Ask:
My dd will be a yr in two weeks, she is tall, but is only about 17lbs. I know it will be easier to travel if she is forward facing. But I don't want to be unsafe. And my son is almost 4 and is about 29lbs. Is he still too young for the booster? I have him in car seat now.
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I don't know if the laws differ by state, but in my state, your child must be 20 lbs. and 1 year old. My state does not hve booster laws, but my pediatrician says they can ride in a booster at 35 lbs, and must stay there until they are 80 lbs, or 4 foot 9 inches tall. HTH
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Maryland law (according to my pediatrician) states that a child has to be 1 year AND 20 pounds to ride in a forward facing car seat (it's not either or like in some states). If you read your instruction manual for your car seat it will say that you should keep them rear facing for as long as possible because that is the safest way for them to ride. I turned both my boys around at a year though because they were both over 20 pounds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics website says that children should remain in a car seat (as opposed to a booster seat) for as long as possible, again because they are safer. I just looked this up recently because I thought about moving my 3 year old to a booster seat even though he hasn't exceeded the 40 pound weight and 40 inch height limits on his car seat (he's 35 pounds and 38 inches). I finally did decide to wait though just to be safe.
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Thanks! I guess they both will remain where they are for awhile. Safety before convenience!! I was just wondering because I was being advised by friends that when feet were hitting the sit they should be turned!
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My peditrician says they can fix a broken foot or leg, better than they can a neck! So I think you're making a good decision by waiting.
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I can't remember about turning around...but I always thought the booster was 4yo or 40lbs. DD was 42lbs when she turned 4 so I got her a booster.
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Originally Posted by brandk916
My peditrician says they can fix a broken foot or leg, better than they can a neck! So I think you're making a good decision by waiting.
Good Point!!
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Our state is also 20 lbs AND a year. It kills me to see little babies facing forward.
Have you all seen this on youtube?
Grab a tissue!
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you are lucky you can wait! My three year old is 41 pounds and 41 inches so She is in a booster but I hate it! It is so not safe! but I do not have ther two hundred dollars to spend on a britax. i am saving for one though! Cause it is just so much safer!
do not turn your child until you have to, keep them rear facing as long as your car seat will allow~! the laws are made according to the car seats not what is safest! it is my pet peeve! Pisses me off!
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When dh and I had our carseat for dd registered, the lady there said that you should keep your child in a back facing position until they are 35 lbs. I feel much safer leaving her in there knowing that she'll be safe. It sucks cause I can't see her face, but I know that I will see her face if something happens. It freeeked me out major all the numbers the lady told us about children not being succure in the seats and the deaths from that. She also said that a child can move up to 4 feet when in an accident. My best advice is to go to the police dept and get your carseat registered, and have someone tell you all you need to know about your state laws and how you can keep your little ones safe.