I have a two part question. I've heard to keep a child rear facing as long as possible and I found this on-line:
The Britax Marathon that can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing 20 to 65 pounds. The child's height should be between 18 and 49 inches.
Okay, I've also read that a child can be switched at 1 years old. I'm pretty sure she met these guidlines at 12 months of age and she'll be 16 months late Dec.
1. I switched her seat to forward facing and I'm having doubts. Should I switch it back to rear facing?
2. I'm so worried about her being in our S-10 as it is because there is no back seat (it doesn't have an air bag). Do I switch her to forward facing in the truck or would it be best for her to be rear facing since she has to ride in the front?
What would you do or what have you done with the Britax Marathon?
I switched my kids to front facing around a year, as they met the weight guidelines at that time.
A suggestion: why don't you call Brittax? Or else, the fire dept. offers car seat safety inspections, you could take it to the nearest inspection place and ask them.
Good luck!
Dear Patti~
If you have questions about car seats, go to your local police station. Call ahead and get an appointment with the child safety officer. He or she will check you car seat for problems, teach you how to install in most safety and how to buckle your child in. They are very helpful. I found out that car seats should not be more than 5 years old or they will not be safe. Be safe!
A.
Hi Patti,
I too have the britax marathon carseat and am pretty familiar with car seat safety info. The primary reason the rear facing position is safest for an infant is realated to the strength of an infants neck muscles. If your daughter is well over 20 lbs and is able to walk she is probably fine front facing. If she is just at 20 lbs and doesn't mind being rear facing you could keep her rear facing. It really is totally up to what you feel most comfortable with. Britax just puts the weight guidelines to establish safe maximum weights for each position.
I also have the Marathon and once my daughter reached 20 lbs, we turned her. They say 1 year or 20 lbs, which ever comes last. She is 18 months and has been facing foward for 3 months. The car doesn't matter. The most important thing is her size. Studies have shown that a child under 20 lbs needs to be rear facing. I am sure it has something to do with the weight of their head compared to the rest of their body if you were in an accident. That is my guess to why 20 lbs is the magic number.
I hope this helps.
B.
Keep her facing forward. My daughter loved it when we switched her forward. I can pass her her drinks, I can see her in my rear view mirror, and other car headlights aren't glaring in her eyes at night.
Good luck with your decision.
Hi Patti,
I do not own this type of carseat but I know a great resource where you can go and get it checked out. You can go to the W.St.Paul Police/fire department. You need to make an apt. Call ###-###-#### and they can assist you on who you need to get in touch with. There is a certain woman who does it (I can't remember her name) and she is great. I went to her with my older daughter when she was a baby and need to go back for my 6 month old baby. She knows what she is doing and there is no charge. Both my daughters were premature and small so I was really worried about the carseat situation and that is why I need to call her again. It is just a thought! It really helped me and put my mind at ease. Good luck!
V. 32, mom of 2 girls. Alexis 3 y/o and Carly 5 1/2 months.
Hi Patti,
Here's my thoughts:
1) I would not under any circumstances put the child in the S-10 (I am assuming this is a pickup truck right?) if it is in the front seat whether the car seat is forward or rear facing. This is just my opinion but I think this is extremely unsafe to have a child in the front seat with or without the air bag. What does the truck's user manual say? Another source to get advice would be the MN DOT (department of transportation).
2) As for other vehicles where the car seat is in the back I think it would be fine for you to have the car seat forward facing as long as your child is over 1 and over 20 lbs which sounds like is true in your case.
Good luck.
-J.
Switch a child to forward-facing at 20 lbs. and 12 months of age. I would not put a 16-month-old rear-facing. And you should never put a child rear-facing in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger side air bags. Forward facing is fine at this age, as long as there's not some other medical condition that precludes it. Your baby will want to see everything that's going on outside the car, anyway. Good luck!
