https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 05:41:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1675452 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 12:45:11 +0000 dolphin 1675452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we turned her forward facing at 17 months. love it! i say just do what you're comfortable with! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674970 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 10:20:55 +0000 tororojo 1674970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't know you were knocked up! Congrats! I am due in November and toying with forward facing DD once there's another baby to fit in my Corolla...but I feel guilty...but I have long legs that want to be free...AAAAAH </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674374 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 01:38:41 +0000 tequiero21 1674374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: omg congrats! And I believe u said I was crazy! Lol. Good luck! Welcome to the 3 under 3 club! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674372 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 01:29:45 +0000 lamariniere 1674372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched at 14 months (about 24lbs). However, prior to 14 months we didn't have a car, so DS had only been in cars a handful of times. At 14 months we moved to France where people RF to 10 kilos. Also, the car we were using was much smaller than a regular sized American car and our huge Britax wouldn't have fit RF anyways. He also HATED the car and car seat and would scream both RF and FF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674284 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 22:12:14 +0000 chopsuey 1674284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we switched before their 2nd birthdays.<br /> they were around 31-32 inches tall and 23-24lbs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674268 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 21:58:53 +0000 Bao 1674268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same situation as you, LO hates car rides now so we are debating switching her...she's 21 months. Do what ya gotta do momma! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674244 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 21:42:19 +0000 chopstixwife 1674244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first, I turned him around slightly before his 12 month mark because we took a road trip from CA to Yellowstone. My second, I turned at 12 months. My third will probably be at 12 months too. My sons are 20+ lbs and probably did meet the height requirements. I know a lot of people on this board is very gung ho to wait until two years old but I do what works for me. Does that make me a bad parent?...nope because I haven't had cps called on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674220 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 21:23:48 +0000 bpcmarj 1674220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Switched.DD at 15 or 16 months. She was about 35 inches and was almost at the rear facing height limit for her seat. No regrets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674031 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:48:40 +0000 matador84 1674031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I turned DS when he was 15 month. I was like 5-6 months prego, huge, and was having a hard time lifting him up and under the tethers. Plus we were going on a road trip to Dallas and his feet were looking too long for he seat. He was probably like 20 pounds or less at the time. </p> <p>If I were you....I'd FF. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674007 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:35:49 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1674007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: @bluestriped bee: Yep, pregnant! I posted an announcement video, but it had sort of an innocuous title that wouldn't have clued you in right away. We're very excited and a wee bit nervous! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1674002 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:32:56 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1674002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NovBaby1112: I meant the chairs in our car are bucket in the second row, like in the front. Their car seats are convertibles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673989 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:27:47 +0000 Mamasig 1673989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched DS around 15 months. He was around 32 inches and 30 pounds by then. He's always been big - 90%+. And I also was pregnant and getting him in and out rear facing was getting hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673983 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:25:25 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1673983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have a chance to read all of the replies, so forgive me if someone already said this but....</p> <p>@Mrs. Blue: Oh momma, I say do what you've gotta do. My only concern would be that you would like to keep them rear facing the rest of the time...I would be afraid that once they got a taste of forward facing they might never go back. Just something to think about. You have to weigh the risks...a distracted anxious momma who is driving two screaming babies might be putting them more at risk than turning them forward facing. Nothing is black and white, and you have to trust your own instincts. Hugs momma &lt;3 those precious boys are lucky to have you as their momma. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673958 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:09:50 +0000 Foodnerd81 1673958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>C is only ten months so we are still rf, but I would say most people I know irl switched before two. Most seem to jut install the convertible ff. I *hope* to rf C until two but babies and plans and all that. </p> <p>That said, I just drove for four hours with her alone today. She did really well mostly, but screamed and screeched for about half an hour straight and I felt significantly less safe. I was distracted, couldn't focus on the road, moved intothe slow lane recognizing my limits. If turning them ff enables you to concentrate better on your driving, then to me, that's safer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673957 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:09:21 +0000 lemondrop 1673957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched pre-2. We know the stats, but it wasn't working for us. He was much happier ff, and I didn't go into early labor trying to lift him into the rf seat. Win-win. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673952 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:07:09 +0000 BSB 1673952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: I don't have any advice but this part caught my eye... "I'm knocked up and can't even have wine at the end of the drive."</p> <p>Are you pregnant? Did I miss this or did I just forget?</p> <p>ETA: Nevermind. I stalked your history and see you posted on the Due Date thread. Congrats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673940 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 19:01:56 +0000 NovBaby1112 1673940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I noticed you mentioned they were in bucket seats? Have you tried switching them over to convertible carseats? My LO (18.5months) hated the infant bucket seat with a passion, but once we switched her over to the convertible a little before a year, she tolerated being in the car for much longer. I think it puts them higher up, allows them to see more, and they are at less of a recline...just a thought!</p> <p>I do think rear facing past one is more common on HB so do not feel guilty. I know it's safest as well, but we will prob switch to FF around 20/22 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673931 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 18:59:13 +0000 Espion 1673931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister had to turn her daughter around because she's so tall. (Daddy is 6'10") She was so scrunched up back there. And her little brother is 18 months, and too tall for his 2T clothes. So, I imagine he'll be forward facing soon as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673927 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 18:58:26 +0000 photojane 1673927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: I've done lots of research, and I'm a big proponent of ERF, so personally I would try other things before switching. You can find tons of affordable headrest DVD players on Amazon. You mentioned not giving them milk, but what about water? At the end of the day though, you gotta do what you gotta do! 6 hours is a long time to listen to a baby scream!</p> <p>ALSO, how did I miss that you're pregnant?!? Congrats!! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2/page/2#post-1673900 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 18:39:33 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1673900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I turned DS1 around on his first birthday, since according to our state law that was the earliest we could. He was probably about 23 lbs. I'm one of the (very) few on HB! If it works best for you guys to flip them don't stress about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673784 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 17:23:44 +0000 Sammyfab 1673784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lizzywiz: Hear hear!! What you wrote was awesome. :happy: </p> <p>We switched at around 20 months when LO was around 25 lbs? We live in a cold climate and getting him in and out of the car with winter boots in the freezing cold was getting really difficult! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673734 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:59:16 +0000 emg86 1673734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lizzywiz: Totally worth every penny! I highly reccomend it. I think there are several tutorials on making your own on Pinterest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673723 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:49:42 +0000 lizzywiz 1673723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emg86: I googled the noggle- amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673718 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:47:25 +0000 Mrs. Blue 1673718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: Yeah, it's already hard to get them in their seats and I can't imagine what it will be like in the 3rd trimester. Yikes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673712 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:45:28 +0000 emg86 1673712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO used to be this way. Two things that helped were making sure I wasn't over tightening her straps, which I was really bad about and I also got a Noggle so she had direct air flow coming her way. We are in TX and even if the AC is blasting in the car, it wouldn't be cool enough for her in the seat. Now, she tolerates the seat a lot better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673711 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:45:11 +0000 jedeve 1673711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH installed the convertible car seat. I swear he did it wrong but LO was so close to the back of the actual seat that I just couldn't bend to get him in there while pregnant. That was our utterly sophisticated way of deciding to flip him. </p> <p>He was about thirteen months and 22 lbs. I have to admit I don't even know the weight requirement to change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673690 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:33:22 +0000 twinmama 1673690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We put one dvd player hanging from the headrest of the middle seat. They stay rf, still get to watch shows, and less potential crash blows to the face than two individual screens. Works for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673688 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 16:32:38 +0000 littlehunny 1673688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also know rear facing is best, but unfortunately one of my twins' bucket seats expired and the new seat we got didn't fit properly in our car rear facing so forward facing it is! He was 16 months and 25lbs when we switched him. </p> <p>We also needed to get a new second seat as we are finally getting car seats for my hubby's car so we don't have to switch them over all the time so my other twin is now forward facing too. We switched him at 18 months and 24lbs.</p> <p>They were both happy kids in the car either way tho so I can't say if it will improve your guy's moods.</p> <p>I think you have to do what works best for you and your family! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673569 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:42:05 +0000 bunnylove08 1673569@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and MIL put DD front facing around 20 months. I was not too happy about it but DD is much happier and I don't have to sit in the back seat with her anymore. She is very content front facing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-turned-your-child-forward-facing-before-age-2#post-1673546 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 15:35:05 +0000 erinpye 1673546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry- I know how miserable it is to drive with screaming toddlers. My DD 1 screamed in the car until nearly 2. I wanted to flip her around so many times, but held out. Honestly, turning her didn't make any difference in her melting down in the car- she still does it, although less often now that she is 2. Turning her actually caused MORE problems for about a week because seeing us up front made her beg and cry for our attention. </p>