Forward-Facing Basics

Since rear-facing is much safer than forward-facing, we should ask why anyone (besides the driver) would ride forward-facing.  Even flight attendants and astronauts sit rear-facing!  Still, once your chlid is too tall or too heavy for his convertible seat's rear-facing mode, he must sit forward-facing and this section will help you make this transition.

Who sits forward-facing?

Kids who have outgrown their child safety seat's rear-facing height or weight limits.  If your child is still within the height and weight limits for rear-facing, he should REMAIN rear-facing.  Rear-facing is 5 times safer than forward-facing!

What seats can be used forward-facing?

There are three types:

1. Convertible seats. These can be used rear-facing OR forward-facing

2. Combination seats. These can be used forward-facing OR as booster seats.

3. Forward-facing only seats. These are useful for kids with special needs or when big kids must ride in vehicles with lap-only belts.

Where does the seat go in the vehicle?

The center of the back seat is the safest place in the car--it is 43% safer than the side seats.



When is my child too big for his forward-facing seat?

There are three things to look for to see if your child is too big for his forward-facing seat:

1. Weight limit. Your child must not exceed the child safety seat's maximum weight limit. Check your instruction manual for your seat's limits. Maximum weight limits range from 40 to 80 pounds.

2. Head Height limit. Your child's ears must not be taller than the top of the child safety seat.

3. Shoulder Height limit. Your child's shoulders must not be higher than the top harness strap slot used for forward-facing 5-point harness mode.

Should I buy a big seat with a high weight limit?

High-weight harness child safety seats are becoming more popular, and for good reason.

1. Safer than booster seats
2. Great for taller toddlers
3. Will last longer than shorter/smaller seats
4. Great for kids with special needs
5. Great for cars with lap-only belts

When Should My Child Turn Forward-Facing? 

 The quick answer is:  Only children who are too tall or too heavy for their convertible car seat's rear-facing height or weight limits should ride forward-facing. Children who are still within their convertible seat's rear-facing height and weight limits should NOT ride forward-facing.  Please note: It is okay for a child's feet or legs to touch the vehicle seat. This is NOT dangerous, NOT uncomfortable, and DEFINITELY NOT a reason to turn the child around.

Recommendations of American Academy of Pediatrics and NHTSA

The American Academy of Pediatrics has for many years now recommended keeping kids rear-facing until they are too big for their convertible child safety seat.

On March 21 2011, the AAP updated their recommendations in a Policy Statement in the journal Pediatrics, specifying that children remain rear-facing until they are too tall or too heavy for their convertible car seat--until at least age 2, longer if possible.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also updated their recommendations, now specifying that children remain rear-facing until reaching "the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer."  These updated recommendations are based in large part on the research discussed in the following articles:

• A 2007 article in the journal Injury Prevention shows that 2 year olds were FIVE TIMES SAFER riding rear-facing than 2 year olds riding forward facing.

• A 2008 article in Pediatrics (the journal of the AAP) recommends rear-facing till age 2.  "A recent analysis of the protection provided in rear-facing compared with forward-facing car safety seats has revealed that children under the age of 2 years are 75% less likely to die or sustain serious injury when they are in a rear-facing seat."

• The AAP article "New advice: Rear-facing car seats safer for children until they are 2" and a handout for pediatricians to give to their patients entitled "Keep your toddler in a rear-facing car seat until at least age 2 (not 1)."

• British Medical Journal (a highly regarded peer-reviewed journal) 2009 article entitled "Advise use of rear facing child car seats for children under 4 years old."

I thought I could turn my child at a year and 20 pounds?!
This was the old recommendation.  In 2011 both the AAP and NHTSA updated their recommendations to reflect the latest research in child passenger safety.  The AAP now recommends that kids sit rear-facing till at least age 2.  Since 2002, the AAP has recommended: "If a car safety seat accommodates children rear facing to higher weights, for optimal protection, the child should remain rear facing until reaching the maximum weight for the car safety seat, as long as the top of the head is below the top of the seat back."  NHTSA now recommends: "Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer."

Language required in car seat instruction manuals also creates some confusion and may lead parents to believe that a 1 year old and 20 lb child must sit forward-facing in order to be safe.  This is untrue for most car seats--read your owners manual carefully to note the maximum rear-facing height and weight limits, not just the minimum allowed. 

If not at a year and 20 lbs, then when is my child too big for rear-facing?
A child can be either too heavy, too tall, or both--but all of this depends on the specifcations of the car seat. Each car seat has its own height and weight limits for rear-facing children. Most convertible seats allow children to sit rear-facing up to 40, 45 or even 50 pounds.The height limit for any rear-facing car seat is that there must be at least 1 inch of room between the top of the child’s head and the top of the car seat. This inch ensures that as the child slides up the seat in a crash, his head will stay protected. Given the design of most car seats, the majority of children become too tall for rear-facing seats before they become too heavy. Therefore, when you purchase a convertible car seat, try to select one that is taller in seated height for the child.

Older Toddlers CAN Sit Rear-facing!

At 35 lbs, this 2-year-10-month-old was too heavy to sit rear-facing in his Britax Marathon Classic.  Look how long his legs are when he sits forward-facing.....

His parents decided to turn him back rear-facing.  His legs are okay! He fits fine rear-facing in a new Safety 1st Complete Air and he is now 5.32 times safer than before.

Simply put, there are ZERO documented cases of rear-facing children breaking their legs, hips, feet, etc., due to their feet touching the back of the vehicle seat. However, since it looks plausible, this rumor persists. Studies show that forward-facing kids are actually more likely to have leg injuries.

Unfortunately there are too many documented cases of head and spinal cord injuries due to children riding forward-facing too soon. Modern medicine can easily fix a broken leg, but not a broken neck.

What about big babies?
A 95th percentile baby may look stronger than his 5th percentile friend, but in a crash the bigger baby is likely MORE at risk if he's riding forward-facing. The rigidity of bones and the strength of ligaments in the spine is likely the same in children of the same age, no matter their size. And a 95th percentile baby likely has a much larger, heavier head, which will pull forward which much more force than that of a 5th percentile child.

My baby is unhappy being rear-facing!
Rear-facing does not have to be boring! Older kids can ride quite upright so they can see out the side and rear windows. If there is a head rest blocking your child's view out the back window, you can usually remove it. By 9-12 months your baby knows you're there when you talk to them from the front - even though they can't see you. So you can calm and entertain your child with songs, stories - and for older children games of "I spy" - all while they are rear-facing. Concerned about car sickness? Volvo looked at several thousand pre-schoolers and found the same rates of motion sickness in those riding rear-facing as those riding forward-facing. Regardless of the direction your child rides, placing them in the center seat with an unobstructed view out the front/back window will help keep the nausea away.

My child is 15 months old and forward-facing - should I really turn her back rear-facing?
Yes!  When we know better, we must do better.  3 months ago when you turned her forward facing you did what you thought was best, but now you know differently.  Avoid regrets, and give her the best protection you know how.  

Many parents worry that it will be a disaster turning an older child back rear-facing.  Here is one mom's experience turning her almost-3-year-old son back rear-facing:

What types of child safety seats can be used forward-facing?

There are three different types:

Convertible Seats: These convert from rear-facing to forward-facing. Try to buy a tall convertible seat, so that it will last a long time. This is because many children become too tall for their convertible seats--meaning their shoulders become even with the top shoulder harness slot--long before reaching the seat's weight limit and well before they are ready for a booster seat. Selecting a seat with a tall top shoulder strap slot will allow the seat to last longer.

Two convertible seats, placed side by side.

Combination Seats: These are sometimes called Booster Seats, but this name is misleading.  A Combination seat is a forward-facing seat with a 5 point harness that starts at 20-30 pounds and goes to 40-65 pounds with the harness. Then you remove the harness and use the seat as a booster until your child is 80 to 100 lbs. When selecting a combination seat, make sure that the top shoulder strap slot is going to be high enough for your child to grow with the seat--on many the top slot is no taller than on the convertible seat.

These seats fit children at least 1 year old and at least 20-22 pounds. They are particularly useful for children with special needs who need the support of a 5-point harness longer than most children do. They're also useful when an older child must ride in a position with a lap-belt only.

Height and Weight Limits

Height Limits: The top of the child’s ears must be at or below the top of the car seat AND the child's shoulders must be at or below the top shoulder strap slot.

Weight Limits: This varies by seat, so check the owner’s manual to your car seat.
Many convertible car seats have a maximum weight limit of 40 pounds. Some go higher, to 50 or 65 or even 80 pounds.

If you have a combination seat, please read the fine print carefully! While the seat might accommodate kids from 20-100 pounds, the fine print may tell you that the 5-point harness is good from 20-40 pounds and the booster from 40-100 (for example – other seats might have different starting and ending weights).


Seat Placement in the Vehicle

Where in the vehicle should a forward-facing child sit?
The center of the back seat is the safest place in the entire vehicle. It's not just safest for kids - it's safest for adults too. Research from real crashes shows that kids sitting in the center are 43% safer than those sitting on the side because you can never take a direct hit in the center.

But there is no LATCH in the center of my vehicle?!
True for most vehicles!!  LATCH was designed specifically for child safety seats, yet the safest place for the child safety seat usually doesn't have LATCH. But.... just because there is no LATCH doesn't mean you can't install the child safety seat in the center. You will need to use the vehicle's safety belt to secure the child safety seat in the center. (Just remember, there is almost always a tether anchor in the center - so if you are putting a forward-facing safety seat in the center, use the vehicle's safety belt AND the tether.)

But what if two (or more) people need to ride in the back seat?
Since the center is the safest spot, try to put the person who is least protected in the center. For example, a rear-facing child (even a 4 pound preemie) is 5 times safer than a forward-facing child or adult simply because they are riding rear-facing. So, put the forward-facing child in the center and the rear-facing child on the side to "even things out."

Of course there are times when this may not work. When there is only a lap belt in the center, things get complicated. A child in a booster or an adult should NOT ride with just a lap belt. Therefore it would be safer for the booster child or adult to sit on the side with a shoulder belt.

What if the child safety seat doesn't fit securely in the center?
The most important thing is to use the child safety seat properly. So, if the safety seat doesn't fit securely in the center, install it on the side. Or, buy a different safety seat that will fit securely in the center.

Won't my child fly through the windshield if they sit in the center?
As a parent there are many things to worry about, and many parents worry about this. But as the Car Seat Ladies, we are going to tell you not to worry! If the child safety seat is used properly, you don't have to worry about anyone going through the windshield. A properly used child safety seat is belted tight to the vehicle and the child is strapped tightly in the harness.

The only people who go through the windshield are those who forgot to wear their safety belt or kids who were VERY loose in their harness straps.


How should a forward-facing child ride?

• Clek Foonf
  
  • Rear-facing from 14 lbs and able to sit upright alone to 50 lbs
  • Forward-facing from 20 to 65 lbs
  • Child must be within the seat's height limit as well
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 5-70
  
  • Rear-facing from 5 to 45 lbs
  • Forward-facing from 22 to 70 lbs
  • Child must be within the seat's height limit as well
• Maxi Cosi Pria 70
  
  • Rear-facing from 4 or 9 lbs to 40 lbs
  • Forward-facing from 22 to 70 lbs
  • Child must be within the seat's height limit as well

• Recaro Proride
  
  • Rear-facing from 5 to 35 lbs
  • Forward-facing from 20 to 70 lbs
  • Child must be within the seat's height limit as well

• Diono Radian
  
  • Rear-facing from 5 to 40 or 45 lbs
  • Forward-facing from 22 to 65 or 80 lbs forward-facing
  • Child must be within the seat's height limit as well
  • These seats fold up to a compact 6 inches high and fit in a travel bag (sold separately) for easy transport....except that they weigh 20 lbs

• Britax
  
  • Rear-facing from 5 to 35 or 40 lbs
  • Forward-facing from 22 to 50, 65 or 70 lbs depending on exact model
  • Child must be within the seat's height limit


• Safety 1st Complete Air 65
  
  • Rear-facing from 5 to 40 lbs and 40 inches
  • Forward-facing from 22 to 65 lbs and 52 inches

• Graco Nautilus and Argos 70
  • Forward-facing with 5 point harness from 20 to 65 or 70 lbs
  • High-backed booster seat from 30 to 100 lbs
  • Backless booster seat from 40 to 100 or 120 lbs
  • The child must be within the seat's height limit as well

• Britax Frontier 85, Frontier 90 and Pinnacle 90 
  • Forward-facing with 5 point harness from 25 to 85 or 90 lbs AND 2 years old.
  • High-backed booster from 30 to 100 lbs
  • Child must also be within the seat's height limit
  • Tether required once child is 65 lbs and using 5-point harness mode

• Safety 1st Go
  
  • Forward-facing 5 point harness mode from 22 to 60 lbs for children over 1 year old and who are 34 to 52 inches tall
  • Top tether MUST be used for 5 point harness mode
  • Backless booster seat for children 3 years and older who weigh 40 to 100 lbs
  • The child must be within the seat's height limit as well
  • Great for travel--seat folds up and fits into travel bag (included) and weighs 10 lbs.  Very easy to install.

• Safety 1st Apex 65
  • Forward-facing 5 point harness mode from 22 to 65 lbs for children over 1 year old
  • High-backed booster from 40 to 100 lbs 
  • Child must also be within the seat's height limit
  • Child's ears MUST be below top of vehicle seat/head restraint--which will limit its use in older vehicles with low seat backs

• Britax Regent (discontinued)
  
  • Forward-facing 5 point harness seat for children over 1 year old who weigh 20 to 80 lbs
  • Tether required for children over 40 lbs

• Ride Safer Travel Vest
  • Use with lap-only belt for kids 30-60 lbs
  • Use with shoulder/lap belt for kids 30-80 lbs
  • Available in two sizes: 30-60 lbs and 50-80 lbs

• Kid Y Harness with Ride Ryte Booster
  • Fits kids 30-80 lbs when used with High-back Ride Ryte booster
  • Fits kids 40-80 lbs when used with backless Ride Ryte booster
  • High-back booster provides whiplash protection in vehicles with low seat backs
  • High-back Ride Ryte booster easily converts to backless booster by simply detaching from base of booster
  • PLEASE NOTE: This child safety restraint has very specific instructions. 
    • Ride Ryte MUST be used with Kid Y harness if vehicle seat has lap-only belt.
    • Ride Ryte can be used as a backless booster only if vehicle seat comes up to top of child's ears.
    • Depending on the maximum weight capacity of the tether anchor in your vehicle, you may need to install a heavy-duty tether anchor

A child should not use a booster seat unless he/she is BOTH:

• at least 3-4 years old AND
• at least 40 pounds

Children 3 or 4 years old and 30 to 40 pounds could use a combination seat, which is a seat that starts off as a 5-point harness and then turns into a booster seat once the child is older, heavier, taller, and more mature.

Why shouldn't my 3 year old 30 pound child use a booster?
The 5-point harness of a forward-facing car seat provides the best protection for toddlers, because it not only restricts movement, ensuring that toddlers are in the proper position should a crash occur, but also distributes the crash forces over a larger area of the body when compared to a safety belt and booster seat (two chest straps with the safety seat versus one chest strap with the safety belt.).   While many booster seats say that they can be used for children weighing as little as 30 pounds, it is best to wait until the child is at least 40 pounds before using a booster seat.

Do I HAVE to put my child in a booster once he/she is over 40 pounds?
No, many 40 pound children are not mature enough to use a booster seat.  If your over 40-pound child leans over to fight with a sibling, picks up dropped toys, hangs out the window, unbuckles his seat belt, etc., then he is NOT READY for a booster seat.   In this case, you should look for a child safety seat that has a 5-point harness and can accommodate a child weighing more than 40 pounds.  Some of these seats will turn into boosters later on, once the child is older, heavier, taller, or more mature.

Forward-Facing Installation Tips and Tricks

• Make sure your child really needs to sit forward-facing.  Remember, kids who sit rear-facing are 5 times safer than those who sit forward-facing!
• Before installing your forward-facing car seat, move the front seats all the way up.  This will give you more room to move around the back seat.
• If your car has tether anchors:  Place your car seat on the vehicle seat.  Before attaching it, set up the tether strap by attaching the hook to the tether anchor. Don't tighten it, just make sure the strap and tightening mechanism are accessible, and keep an eye on them as you install the car seat using the lower anchors or the seat belt.  This way the tether strap won't get caught under or behind the car seat during installation.  

• Check your vehicle owner's manual and your car seat instruction manual to make sure that you are attaching your car seat in an approved seating position and using an approved method.  For example, not all forward-facing seats can be used with the lower latch anchors in every vehicle seating position.  Many require that you use the seat belt to install the car seat in the center seating position.  
• Pull the seat belt or latch belt from inside the car seat, not from outside the seat.  This means that if you dropped the latch belt, it should fall down on top of where the child goes, not outside the car seat. We have found this especially helpful with the Britax Frontier and Frontier 85. This rule applies to most car seats but not all--exceptions include the older Britax seats (not the models with "70" after their names), the Sunshine Kids Radian, Recaro Signo, and Graco Safe Seat Step 2. 
• As you pull the seat belt or latch belt tight, put pressure on the car seat. Generally we find that putting one or two knees in the car seat helps sink it down into the vehicle seat.  Don't get out of the car seat until you have finished installing it 
• If you are in an SUV, hatchback, station wagon or minivan, you may find it easier to tighten a Y shaped tether strap if you pull from inside the trunk area.