Sorry if there is already a post on this but I couldn't find one.
I think it's awesome and I hope that my state eventually does the same thing. I have read some really negative opinions online though.
What you think of this?
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Great!
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I think it's great but my questions are: what happens when you're a visitor to the state or just traveling through? Can they enforce the rule then?
And my biggest fear is suddenly all the these parents who now needs a different car seat for whatever reason and can't afford it and gets a used one from a untrusted source.
hopefully there is some sort of transition period and /or assistance for low income families.
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@regberadaisy: I wondered about the rules and enforcement too- especially because many (not all) of the extended rear facing limit seats are more expensive. I know a lot of parents who didn't realize their child would outgrow the height before 2 when they bought it.
However I do like the fact that it's pretty clear and even living outside the state, seems like fairly conservative limits to follow. I was going to turn my 2 year old when the new baby is born (older will be almost 2.5) but I may wait until she is 30 lbs too now.
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@regberadaisy: all local/state laws can be enforced by anyone driving in that jurisdiction, regardless of whether the person resides there. It's our responsibility as a driver to know the local laws when we drive anywhere.
That being said, I hope that the authorities use some discretion and that the state has set up a program to help offset the costs for families that need it.
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@regberadaisy: This may be a silly/dumb question but aren't most convertible seats RF and FF? So it would just be a matter of choosing to turn it back to RF? I know there are a select few like a combination high back booster that can't be RF but I think its rare that people go from a infant bucket to a HBB>
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@T.H.O.U.: That's true, but a lot of convertibles have lower RF limits, so your child may not fit into it rear-facing anymore, and have to buy a new seat with higher rear-facing limits.
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I wonder if there's some kind of grace period?....and I would imagine that people with non-New Jersey license plates might be exempt?
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Two thumps up, NJ!
@blackbird: People without NJ plates would not be exempt.
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I think it's awesome (though admittedly I did turn my 23 lb 2 year old around, despite hoping to keep her rear facing for a while longer, because of motion sickness) though I do have a silly question about how it's going to be enforced. IE, my kid is tiny - how do I prove that she's older than 2 if we get pulled over? It's not like she has ID.
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@lawbee11: Dang. So.....don't drive through NJ? lol
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we live in NJ and i think it's great! although A would've been rear-facing for a while still since she is so tiny and only 18lbs at 15m.
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@Mrs. Carrot: Worst case would probably be that they would cite you and you would have to prove later in court with a birth certificate or something.
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@Mrs. Carrot: I keep a picture of LO's birth certificate saved on my phone. I did it as a back up in case we ever forgot a copy while flying. But it would be convenient in this situation too.
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I really like this conceptually. I just hope that the change came with an aggressive marketing campaign on the run-up, especially from peds. Car seats can be pretty confusing, even for well-meaning parents who aren't plugged in to communities like this one. I have a feeling that without the right info, people could see this as unnecessarily overbearing, when in fact, it makes a lot of sense.
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@T.H.O.U.: not only do a lot of kids outgrow the height limits for RF earlier than 2/30 lbs, I have a feeling that if your kid is used to FF, and you switch back to RF, they won't like that at all.
I still feel like a lot of people think I am a little crazy for still having C RF. I don't bother getting into it, other than saying that the aap recommended at least until 2, longer if possible, but I know there are eyes rolled. I guess the rule will make people rethink.
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I think it will be good if it is intelligently rolled out and enforced.
@Foodnerd81: I think the article linked wasn't as clear as it could be on the 30 lb issue. If your child is two AND under 30 lbs they must be rear facing. If they are over 30lb they may forward face. Once you hit two you can forward face regardless of weight as long as you use a 5 point harness. I don't think there are many (any??) 2 year olds who are over 40-42 inches which is generally the height limit for rear facing.
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@Mae: really? I thought I read that it was 2 AND 30 lbs- but I'm also pretty sure I read that someplace reliable like Facebook comments.
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@Mae: my kiddo was 28.75 in tall at 6 months, probably about 30 in tall now at 9 months
I just bought a new convertible car seat and am worried he will outgrow the RF height limits before he hits two. Haha. We will see!!
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@Foodnerd81: ok i just looked on the actual nj page which is where i should have started. it says under 2 and 30 lbs is rear facing (if it was 2 or under 30 lbs it would say 2 OR 30 not 2 AND 30). Under 4 a child should rear face until they reach the height limit for rear facing then they can turn around. http://www.nj.gov/lps/hts/childseats/childseats_newlaw.html
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@theotherstark: my kid is 25 months and less than 28 lbs still!
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@Foodnerd81: my friends' 4 yr old isn't 30 lb!
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@Foodnerd81: oh man! Yeah, mine is a string bean, so I'm not too concerned about the weight limit, just the height!
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So, I just read the requirements and I am kind of surprised that they're not advocating for longer times in a 5 point harness. From what I read, a child can be 4 years old and in a belt positioning booster. My son is almost 5 and he's not mature enough to sit for extended times without a 5 point harness.
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@looch: I guess they are leaving something to parental judgment? Like, you know your kid and know he couldn't be trusted with that buckle. Other 4 year olds could (I guess- I don't have a 4 year old!). No one is saying you SHOULD do it at 4, just that legally, you can.
@theotherstark: I misread and thought you were talking pounds, not inches. Either way my peanut makes it easy for me to keep her Rf since she's neither tall nor heavy.
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@theotherstark: I bet he slows down a lot. Mine was 30" at 9 months and we had to move out of the bucket seat, but at 22 months is about 34". She has consistently been on the 95% curve.
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@mrs.shinerbock: ah, good to hear!!
hopefully there is some sort of transition period and /or assistance for low income families.
I just bought a new convertible car seat and am worried he will outgrow the RF height limits before he hits two. Haha. We will see!!
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