This is a very cute shot!

The bear looks tired too!

You guys are doing forward-facing already? I'd be interested to hear the rationale.

And not "I'd be interested to hear the rationale you child-abusing risk-taking careless father, just talk slowly while I ring DYFUS." Rather, "I'd be interested to hear the rationale because this has been an issue of some contention in our house and we've still got it facing the back."

--FD

D'oh.

Just looked at the photo again. Ignore my last comment.

FD

You know, I thought the car seat looked forward facing as well. The only reason I say anything is because NC law says that a baby should be rear facing until they are 1 year old AND weigh 20 pounds. I got this from my father (a recently retired NC State Highway Patrolman) who installed the infant and toddler car seats at the Highway Patrol station on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh until he retired in May 2003.

Here is a link to the Buckle Up NC that has lots of information on it: http://www.buckleupnc.org/laws_cps.cfm

I just don't want you to get pulled over and get a ticket or anything.

i turned callie's carseat around at about 10 months. her legs were just too long (poor thing, right? all ladies wish they had that problem) and when she would push the back of the seat it looked like she was gonna push the whole seat over. my dad (i am amanda's sister) threw a fit but she was much more comfortable and i felt like she was safer.

Trixie's long legs and body were causing her grief too. She's been straining against the back of the seat for at least a month now, unable to stretch her legs and getting more and more uncomfortable with every car trip. We switched it around this past Thursday, 3 weeks before her birthday.

I too was looking forward to turning my son forward facing at his 1st birthday (he's 2 weeks older than Trixie). After seeing the video clips on this site (http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx), I've changed my mind and he'll stay rearfacing as long as possible. He's now 25 pounds and 31+ inches, so his feet do touch the back of the seat. I'd just much rather risk a leg or foot injury than a neck one. His car seat is rated to 33 pounds rearfacing, so I hope to keep him rearfacing 'til then.

Of course, this is every parent's decision, I just wanted to provide food for thought :)

Michelle
Clark 7-14-04

hope i cud have such a cute baby when i grow up and such a carin father for my baby

Great site, it inspired me to put start making one for our (future) daughter, not nearly as sophisticated but this way our friends and family can follow the developments a bit:
http://web.macosx.nl/~markj

Very cute picture! So sleepy....

We too have left our car seat rear facing on the advice of a child-seat safety expert in our area. Our son is now 15 months, 23 lbs., and 31 inches and still rear facing. He will remain that way until he's at least 2 years of age. This has been done in Europe for over 20 years now.

Heather

You have gotten some great advice about the wonderful benefits of rear facing your baby. Not only is forward facing her before age age one dangerous, but it's also illegal in most if not all states. Her spine is not mature enough to handle a crash faced forward.

Also, the chest clip is much lower than it should be. The strap shouldn't be able to slip over her shoulder. The car seat manual will probably tell you that the chest clip should be even and level with her armpits.

I'm not criticising your parenting skill. You are obviously an amazing dad. However, years of working in a child care center have shown me that even the best parents do minimal car seat research.

oh jeez...bet you never thought a cute sleepy car shot would turn into this! hehehe

Let us now praise whoever developed these things.

This weekend, G, Rachel, and I were at a stop sign, all in our respective seats and all buckled in. Rachel was rear-facing, behind the passenger seat.

We got rear-ended, which pushed us into the intersection, so I had to hit the brakes hard to prevent getting slammed on the side.

G let out a yelp, more of surprise than hurt. I let out a more colorful expression, more around the emergency driving (braking) maneuver than from any injury.

And Rachel apparently thought it was the funniest thing that she had ever been a part of. And exciting!

All the toys, etc. that had been *on* the back seat were on the floor of the back seat afterwards. My cellphone, which I had in my shirt pocket, was on the dashboard. G's water was all over both herself and the floor in front of her. But Rachel, baruch Hashem, was fine as could be.

And yes, we checked her out with not one but two pediatricians, two emergency medical types (one a paramedic), and we watched her carefully for the next 48 hours.

She's fine.

It was only a little fender bender, but given the effect on any non-tethered objects in the car, I shudder to think what would have happened to Rachel if unbelted and/or to her head and neck if unsupported.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go find the guy who designed the carseat and buy him a house.

--FD

I'm glad you guys are ok!