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First of all, if I had a choice, I would RF during a long road trip when you're more likely to be traveling on high-speed highways. We did one last trip around 20 months and then switched her after that.

Have you tried to understand why they are screaming? Are they bored? Carsick?

Only you know your boys, but my son would not tolerate being switched between rear and forward facing. It had to be whole hog one way or the other with him.

You have to do what you have to do. Everyone's safety is important and if you can't drive, you're at risk as well.

No judgment here. I know plenty of people IRL who turned their kids as soon as they hit the size requirement for all sorts of reasons. My LO is too young/small for me to have dealt with this yet, but if I were you, I'd be worried that if I forward faced them for one trip, they would be pissed about having to go back to rear facing for everyday travel. So if you want to keep them rear facing for the foreseeable future, I might not risk it. But, having just driven 5 hours with a screaming 7 month old, I totally feel your pain.

I switched my LO to forward facing the day he turned 1. I also give him juice, though, so I break my fair share of rules

I know it's safer, you know it's safer, and I do give huge kudos to those who keep their babies RF for a long time. But it was not for us.

(We have a huge road trip coming up next month, and I just ordered an ipad headrest holder thing to hopefully keep him entertained. Maybe, even if you keep them RF, you could get something like that X2 and put on some shows or movies?)

ETA: just realized I didn't really answer your original questions. DS was 25 lbs and 32 inches when we turned him - so he was a very substantial 1 year old. I turned him because his legs were looking pretty scrunched already against the back of the seat, he was shrieking during car rides from boredom, and I just felt like it was the right time. I do not think it will work well to turn them FF for a trip and then switch back to RF. Just my two cents!

TBH- rear facing past two is something I see on HB way more than IRL. Not saying that means it's not safer, but please don't feel guilty. People think it's weird that J is over 2 and still RF. Yes, I plan to keep him that way, but I would never say anything to the people I know who all switched their LO's right at a year.

I'm curious too, if you happen to know why they're so upset? Do they have mirrors? Having one for J while RF helped him calm down cause he used to be a screamer in the car too.

Have you tried getting a couple ipad minis or kindle fire HDs? They are on the young side, but that is our solution for long car rides. We switched at 2, but my LO was probably only 23 lbs. When our kids scream in the car, my husband and I fight. A little less safety is worth saving a marriage in my book.

Isn't a DVD player strapped to a seat just as dangerous (projectile in a crash if elastic snaps)?

You made it past a year! I will admit I judge parents that turn FF before a year. But you got them farther than that If they won't sit RF after your trip, you can just make a decision then to turn them FF permanently!

@sorrycharlie: They should be strapped pretty well. If you are in an accident bad enough that straps are snapping, then I would assume many other things in the car are also dangerous as projectiles.

@Mrs.Blue - we did, as soon as our guy turned 1 - I can't even remember height/weight. He hated his car seat. And often I found myself trying to reach back to try and soothe - which was more dangerous.

I'm hoping my daughter will be a better RF passenger!!

DH can't believe that we "should" keep RF so long. No one we know IRL does it. He is also FURIOUS when I showed him how long kids need boosters (til 4'9"... he was like um SOME ADULTS ARE 4'9")

I think you need to do what is best for you. This is, to me, how I felt about stopping pumping. It was doable (yay getting about 5 oz a day... ugh.) and I'm sure that little breastmilk helped her. BUT... DH works nights. It was miserable. I struggled so hard with low supply. Stopping pumping may have been "worse" for my daughter but the increase in my happiness/sanity was well, well, worth it and even more beneficial.

So if it gets your kids to stop screaming, and they're in the "safe" guideline #'s, then I say go for it. You have to do what fits your family best.

RF is so much safer the longer you can keep them RF.

That being said... I switched both my kids to FF much earlier than 2. WJ because back then the message of RF til past 2 wasn't as prevalent and I just didn't know. LMW because she has always been big, tall, and very strong, so I made a mommy judgement call and said she was ready.

My friend's daughter vomited EVERY time she was in her carseat... not even from crying or being upset, she didn't mind being RF but she got really really carsick every time. Even just the 10 min drive to daycare. They were washing carseat covers every day for a while. They turned her before 2. It just wasn't safe anymore.

@Anagram: excellent links

I think car-seat-phobes and non-sleepers and rude-restaurant-babies all fall under the category that 'until you have one, you don't know.'
You might think you know and that you had some awesome parent dust that you sprinkled that made your kid like a carseat or sleep well or eat well or whatever. And I am sure you are an amazing parent who is guiding your kid right. But don't take the next step and assume that kids who don't act like your kid are evidence of parents who didn't figure it out or who just didn't try hard enough.

@Mrs. Blue: I haven't done it yet but I would in a heartbeat if it meant happy road trip babies. My niece was switched for the same reason when she hit the requirement (and probably a little before), and it worked for them.

RF is much safer... and LO is over 2 years old and is still RF.

That being said I really wish I could turn him around! We have the mirror and he's big enough to grab it and pull it off. So annoying!

I think you have to just trust your gut and do what you need to do.

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.

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.

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.

They were both happy kids in the car either way tho so I can't say if it will improve your guy's moods.

I think you have to do what works best for you and your family!

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.

He was about thirteen months and 22 lbs. I have to admit I don't even know the weight requirement to change.

@lizzywiz: Totally worth every penny! I highly reccomend it. I think there are several tutorials on making your own on Pinterest.