing

While 1 year and 20 pounds used to be the standard for when to flip car seats around, most experts now recommend using rear-facing child seats until children outgrow the top weight and height recommendations of the car seat manufacturer. This means your child may be rear-facing until well beyond their second birthday.

Height-based seats are known as 'i-Size' seats. They must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a forward-facing child car seat when they're over 15 months old. You must check the seat to make sure it's suitable for the height of your child.

(Upgrade to the NextFit^® Max Zip Air and the maximum weight limit is increased to 50 pounds with an overlap of 28 pounds.) While you are technically able to turn your child forward-facing when they reach the 22-pound minimum, the AAP suggests that you maximize the rear-facing limit of 40 (or 50) pounds.

Many have higher limits in rear-facing weight (up to 40–50 pounds) and height than those of rear-facing– only seats, a feature that makes convertible seats ideal for bigger babies and toddlers.

All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear facing for 2 years or more.

How much safer is rear facing? Research has shown rear facing to be 500% safer up to two years of age. Do benefits disappear after that? Not at all.

Safety: The most critical factor is to ensure the car seat is installed correctly and securely. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and the car's owner's manual for guidance. Both rear-facing and forward-facing car seats can be safely installed behind the driver or passenger seat.

A child has outgrown their infant seat when either of the following happens: They've reached the maximum height or weight limit, which is typically 30 to 32 inches or 30 to 35 pounds. The top of their head is less than an inch from the top of the seat when buckled in.

How much does a 2 year old weigh? ›

2-year-old weight and height

Average weight for a 24-month-old is 26.5 pounds for girls and 27.5 pounds for boys, according to the World Health Organization. How tall is the average 2-year-old? Average height for a 24-month-old baby is 33.5 inches for girls and 34.8 inches for boys.

Use a rear facing car seat until child is at least 1 year old and 22 lbs. Use a forward facing car seat until child is at least 40lbs. Use a booster seat until child is at least 9 years old, or is 80lbs, or is 4′9″.

Rear-facing safety seats increase crash protection by supporting the child's head, neck and back. Children may ride in a forward-facing car seat when they are at least 1 year old AND weigh at least 20 lbs. Keep your child in a forward-facing safety seat as long as the safety seat allows for it.

Those between the ages of 1 and 3 and between 20 and 39 pounds can use a forward-facing car seat. Kids between 4 and 5 and between 40 and 60 pounds must be in a booster seat.

When forward facing, the shoulders, neck, and head are thrown forward due to tremendous crash forces that can cause severe injury and even death. It doesn't take much force to cause devastating injury to a developing body, and rear-facing allows the car seat to absorb more force away from the child.

When may I turn my baby from rear-facing to forward-facing? require that the child be at least one year old AND 20-22 pounds – please read the owner's manual for correct information on your particular safety seat system.