To turn or not turn, that is the question...

[K's Mama]

I'm starting to get frustrated with having DD RF'ing, and am considering turning her. It is a PITA to try and adjust the straps on her TF if she is wearing different clothing, and I have a very hard time getting them tight enough. She is more than old enough to turn - just turned 4, and she's sitting right around 30lbs. Would you just go ahead and turn her at this point, or keep her RF'ing until she hits 35lbs? She *really* wants to go FF'ing - we've said for a long time that she'd have to stay RF'ing until she was 4, and now she asks daily when she gets to sit forward. Most of the kids in her pre-K class are in boosters or just plain seat belts and she is starting to question why she is still RF'ing.

I am so torn on this issue. I know that she should be fine FF'ing now, but that mother bear part of me would like to keep her RF'ing forever...

 

[swtgi1982]

I'm starting to get frustrated with having DD RF'ing, and am considering turning her. It is a PITA to try and adjust the straps on her TF if she is wearing different clothing, and I have a very hard time getting them tight enough. She is more than old enough to turn - just turned 4, and she's sitting right around 30lbs. Would you just go ahead and turn her at this point, or keep her RF'ing until she hits 35lbs? She *really* wants to go FF'ing - we've said for a long time that she'd have to stay RF'ing until she was 4, and now she asks daily when she gets to sit forward. Most of the kids in her pre-K class are in boosters or just plain seat belts and she is starting to question why she is still RF'ing.

I am so torn on this issue. I know that she should be fine FF'ing now, but that mother bear part of me would like to keep her RF'ing forever...

I hear you there, my DD will be 4 in two days and contemplating turning her as well (with new FF seat) and passing her 40lb RF seat to her younger brother or whether to just get DS1 a 40lb RF seat as well.

 

[snowbird25ca]

I'd turn her ff'ing. My dd rode rf'ing briefly around her 4th birthday when the TF first became available in Canada. I knew from the time I turned her that if she asked to be ff'ing, I would turn her ff'ing again right away.

Kids deserve to have some say in how they are restrained in the car (within reason,) and asking to ff at age 4 is absolutely within reason IMO. If she was asking to just sit in the seatbelt, I'd absolutely take a hard stance... but going ff'ing at her age is reasonable.

FWIW, my ds is in seats with 40lb rf'ing limits and he was barely 30lbs last time I weighed him. I have no intention of rf'ing him to the limits of his seats - he's already over 3yrs old and in at least 1 vehicle he'll be ff'ing come spring. Yes, it's a scary step to make. But they are safe ff'ing at this age - and with a child asking to ff, I'd just do it.

 

[canadiangie]

OP,

I will be in the same boat in June. Sophie begs to ff all of the time, and I've told her that once she's 4 we can talk about it. She's also in love with the 'butterfly seat' (Mariposa Nautilus) and thinks that it is what she gets when she's 4.

I have no idea what I'm going to do, but at just barely 30lbs now she won't be rf'ing to the limit of any of her seats. 35lbs for her will be well into her 5th year of life. It's going to come down to her age...

No help I'm sure, but I just wanted you to know you're not alone.

 

[ntrenary]

Wow, that's great that you were able to RF for that long! I really hope my 2 1/2y son makes it to 4 before I have to turn him. His torso is so long, he only has about 2" left above his head in his RA 50. I'm crossing my fingers that just his legs grow and his torso stays the same for at least another year.

 

[Adventuredad]

You have done a great job staying RF for so long. I agree with Snowbird about listening to your kids about their needs. Some things are open for discussion while others aren't

RF for a child of any age is far safer than FF but the most crucial stage are the first few years so turning FF sounds like a good idea for you.

My son is 6 and FF while my daughter is 3.5 and RF. She would love to sit FF together with her brother but actually don't ask often about it. I guess I've brainwashed her... Another year or so and we'll turn....

 

[ketchupqueen]

At 4, is when I let the kid choose. Tell her it's her choice, let her decide.

 

[Kat_Shoshin]

As for the strap tightening, it is much easier RFing because you can reach around to the splitter plate and push down while you pull at the front.

My son is almost 3. He has been occasionally FFing now and again to accommodate a smaller child in his seat (we have a home daycare and 3 across in a small car). Also, he is FF in his grandfather's car because I bought the seat for them (EF chase) before I knew better - and when he 27lbs at 7 months and 30lbs was the weight limit that was available at the time - so I didn't feel I had a choice and went with something that would keep this gigantic kid harnessed until 47lbs at least. He slowed down considerably since and weighs only 32lbs now.

At 4, if he was asking, I would turn him.

 

[K's Mama]

'kay - thanks. That's what I needed to hear I guess - ack - it's still so hard... But, she was over the moon when I told her we'd flip her on Saturday.