https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:52:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458428 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 15:04:03 +0000 LovelyPlum 2458428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've switched back and forth a few times...DD is 22 months now. We've mostly had her FF during really long trips, so we could entertain her from the front seat (dog was in the back). We've also had her FF while in other cars (family) that were too small to accommodate RF in her seat easily/quickly.</p> <p>At homw, I'm more insistant that she's RF, especially in the winter. But mostlh, we haven't switched yet because we don't have a good reason to. If we did, I'd consider it. Until then, we are good where we are.</p> <p>(We also just got a new seat to put her up higher. Hoping she will like this!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458396 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:43:27 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2458396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around 26 months in my car and 24-ish in DH's car. We had a new baby, a new car and she was about a pound away from the RF latch limit, so since we were going to have to change around all the installations anyway, we decided to turn her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458377 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:31:15 +0000 erinbaderin 2458377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: Oh wow, do you think turning forward facing will help this? Because I always have to sit in the back seat with my son and when I'm driving, we spend the whole trip with him going "I want mommy sit backseat hold my hand!" while I try to explain to him that I can't do that and drive the car.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458370 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:28:08 +0000 Foodnerd81 2458370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: do you have a mirror for her? When C was RF we had a mirror on the head rest so I could see her in the rear view mirror (which I know car seat safety experts don't recommend). An added bonus was she could look in it and see me when I was driving. Maybe that would help if you don't want to turn yet? Though she would probably only see the driver so that wouldn't help much with your Dh driving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458335 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 14:00:41 +0000 Lilbear 2458335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>31 months old. I am pregnant and that is around when it started getting difficult to lift her in and out of her carseat. We also wanted to get it done before winter hit, so we wouldn't have to do an outdoor install in the snow. Finally, we figured that the change was inevitable, because her seat would not fit rear facing behind the drivers seat in either of our cars (DH and I are both tall), so the baby's seat has to go behind the passenger seat in order to rear face. It's the only spot in the car that we can fit a RF car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458331 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:58:24 +0000 Finfan 2458331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched DD1 at 19 months because she screamed the entire time we were driving, no matter how long the trip was (grocery store or another state--no difference). She is so much more comfortable being FF and able to see us.<br /> I hope to RF DD2 for at least two years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458281 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:36:03 +0000 looch 2458281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Outgrew the height limit of the seat, 30 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458271 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:30:49 +0000 mamabolt 2458271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just turned LO at 3.8. She's getting close to the height limit and we won't be able to keep her RF once LO2 arrives in 2 months, and we were moving carseats anyway so took the opportunity to switch her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458265 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:27:12 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 2458265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 28 months or so, because we were going on a long car trip and she was getting miserable in the car. Also because of space- DH couldn't comfortably drive our car with a RF car seat behind him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458234 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:11:30 +0000 ValentineMommy 2458234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A little over 2 years. I was pregnant and could barely lift him into the seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458222 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:05:27 +0000 PurplePeony 2458222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 26 months and still RF, but I kind of want to turn her because she throws HUGE tantrums if I don't sit in the back with her. She just hates not being able to see me (we're in a horrible mommy-preference phase anyway and this seems to be part of it). Usually, DH can drive but I hate sitting in the back, and when DH isn't there and I need to drive, it's awful. I don't know if it's something we can wait out or not...DH wants to keep her RF because it's safer, but he's not the one stuck in back all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458218 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:04:18 +0000 reverie 2458218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched my son shortly after 2.5 years b/c we can only rearface one seat in our car and we are prepping for number two. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458214 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:02:23 +0000 Jadj13 2458214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my husband's car we switched the car seat around when LO was about 17 months (earlier than I wanted) but we were taking a 15+ hr car ride and it was easier to tend to him and keep his interested while FF. Husband kept the seat that way once we got back - he's not in that car very often (2 daycare pick ups a week). So that wasn't a fight I was willing to take :-/<br /> In my car, we just switched him at 23 months. It was starting to get tough to get him in and out of the car and I had the car seat out in order to clean. So when I re-installed the seat, I just went ahead and flipped it around.</p> <p>As an aside: I just want to say I love this group - most car seat discussions on other groups would have long since turned nasty! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458195 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:50:33 +0000 Foodnerd81 2458195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We switched at almost 2.5 when baby 2 was born (literally Dh moved the seat when he brought her to come visit us at the hospital). Same as a few others, we had to move her seat to behind the driver and Dh needs to put his seat further back than RF allowed. I will keep baby 2 RF as long as she tolerates it since we won't have to move her for another baby. </p> <p>Fwiw I don't think moving it because your kid is screaming the whole time you are driving is a bad reason. A distracted driver seems a lot more dangerous than FF at 22 months. But I don't really get when people say it's easier FF. I don't find it any easier getting her in the seat and she seems to have a harder time climbing in herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458167 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:29:46 +0000 snowjewelz 2458167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: oh man, I just realized that's what we would have to do when we have #2. There's no way DH can fit up front with any seat RF behind him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458161 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:23:07 +0000 Alivoo01 2458161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS actually hated being FF! It was weird/funny. We initially turned him around at 2, but he wasn't having it. He finally accepted being FF at 2.5. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458142 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:13:03 +0000 Applesandbananas 2458142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We flipped after 2, mostly because I am driving a coupe and RF in a coupe sucks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458130 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:06:11 +0000 BabyMats 2458130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He is still RF at 2.5 in our car. But in grandma's car he is FF because it was such a pain to get him in and out. He was turned maybe just over 2 then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458126 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:04:29 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2458126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are waiting until DD3 needs a convertible and then we'll get a five point harness FF for DD1. She turned three last month and hasn't complained so I'm happy keeping her RF for as long as we can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458121 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 12:01:15 +0000 Alba4 2458121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We turned LO around in my car right at 24 months. In my DH's car, he is still rear facing only because we haven't brought the seat to be inspected yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458117 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:58:48 +0000 Mrs D 2458117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We turned K around 23 mos...she was not happy in the car and her legs were getting quite long and bent. She loves it now... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458113 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:57:16 +0000 tinyperson 2458113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're planning on waiting till LO2 (due in May) outgrows the infant bucket seat and needs the convertible. Then LO1 (should be 4ish by then) will get a combination seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458106 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:53:53 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2458106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just after LO1 turned 2, we switched him because it was increasingly difficult for me to get him in the car. He was far happier FF. At that time, those were the guidelines, so we wanted to be sure to follow them as well (LO1 is almost 3.5 now). I don't know if we'll keep LO2 RF until 3. We'll see how making it to 2 goes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458100 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:49:40 +0000 Charm54 2458100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>20 months because I was pregnant and it was hard to lift her in our high vehicle </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458099 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:49:38 +0000 artsyfartsy 2458099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He was starting to get cranky in the car and we were about to go on a 10 hour trip. We turned him at 22 months before the drive and he was happy the whole time. We just kept it that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458098 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:49:34 +0000 kiddosc 2458098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He exceeded the weight limit for rear facing. He hit 40lbs at around 3.5. He never complained in the car rear facing. He didn't know there were other options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458097 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:48:52 +0000 erinbaderin 2458097@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't switched him yet but will in the near future (he'll be about 25 months), because I'm due in a month and I have long legs, so we have to move the current seat to be behind the driver to make room for the infant seat, and forward face it so I can put the driver's seat back far enough to fit my legs under the steering column. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458094 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:47:24 +0000 winniebee 2458094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same reason - around 21 months he would tantrum and was so difficult to get into the car RF. </p> <p>DS2 is 14m and seems happy to RF so I'll keep him there until age 2 or longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-did-you-switch-to-ff#post-2458090 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:46:12 +0000 Bao 2458090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just curious, what was your reasoning for switching your LO to forward facing, and how old were they? </p> <p>We switched LO1 around 22 months because she was miserable in the car, not the best excuse but it's all good...she was happy and that made us happy and less distracted while driving. LO2 is 23 months and is still RF, she hasn't complained so we will just keep her that way for a while, I think. </p>