Bone Ossification and RFing

CanadaGirl

New member
I was lamenting on FB today that my son is close to being turned FFing. This was the first time I've weighed him clothed with shoes (typical car ride outfit) and he is 37.8 pounds. I have a MR65 and a CA, both of which need to be turned at 40 pounds.

I wrote:
I had Ty stand on the scale. Normally I weigh him undressed in the morning, but I need to know how much he weighs dressed for the car seat. 37.8 pounds! I can't believe in 2 more pounds I'll be turning his car seat forward facing! I was hoping to make it to his 3rd birthday though.

Response:
you're really going to wait for 2lbs?

I replied with:
If I could, I'd wait longer. Weight has nothing to do with rear-facing safety, it's more about age and their bones. But, aside from one brand of seat that rear faces to 45 pounds (and is out of my budget and doesn't fit nicely in my car) 40 pounds was the highest RFing weight I could find when we bought our convertibles. And 2 pounds might buy me the three more months until he turns 3 (I hope!)


Can anyone give a quick response I can use to explain why RFing safety isn't about weight? I know it has something to do with bone ossification, but I'm not exactly sure about ages and timelines.

Anyone think we'll make it to 3 years? *croses fingers*
 
ADS

bree

Car-Seat.Org Ambassador
This page might have some of the info about ossification that you are looking for: http://www.freewebs.com/sacredjourneys/newbornpreschool.htm

I think this video (it's a little more than a minute long) probably is a quick, great visual about why rear-facing is safer; it mentions rear-facing until 4 years old and nothing about weight. http://youtu.be/sssIsceKd6U

Weight gain tends to slow down at this age, so I think there's a good chance your son could last RF until 3 years old. If not, you will have done a wonderful job rear-facing him to the limits of your seats. :)
 

KaiLing

New member
You'll totally make it to 3, and you should be proud of yourself! You can do what I do and weigh a lot and take his shoes off in the car for even more comfort (I've got a 43 lber in a Radian and he gets no shoes, no sippy cup).
 

CanadaGirl

New member
Thank you both!

I really appreciate your input and the great links. I wish the US had the same standards as Scandinavia etc when it comes to car seat weight limits :mad:
 

NatesMamma

New member
I think you'll get beyond 3, no problem. My DS has only gained 3 lbs this entire year. He was 28 lb at his 2 yr check, and my bathroom scale put him at 31 lb a few days ago. He'll be 3 next month.

Their growth tends to slow waaay down after age 2 or so. About 4 lbs/year is average for 2 and 3 year olds, according to statistics that I've seen.
 

tam_shops

New member
My ODS was just over 30# and 2 1/2yo. He's just turned 6yo and is now 39.5#. We're talking 2-3#/year, after 2yo.

As for the response, I'd wait and see what the person replies back with...sometimes too much information can be overwhelming!

tam
 

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