With the girls, the "rule" was that they had to be rear facing until they were one year old AND twenty pounds. So both of my girls rode rear facing until they were about 13-14 months old. Well, J4 was 21 pounds on his birthday. So why didn't we turn him around?Because just a few days before, the American Academy of Pediatrics came out with new guidelines. They now suggest waiting until your child is 2 years old before letting them ride forward facing. 2??? Really??? Apparently, kids in Sweden ride rear facing until they are 4 years old and have much less fatal injuries than we do here. Not that I have any idea what Sweden has to do with the US, but that was what I read.
So I spoke with his doctor at his 1 year old check-up. The doctor said there was discussion and debate among pediatricians. He said rear facing WAS safer, however, you then had to worry about their legs being smashed into the seat in a crash. So the doctor recommended leaving him rear facing until his feet touched the seat. So that's what we did.
The next big change was in his eating arrangement. Since he was about 4 months old, he's been sitting in this high chair:
Remember this one? :)As you can see, his head was starting to go above the backrest several months ago. His head REALLY goes above the backrest now. So we moved him to our famous "Kinderzeat"!
We got this chair for Alpha when she was 2, or thereabouts. (I feel old that I can't remember how long we've had stuff any more! It's really been a long time!)
It is by Stokke and was called the Kinderzeat. It cost $200 circa 2002. She sat in that until Beta was old enough for it. Then Beta sat in it. It has lately been residing in Alpha's room as her desk chair. Both platforms are adjustable and it can hold up to like 200 pounds. So we'll probably have it for a long time.
Interestingly enough, they still make the chair. However, it was redesigned and is now called the Tripp Trapp. The name in Sweden apparently means "step up" or something. Funny that here it doesn't come close to meaning anything safe....lol! The new Tripp Trapp has a baby seat and even a tray! (and colors, too! no fair!) You can even get one at The Baby Habit, one of the stores hosted by Acumen Brands, Inc, where Jim works. ;) (hint hint!) But this one is in good shape and seems to work just fine. So we're keeping it. I got the rubber, suction-cupped placemat at Toys R Us. It works ok. J4 has learned how to lift it up, but most of the time he doesn't.
The only problem we've had is Harper. Now that there's no silly HIGH chair in the way, her nose/mouth and J4's food-filled hands are only inches away. I go back and forth between "ew! dog germs!" and "oh well, it's good for his immune system." We've started putting her in the crate while he eats to cut down on some of that. Makes Harper mad, but she'll just have to get used to it. It's not like she's neglected. TRUST ME.
2 comments:
I didn't know if you knew, but it is not AT ALL dangerous for their legs to touch the back seat.. There has been NO documented cases of children's feet being crushed in a car accident, remember broken leg, cast it, broken neck, casket. :( And NEVER consult a pediatrician. They are not CPST (Child Passenger Safety Tech.) Half of the time they don't have a clue what they are talking about and are VERY wrong.
I agree with the above poster. There is absolutely nothing dangerous about a child's feet touching the back seat. There have been no cases of broken legs because of rear facing, but broken legs are the most common injury in forward facing children, because the legs are thrown violently forward, where as if they are rear facing, the legs just fold up against the body of the child. My 2 1/2 year old is 36 inches and 31 inches tall, and will be RF until he outgrows his seats that way, it is safer, and also much more comfortable for him.
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