When did you turn FF'ing?

[Mama Jo]

When did your LO turn FF'ing? If you have more than one kiddo, feel free to answer more than once! I'd also be curious to know what seats they grew out of by height or weight.

[TechnoGranola]

DD1 - about 18 months because she outgrew her RF seat by weight (22 pounds I believe) and there were no higher RF seats at the time. I'm lucky she was a peanut so I could keep her RF that long! The seat she outgrew RF was a Fisher-Price Safe Embrace convertible.

DD2 - still RF at almost 2.5 years old in a TF

[LuvBug03]

When he hit the weight limit of his 33lbs MA and was too tall for anything else on the market. He was 2y4m.

[SamPacey&Joshua]

We turned Pacey at 3 years, 8 days old. He was about 30 lbs. then (and is just now 32 at 4 years old). He had plenty of RF time left in his seat (Marathon), but we've done our research and it was/is the age we are 100% comfortable with for FF. We will most likely turn Joshua at 3 years old also, but I'm not sure since he's a little smaller than Pacey was and seems so much younger to me.

[joolsplus3]

DS: 10 months in less-used car, 13 months in main car (seat had 20 pound limit, it was 1998, that was *good*, lol)
DD1: 16 months, then RF again from 3-4.5 http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx
DD2: 20 months in less-used car/last week (lol, she turned 3 and went over the weight limit for her seat at the same time) in main car http://picasaweb.google.com/joolstag/LeahInCarseats#5296727218524439154

[Splash]

Slightly over two years, maximum of the child and the circumstances (about 29-30 pounds, BV)

[Mama2J]

He was 13 months old and about 24 pounds, and the seat was an Evenflo Discovery w/3-point harness. I didn't know at the time there was a benefit to staying rf.

[thepeach80]

AJ was 11 mos and 23#, lol. He went back rfing at 27 mos and outgrew by height at weight (he was 34#) at 34 mos.

Evan got turned right before he turned 4 b/c he was 35# at the DRs the day before, he's now only 33#, but I told him he could ff at 4 w/ the new baby coming. He can still fit in his Avenue rfing, but is too tall to use it ffing in the van. I'm assuming it's b/c of the slope of the seat?

Ilana is still rfing at 27 mos and 27#.

[hsjwmom]

Both older girls when they were 15-18 months. Can't remember when, exactly. I had heard that it was better to leave them rfing but dh wasn't onboard and our pediatritian (at the time) poo-pooed it and told me to turn them. By the time I really became interested in car safety, both girls were too big to rf again. DD3 will be rfing quite a bit longer. :)

[LuvMyCharlie]

Didn't vote because I'm not sure yet. I know he'll max out the height on his MA before weight. However, I'm hoping to get him back into the TF when that happens. He hates it for the time being, though. :(

[scatterbunny]

I chose "other" because my dd was over the minimum 1yo and 20#, but she was nowhere near the height or weight maximums. :( In my defense, I truly didn't know that rear-facing longer was safer, back then.

She was about 13 months old and about 23 pounds when we turned her forward-facing. I regret it to this day. I didn't learn about extended rear-facing until she was 2+, 32 pounds, and already too tall to rear-face in all the seats on the market with a 35# RF limit at that time.

[mykidsmylife]

Johnathon was 11m and 19lbs.

Seth is 2y5m and still rear-facing. I will flip him in about a year regardless of weight.

[lilysmomma]

We turned at 22 months when she was consistently over 33lbs(the limit of our MA).

[solmama]

Before I knew better, my dd forward faced at 1 yr and 23lbs (hee, my ds weighed 24lbs at 2years!). My ds is still rear-facing at 2 yrs 10mos and 30.5lbs. I don't know when we'll turn him, it all depends on his weight.

[Defrost]

I picked other because I honestly don't remember. I have pics of my oldest (14.5) FF and I'm sure he was under a year old, but over 20lbs. That was almost certainly the weight limit for RF on his seat at the time, though.

I'm pretty sure I turned Sam at a year, because I know he wasn't 20lbs by then, but again - he's 12.5 so the recommendations were different then.

Fighter I really don't remember at all. He had a Roundabout so I suspect I used it RF to the limit with him, which means he might have made it to 2 years.

Macha used the RA and then a MA, and I'm pretty sure I flipped her when it "got old" keeping her RF. I'm pretty sure she was over 2, but before she was 3? I wonder if Gypsy remembers...

[puglover333]

I turned FF at 13 months and 25#. I had never heard of ERF. If I ever have another - I will definately ERF thanks to this forum and the information provided.

[mimieliza]

DD is 27 months and about 31 lbs. fully clothed. She has been FFing in her Roundabout since November (outgrew it by height) but that's just our backup/travel/baby sitter's seat. I just turned her 33 lb. Blvd FFing. Two years and 30 lbs. was my personal goal for RFing. Her EFTA is still RFing - it has a 35 lb. limit, so I'm not worried about getting too close to the limit right now, and better leg room than the Blvd.

I need to change my sig, but I can't bring myself to do it. It's like the end of an era.

I really ought to take some pics of the Blvd install - I'm using the third row seat belt as a tether anchor, and I want to make sure I'm doing it right.

[April]

I turned Riley at 16 months. He was 28lbs and over the overall height limit for his RN, and at the time, I didn't know that his overall height didn't matter. Then we got in a crash and insurance replaced his seat with an Apex. By the time he was 18 months old he was over 31 lbs. Then when the TF came out I bought him one of those and he rearfaced again for about 6 weeks, until just after his 2nd birthday when he hit 35lbs. He would still have lots of room to rf in his TF if he didn't weigh so much:o

[Starlight]

Just past his 2nd birthday. He was about 25 lbs.

[oxeye]

DD1 - when she hit the weight limit of her Marathon.

DD2 - when she hit the weight limit of her seats (33 pounds). She's now back RF in a 35 pound max Radian.

[urchin_grey]

DS is 3 years and 9 months old and <25lbs and 32in tall and still RF'ing. I'm sure he'd outgrow the seat he's in now by height before weight but we plan on replacing it with the new TF when it comes out. I know it has a much higher shell but I'm still betting he'll outgrow it by height... He has such a small frame.

[miraclebabies]

We are going to turn DD next week after her 2nd b-day. She is about 25-26lbs. I will keep my younger DD RF longer. She is a preemie and I want to keep her past her 2nd b-day. So the summer after she turns two. I go back and forth with my older DD, she doesnt mind RF but her legs are so long it is hard to get her in the suv.

[LilypadMom]

I just turned her ff'ing yesterday at 3 years, 4 months, and 3 weeks. She just went through a growth spurt and outgrew the seat rf'ing by height, she is 32.2 pounds.

[InTheWoods]

18m with DS, 25#, RA or MA (don't remember when we got the MA)
He hadn't reached the max ht. or wt. on his RA, but the install made the front passenger seat unusable, so we turned him FFing to regain the front seat. If I'd known at the time that DS's RA could have been more upright and that it could have butted against the front passenger seat, then DS probably could have remained RFing longer. The things you learn as you go. ;)

3y with DD, 32#, BV
I felt comfortable turning her.

[kimogilvie]

I haven't done it yet, but I will be turning DS sometime between March and May. He's still got a lot of room rear facing but he's been telling me that he's getting uncomfortable, he'll be over 3.5 years old, and I have a new baby coming and am okay with FF a 3.5 year old so I don't have to play contortionist to get everyone in the car RF-ing.

[snowbird25ca]

Dd has been moved between rf'ing and ff'ing a few times now. The first time she went ff'ing she was 18mos and a couple ozs shy of 22lbs. I had wanted to keep her rf'ing longer but she hit 32" and I couldn't get an answer from anyone about the rf'ing height limit, so I turned her since she was so close to 22lbs and I didn't know which limit was more important back then.

I turned her back rf'ing in January of 07 at 30mos, and she was rf'ing until May of 07 when she hit the 30lb weight limit on her MA. We got a TF for her last June and she rode rf'ing in it for about a month before she hit 35lbs. She had just turned 4yrs old then.

Ds is almost 27mos old and has never been ff'ing. He's somewhere around 26lbs and will move into a TF and continue rf'ing in it. I'm not sure about age for him. It may become a case of him asking to be ff'ing for all I know..I'm ok with ff'ing after age 3 if the child is more comfortable that way or just wants to ff. At younger ages it's non-negotiable, at age 3 I think they deserve a say. ;)

[ginny4]

DS3 outgrew by weight on FPSVD, Intera & Scenera

[mommyto4]

DD1 - about 6 months - that was 25 years ago and I didn't know better. I don't think anyone knew. I was told to turn her when she couldsit up unassisted.

DD2 - about 9 months. When she was 20 pounds abd outgrew her infant seat. I didn't know about convertibles. Bought her a Britax Freeway (my first Britax) and it was FF only.

DD3 - 12 months. When she outgrew the infant seat at 6 months, we got a Roundabout for her because I now knew that she was supposed to RF until a year old (just didn't know it was better to keep her RF even longer).

DS - about 2 years and 30 pounds when he outgrew the Roundabout rear facing

[Mama Jo]

This has been quite interesting - it seems that more kiddos have reached the weight limit before the height limit on the RF'ing seats... I honestly thought it would be the other way around!!

[TechnoGranola]

We are going to turn DD next week after her 2nd b-day. She is about 25-26lbs. I will keep my younger DD RF longer. She is a preemie and I want to keep her past her 2nd b-day. So the summer after she turns two. I go back and forth with my older DD, she doesnt mind RF but her legs are so long it is hard to get her in the suv.Could you let her climb in herself? DD has been climbing in herself since before she was 2. I just help her to get in the door of the SUV, and up onto the edge of the seat, then she gets into her seat herself. This eliminates any head bonking. :)

You're DD seems so young and light to FF, so this is just a thought!

[TechnoGranola]

This has been quite interesting - it seems that more kiddos have reached the weight limit before the height limit on the RF'ing seats... I honestly thought it would be the other way around!!Remember that you've had several people answer this from back when convertible seats didn't go past 20/22 pounds.

[Mama Jo]

Remember that you've had several people answer this from back when convertible seats didn't go past 20 pounds.

That's a good point... I guess I had assumed those people would be answering 1 yr/20 lb or Other, but I suppose they could also be answering Max weight also... Never thought about that!

[TechnoGranola]

That's a good point... I guess I had assumed those people would be answering 1 yr/20 lb or Other, but I suppose they could also be answering Max weight also... Never thought about that!LOL I was one who answered at weight limit of seat for a 22 pounds seat because DD was over 18 months when she hit 22 pounds. And your answer said 1 and 20 MINIMUM and I thought that meant that you could have left them RF longer but CHOSE not to (and DD stayed in until 22 pounds). I had no choice, she was above the weight limit. Not sure how others in the same situation answered. :)

[Thanksgiving_Twins_Mom]

I voted "reached weight maximum of convertible" but I guess I'm an "other" because one of my twin DD's was at the weight maximum and the other wasn't.

I turned DD1 at about 2 years, 10 months - she hit the 30 lb. RF maximum of her 2002 Roundabout
I turned her twin at the same time even though she was probably about 28-29 lbs.

[Mama Jo]

LOL I was one who answered at weight limit of seat for a 22 pounds seat because DD was over 18 months when she hit 22 pounds. And your answer said 1 and 20 MINIMUM and I thought that meant that you could have left them RF longer but CHOSE not to (and DD stayed in until 22 pounds). I had no choice, she was above the weight limit. Not sure how others in the same situation answered. :)

LOL Yeah, I guess I don't know what I meant... I mean, yeah, that's what I meant... I mean... No... wait...

Can't you just read my mind and answer it the way I have the choices in my head??? I mean, c'mon! Is that really too much to ask??

Maybe I should have offered a couple more options... lol

[lovinwaves]

Both are still rear-facing(for the most part), and I'm not sure if it will be a height or weight reason. They both are tiny.

[TechnoGranola]

LOL Yeah, I guess I don't know what I meant... I mean, yeah, that's what I meant... I mean... No... wait...

Can't you just read my mind and answer it the way I have the choices in my head??? I mean, c'mon! Is that really too much to ask??

Maybe I should have offered a couple more options... lolI promise I will try harder to read your mind next time. :D

I hear you though, you think one thing and then someone else interprets it totally different and not at all how you you expected!

[Simplysomething]

Remember that you've had several people answer this from back when convertible seats didn't go past 20/22 pounds.

Yup.
I voted other.

DS1, he was turned before he was a year old, because his convertible seat topped out at 20 lbs. He was 27 lbs at a year.

DS2, he was turned because he kept kicking ds1 in the face. Or trying to, or something. He was 2.5 years old and only about 25 lbs. He will be four next month and weighs only about 31-33 lbs, give or take an illness.

When my oldest was almost 4, I think he was already using the CarGo in booster mode (eeek).

Eeeek.

[canadiangie]

We're not there yet.

It will be sometime after their 3rd b-days... it won't be b/c of weight or height, just age. (girls are tiny).

[OwensMama]

DS - 3 years old. Though he was only 30lbs we made the parental decision to FF him and were ok with it.

DD- She is only 14 months, so not for a while, but she is much heavier than her brother so I think she will make it to 2 or 2.5 years before exceeding the weight limit.

[Caseylaine]

2 years, but I should have kept him RF'ing for longer. He was getting close to 30lbs... or so I thought, turned out it took another year before he gained those last 3lbs.

Next time we'll wait longer.

[Adventuredad]

Other. Turned my son at 4 which was earlier than desired but he was very tall. My daughter is now 2.5 and of course rf. Think she will make it until 5 rf. (Using Swedish 55 lbs rf seats)

[katiesmommy]

We turned part time upon moving here, so just after 2 years. She flipped back and forth until recently when she hit her weight limit, now she's full time forward facing.

[unityco]

9 months. :( I flipped him in the parking lot of the Dr's office, as he'd just had his checkup and he was over 30lbs naked. That was only 2006, but we had no new 35lb seats available in Canada then (we had older, unexpired 35lb seats, but I didn't have access to one.)

[BookMama]

We turned DS FF a week before his first birthday. I think he was barely 20 lbs. His seat had a 22 lb. RF limit, so he was approaching the limit, but even if it had had a higher limit I'm sure we would have turned him. We just didn't know any better. :o The 1yr/20lb rule was practically ERF at that time (spring 2002).

DD turned 3 in November and has never ridden FF. She's 30.5 lbs. and will stay RF until she hits 33 lbs. If she continues to follow her brother's growth patterns, that may not be until she turns 4.

[Mom2Jack]

DS (18 months, ~24 lbs, no clue on height but still plenty of room) is still RF in both cars for now, however I will be turning him in DH's car probably in April. :(

I can't fit 2 RF car seats in his car (trust me, I've tried) and want to get the infant seat installed while I can still climb into the backseat of his sports car. I hate that I am turning him so soon, but since he has ridden in that car exactly twice in the last 6 months I have decided that I can live with that.

He will stay RF in my car until he hits the limits of his seat since I can fit both seats RF in my car once I put his MA more upright.

[LuckyFins3Lil'Fish]

Seth was 18m & 33lbs, so at the weight max for FPSVD.

My girls are currently in Sceneras & will hopefully soon be in RNs & will RF till 35lbs which I think they'll make it to 2-3 RF. I sure hope they do.

[MySillyKids]

DS1: 12 months.
DS2: 12 months- for medical reasons
DD: she's under 20lbs, so she's still RF, she'll be RF til probably 2. (unless she's not 20lbs at 2)

[Gypsy]

I turned both of my kids when they outgrew their seats by WEIGHT - they still hadn't outgrown them by height at that point, and they were both between 31 and 34 months old when I turned them.

[serabi]

My 2.5 yo was flipped FFing last fall for medical reasons, stayed that way about 6 weeks, and is now RFing again. We are starting to have problems with a combination of leg length and no torso (she's 33-34" tall I think and still on the bottom slots of the Marathon torso wise...all leg) so we're going to move her to our AO RFing to hopefully increase leg room, but if she's still fighting me after her 3rd birthday on getting in the seat, I'll probably flip her at least temporarily when #3 arrives. Hopefully the AO will stop the meltdowns though. She's got some tone issues so I think the Marathon's lack of space annoys her.

My 1 year old is still rear facing at 21lbs and will stay that way until he reaches the limits of the seat either in height or weight, but he's much more normal proportions ;) I think he'll make it to about 2.5 or 3.

[Judi]

9 months for DS.

3 1/2 for DBK.

[cryswilkins]

Zoe is still RF at 2yrs 3 months. She does ride FF occasionally in grandmas car in a GN.

[veggiegirl228]

still RF, I hope to make it till 3

[abacus2]

15 months with DD1 when I got tether anchors installed. (Before I found this board)

28 months and 25lbs in the secondary 2 door car for DD2, still RFing in main car at 27lbs & several inches above her head in the Decathlon.

[Freedom_Pixie]

I turned DS when he turned a year old. I can't remember how much he weighed though. I didn't know about ERF otherwise I would have kept him Rfing. He was riding in an Evenflo Discovery (which got recalled, for some reason) so we switched him to the Cosco Scenera. I will ERF with our next child though. I want to switch DS back to rfing but DH said that DS got used to FFing and that is the way he stays. I am so thankful for this site and the information given, I honestly never knew about ERF until recently.

[all together ooky]

Gwen was 3y2m I think when she maxed out the weight limit in the Scenera (35lbs).

Nora is 10m and (I'm guessing) 23lbs? still RFing of course.

[KirasMommy]

I put other.

Kira was about 15 months old. Don't remember what she weighed at the time, but she was 21 lbs at 9 months, so I know she was well over 20 lbs, but nowhere near 33 lbs.

Leah is 21 months and still RFing. She only weighs 25 lbs and is still on the bottom harness slots, although I think it's time to move them up. I'd like to think I will keep her RFing until the weight limits of the seat (33 lb MA or 35 lbs TF), but it depends on quickly she gains weight.

[pippi2077]

DD1 was over 2 before she was turned for good. She turned if dh was in the car after 18 months b/c we had a tiny car. She was in a ra.

DS1 was 18+ when he outgrew the ra. He outgrew by weight if I remember. It has been 5 years, my memory is going.

DS2 made it just a little past 2yr. He outgrew the scerena by height and bv by weight at the same time.

DD2 is currently rf in a scerena but will be moving to the bv when I buy ds2 a new seat next month.

[twom]

DD turned at 7 months when she reached the 20 pound RF weight limit on her convertible seat in 1998. I think it was called the Evenflo Scout. At least I knew to get a 5-point harness rather than OHS.

DS turned at 12.5 months when he reached the 30 pound weight limit on his Century Accel in 2001. I was really worried we wouldn't even make it to a year, and it was really close. I wish I'd known to get a 35 pound RF seat. I thought I'd done so well getting a 30 pound limit and what I thought was a tall shell. As it was he went into a Super Elite when he was about 19 months old because he outgrew the Accel (old version of Comfort Sport) by height. Thank goodness for higher weight harnessed seats!

[o_mom]

Clicky box.

DS1 was 22 lbs and probably about 15 months - before I really got it.

DS2 was 3 yrs, 3 months. He was only 30 lbs and had several inches above his head, so I could have gone a few months more, but needed to fit things differently in the van. He was FF in DH's car in the center w/SCA from about 2.5 yrs.

[zeo2ski]

DS1 still RFing at 2.5 years and 32 lbs, but has JUST reached the height limit in the BLVD. Hoping to get to age 3 in a RN.

DS2 is 10 months and not quite 16 lbs, so he's gonna RF till Kindergarten:thumbsup: or maybe junior high

[fyrfightermomma]

DD1 Rf'd until 11 month and 18 pounds. Oops. Back rear facing at 2y4 months. Remains that way 98% of the time in my car at over 3.5. She will be turned this spring because of growth and fit issues at almost 4 years old and about 26 lbs. She has been FFing in a GN in DH's car since 2y4m and 23 lbs. I am not switching her because of hitting any weight/height limits. It's just time. We are all "done" with it at this house :p

DD2 has never ridded FFing. She will be 2 next month. She will go to the weight limit on the seat which I anticipate in the next 6 months.

[Kat_Momof3]

all my kids rf'd to the max

Damian's seat only went to 22lbs rf... he was just old enough at 13mo and 22lbs, though (12mo adjusted age)

Jeffrey was JUST old enough when he outgrew his 30lb limit convertible seat

and Ruthie... hehe... she made it to 2.5yrs... and I was fanatical about getting her as long as I could... she had the Marathon, but she actually hit 35lbs and outgrew the scenera, got her Marathon back, dropped 5lbs, and I flipped it back around, and then she outgrew it by weight... yep... I was fanatical.

[Kat_Momof3]

DD1 Rf'd until 11 month and 18 pounds. Oops. Back rear facing at 2y4 months. Remains that way 98% of the time in my car at over 3.5. She will be turned this spring because of growth and fit issues at almost 4 years old and about 26 lbs. She has been FFing in a GN in DH's car since 2y4m and 23 lbs. I am not switching her because of hitting any weight/height limits. It's just time. We are all "done" with it at this house :p

DD2 has never ridded FFing. She will be 2 next month. She will go to the weight limit on the seat which I anticipate in the next 6 months.

but about 4yrs is amazing for anyone!!

and there are other reasons I would be making the switch when you do, too. (I'm a big sister)

[steph]

Ryan is still rear facing at 34 months:thumbsup:

[APmama2MAK]

Michael is still RF at 19.5 months and will remain that way until he outgrows the best seat on the market. I dont think we will have any problems with weight though hes a lightweight.

[bobbysgirl7103]

DS1 was forward facing at 1yr and around 27 lbs

DS2 was forward facing at 1yr and around 20 lbs

I didn't know any better back then. :(


DD is 20 months and still rear facing.

Although I anticipate turning her forward at 26 months when the new baby is here due to car seat configuration. Unless I can figure out a way to get a new van which would be my first choice.

[armywife12]

Caleb is only 17 months old so he is still rear facing of course. He is about 33 inches and 28lbs so we still have a ways to go before he needs to be switched. He is in a Marathon and True Fit so I see him hitting the max weight limit first

[VoodooChile]

At 31 months, when she was 33 lbs, the rf limit on her Marathons.

[Misty-Bug]

My son Cooper was turned at 29lbs without a full belly. He was 2 years 10 days.
My daycare boy was just turned at 2 years 9months

[twinsmom]

I turned my twins on their first birthday; they were already 20 lbs. I had NO IDEA of the benefits of rear-facing, and I feel very let down by my doctors & pediatricians. :mad: No one said anything to me about it, not even to mention it as an option or a "school of thought" or something. This was in 2006, so this was not 'new' or 'cutting-edge' information. I suppose some of the blame falls on me for not researching enough and finding out on my own. I read the book "Baby Bargains" to research my carseats before buying, and thought I was doing a good job by picking highly rated seats with Rigid LATCH, but I don't remember ever reading or seeing anything about ERF. Turning kids FF at 1yr of age was kind of like an 'anticipated milestone ' among everyone I knew with kids. It's very sad.:(

[miraclebabies]

I am going to keep her RF cause I am scared to turn her, she is so skinny but tall. She is about 25-26lbs but 34-35 in tall. I have her in a Cowmoo MA in my Cadillac and she fits pretty good, I just have to move her legs around a little then I can buckle her. She has a MA in DH's BMW so I will keep her that way. I have another MA and a Scerena as a back up. Thanks for the advice... The more I think about it I am going to keep her RF cause 25lbs is so small. IMO





Could you let her climb in herself? DD has been climbing in herself since before she was 2. I just help her to get in the door of the SUV, and up onto the edge of the seat, then she gets into her seat herself. This eliminates any head bonking. :)

You're DD seems so young and light to FF, so this is just a thought!

[Patriot201]

I turned DN at 2 because she had reached the heigt max (not the one in the manual. Her head was about 1.2" from the top of the shell).