Question for those of you who keep your kids Extended Rear-Facing...

I'm all for it...I know why it's safest...etc, etc, etc! :)

Shaelyn is 30 months and 30 pounds. Her seat is the Britax Boulevarde...I purchased it specifically because it RFs to 35 pounds.

Here's my problem:

1. with all our snow/ice/slush, it's nearly impossible for her to knock all that stuff off her feet before getting in her seat therefore getting it all on the seat back. ugh. [whatwacko]

2. I'm really sick of it. (I know...mature, right? rofl...) [claploud]

So, give it to me...do I suck it up and stick it out for another 5 pounds or what? Help! Advice needed from those of you who ERF! [flagsurrender]

I'm not an ERF-er but I would go ahead and switch her. Five pounds isn't that much. How tall is she?

You've done an excellent job of keeping Shay as safe as possible for as long as possible. She has long since passed all the 'minimums'. At two she is much more developed and her spine is stronger.

You can feel safe turning her.

But I know that mama waffle too. Even with the feeling sick of it. I was feeling sick of it, switched the kid (with only 2# to spare ;)) and still had mommy guilt off and on. I think that's just part of the gig when you are where we are.

I will give you *my* ok/permission to turn her and assure you she. is. still. safe. You just have to decide for yourself if that's what you're comfortable doing.

If it helps you any, Warrior has been ff for quite a while now, but, like I said above, he was within a pound or two of the weight limit. He's now right around 34 and ff, the 4 yr old too.

(just gotta say, when it comes to rf, 5# *is* a big deal, not *as* big this far into the erf gig but it's still pretty big..I can shrug off a pound or two, but 5? meh, not so much)

Kate - alternatives...remove shoes when getting in vehicle and place a towel over the back of the seat where her feet hit .... you've probably already thought about that and are thinking about the hassle of removing/putting on shoes repeatedly for every outing, but, I'm just going ahead and saying it ;)
Do what you're comfortable with sweetie.

Aaaahhh! 5 pounds is one-sixth of her current body weight...doesn't sound like much, but maybe it is?!

Tara, you're so funny. We are so *totally* on the same wave length! Every.single.thing. you mentioned I've had going through my brain! LOL!

I like being different...I want to make it to 35 lbs...just to say I have! I know...weird, right?! But the practicality of it...eh...I don't know...doesn't outweight the safety, I know. ergh.

Thanks for the, uh, permission.

Anyone else to weigh in?

Ugh, I understand what you mean. I keep Micah mostly rear facing from mommy guilt, but I'm getting pretty sick of it too.

He screams, braces his feet against the back of the seat, and tries to climb into sister's FF seat.

But he's only 22 months/twenty seven pounds, so I keep on...sigh....

I have big tall babies lol, my 14mos old at 1yr check up was 30lbs and 32in.(but what to expect hubby 6'5" and I am 5'10") and its hard to keep them rear facing for long because they have no where to put there feet lol so normally at 1yr I have to switch because its just uncomfortable for them, so my point lol your awesome for going to 30mos in my book :)

Aaah but kids will generally just cross their legs (indian style/criss cross applesauce) and be perfectly comfy sitting like that. I've had 2 and 3 yr olds rear facing..by then mine are bound to be that tall LOL (I have kids on the shorter end of the spectrum :P)

So....what are your latest thoughts Kate? Did you come to a decision yet? You can always do a test run ya know. ;)

I just recently turned Mak after the twins came because there was NO way we could get her into our car and buckled the way we had to arrange all of the seats. We can barely get her into her seat now as it is and buckling her up is a chore. We are possibly getting a minivan in the near future and I am thinking of turning her back RF again. She is only 27lbs and just getting into 24 month clothes so I know she isn't super tall. I feel better knowing she is over 2 (27+ months). I had/have mother guilt, but I also have to remember that the Lord has provided this vehicle for us right now and He knows how their seats have to be. I trust that He will bless our situation as He sees fit. He has written my childrens days and I have to just trust /he will protect them...KWIM?

Its so weird to me because Em was so tall that we had to switch her to a convertable car seat at 4 months old because she outgrew her infant car seat length wise. We also turned her FF at 11 months 3 weeks (ducking to avoid Tara throwing the book at me) because she was like 25 lbs and super tall....I now know that we didn't have to turn her, but she was so big I thought thats what you did when they reached "the size!"

I say you have done awesome and if you feel done, that may be the time to turn. The Lord will protect her or take her home when its His will so you can rest peacefully in that...I know I do!

Blessings dear one,
Amber

you gals are so understanding and sweet! :)

Melinda ~ we're in your boat too...about the same heights as you and your dh. Ours are TALL, just not heavy!

Shae is FINE...she doesn't mind her legs being crossed or on the back of the seat or what not. hehe! It's ME that's d.o.n.e.

Haven't changed anything yet. Currently thinking of waiting until she turns 3 at least. :) Small milestones...only 4 months away (gosh!)...

Hubby has been hounding me to turn her and she BEGS...to sit in brother's FF seat.

Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated...

mine would never cross their legs, whined about bo bo knees lol, but I think it had a lot to do with the dvd player in the car lmbo, they hear it but cant see it and a mirror wasnt good enough for them, and everybody else is facing forward lol so all yall ladies are awesome for keeping with it :)

Well, I did it. I turned her around. I got Trevor a brand new seat. I was planning to surprise her by turning her seat around before I even saw that she was only slightly jealous! :) So, she/we made it 34 months RF! It's really weird to be able to see her in the mirror! She loves it... :)

awww :)

Yeah, I remember that 'oh weird, I can see you now' phase hehe It messed with my head every time I looked in the mirror :p

Yay Kate for going 34 months!

My boy is forward facing right now. We are on vacation. Not sure if we'll turn him back to RFing when we get home.

I was surprised that RFing got so draggy so fast this time, considering that I ERF'ed my oldest from 27 months (turned her back around from FFing) until just past her 4th birthday.

I think that it was mainly due to sibling jealousy. When he saw her get to FF, he stopped being content with RFing. [whatwacko]