Here's When To Move Your Car Seat Forward Facing

Safety is the most important aspect of traveling with kids, and car seats play a vital role in ensuring their protection. As parents, we often find ourselves wondering when it's the right time to transition from a rear-facing to forward-facing car seat. While it may seem like a good idea to make this transition as soon as possible, having a car seat facing forward should not be rushed.

Today on the blog, I will break down everything you need to know before turning your car seat facing forward. Making the switch is a serious decision, so it’s important to feel confident your child’s safety will not be at risk.

Before we dive in, have you heard that The Car Mom Auto Show is back?! Yes, an auto show for Women! The Car Mom Auto Show offers families the opportunity to browse over 20 different popular family vehicles in a hands-on, non-salesy environment. Attendees will enjoy VIP activations (meet Kelly!), shop local boutiques, food, fun, playground for the kids and take advantage of some Mom Time Off (MTO!)

Why Are Car Seats Rear Facing?

Rear-facing car seats are the standard for newborns and young children because of their unmatched safety features. In the event of a sudden stop or collision, rear-facing seats distribute the force of impact across your child's entire body, reducing the strain on their fragile neck and spinal cord.

If a child is facing forward and receives the same amount of impact, the strain can be quite severe. Why is this the case? 25% of a newborn’s overall body is their head! Crazy right? So, if your child is facing forward, the force will cause their head to move quickly forward and back, causing a lot of harm to their neck.

What about my toddler? Does the force affect their body the same? This was a question I had as a first-time mom in my son’s toddler stage. The answer is no, their neck is not as much of a concern in a crash, but their spine is. Even if your child is older, their spinal cord is still developing to its full strength and is too fragile to withstand that much impact.

Are Rear Facing Car Seats Comfortable?

As a first-time mom, being unable to see my son in the rearview mirror gave me a lot of anxiety. Turns out I am not alone! The comfort aspect of kids in rear facing car seats is a common concern for parents and is often why car seats facing forward are rushed.

If this is the case for you, I wholeheartedly recommend buying a mirror that clips onto a headrest. Both you and your child can see each other and feel significantly calmer on the road.

As for the seat itself, modern car seats are designed with comfort in mind! They are built with soft padding, adjustable harnesses, and reclining features in some of the most popular models on the market. Some premium car seats also include additional head and neck support for comfort during long rides.

So short answer: Yes! Rear facing car seats are quite comfortable.

What About My Child’s Legs?

I know what many of you are wondering: what about my child’s legs? As your newborn turns into a toddler, their legs, most likely, will grow out of the car seat and touch your second row. This is often the time when parents are antsy to move into a car seat facing forward. I urge you to proceed with caution!

Your child needs to meet certain height or weight requirements to ensure they can handle the impact if a crash ever occurs. While your little one’s legs are important, protecting their head, neck, and spine outweighs any potential discomfort.

I promise you, the awkward waiting stage to face forward does not last forever, and you’ll be glad you know their body is fully ready to face forward.

So…When Should Car Seats Start Facing Forward?

This is the golden question: when should my child’s car seat face forward? The answer is, it all depends on them.

There is no one size fits all age or time to turn your child’s car seat forward, it is all according to their height and weight. To get your key numbers, look at your car seat manufacturer’s guide and talk to your pediatrician if there are any concerns. Typically, your child will need to outgrow either the height or weight requirement specified, and most of the time their height gets checked off first.

My biggest piece of advice for second-time moms and beyond: be careful not compare your older kid’s timeline to your current rear facing little one. Just like how their personalities are unique, so are their bodies. It is completely normal for the transition to a car seat facing forward to take longer than expected.

I promise, there is no rush and can say it’s a bittersweet milestone to move on from having a rear-facing to front-facing car seat. Although it’s so fun to see your kids get older, it officially means a chapter in their childhood has closed.

At what age did your child grow into having their cart seat face forward? Please let us know in the comments!