Forward Facing Car Seat Question....

I have an Eddie Bauer one from Target, and it seems pretty reclined when forward facing. My 13 month old naps in it...

He cannot be forward facing yet at only 11months old. Sorry, it doesn't matter his height or weight, he's not a year old yet and not one.single.carseat. on the market allows forward facing before 1yr old. Read the manual. If you get into a crash right now with him forward facing, even if the seat is faulty, you will be held accountable because you couldn't follow the basic instructions. And most seats a child has to be at least 36" tall to forward face in, which your son is very much not.

Obviously he naps alot in the car if this is a huge concern of yours, so he sohuldn't be forward facing. PLEASE for your son's sake research EXTENDED REAR FACING and JOEL'S JOURNEY. Just google those terms, along with INTERNAL DECAPITATION, and then take that seat back and purchase a Graco MyRide65, First Years TrueFit, Evenflo Triumph Advance, and rear face your little guy for at least another year.

Please, do the research. Google those terms, educate yourself.

Besides, those 3-in-1 seats don't make good booster seats. The Safety 1st 3-in-1 has consistently failed every booster test it has been in because its positions the lap belt in a bad spot on the belly instead of low on the hips. They should never be used in booster mode. Not worth the money or hte risk.

Do the research, take that seat back and please turn your son back rear facing in a seat that I listed above. He's not tall enough, he's not old enough, and he's just not ready. WHen you get an appropriate seat after doing the research, go to www.safe-kids.org or www.seatcheck.org and have someone help you learn to use the seat properly, install it properly, and use it right every single time.

If he is big enough to be forward facing, he shouldn't be reclining. So, yes, your good ones are all going to be like that. Just be sure to install it correctly.

I took a quick peek at your profile. Your little one is just turning 1 right? He's too young to be forward facing. The recommendations are that little ones remain rear-facing as long as possible and at least until age 2.

http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html

I just turned my daughter at 31 months because she was getting close to the weight limit for rear-facing in her seat. She was in the 95th percentile for height so don't let anyone tell you they can't sit rear facing because they are tall. Children are far, far safer in the rear-facing position. Take a look at crash test vids. Shocking to see how violently the little ones get thrown forward facing but the shock is absorbed and they barely move when rear-facing.

And the other moms are right. Some ff seats have a slight recline but there should not be much of a recline as this puts the little ones at a safety risk as the force is not distributed properly and can put little ones at risk for serious injury.

Just saw your update-Height and weight are meaningless in this discussion except for using those number to find a seat that he will be able to sit in for at least the next year. The AAP is advising parents to follow the latest recommendations and research and keep little ones rear facing till at least 2. It is our job, our duty as parents to keep abreast of the latest findings and research and keep our kids as safe as possible.
My daughter was well over 2, over 30lbs and taller than your son before I turned her around. She fit perfectly fine rear-facing.

Convertible car seats don't recline. Welcome to the world of tortured kids in car seats! Ours hated car seats with a passion and thankfully have moved on to boosters now that they're older.

I don't think forward facing car seats are supposed to recline. The directions on mine say it should be flush with the seatback of the car. Read the manual carefully. If I were to recline mine, the seat would put my dd in an unsafe position. You may look around for a forward facing seat that has a recline that is built into the shape of the seat, but for safety the seat should be flush with your car's seat.

Well he should not be forward facing yet.
His height and weight have nothing to do with the maturity of his bones.

A.. A booster seat is not made so he can "recline and nap" or get cushy on a pillow...they are to keep the child safe in an accident. Take your son IN the carseat to a local, FREE inspection site and have them look at him IN the seat to see if it's correct.
Good luck!
www.seatcheck.org

What BeckyW said - at 23 lbs and under a year, he's significantly safer rear facing and will also be able to nap much more comfortably than he would forward facing. A good convertible seat with high height/weight harnessing limits can last you 5 years or more before your son outgrows it and then a good basic high back booster like a Graco TurboBooster can be found often for less than $50 so you don't need to get a seat that claims to be the last one you'll ever need.

Keep him rear-facing as LONG as you can. I kept both of my children rear-facing until they were 18 months old, and will probably go even longer with #3. Call your local hospital and see if they do carseat installation checks. Most carseats are not installed properly, and in my opinion, it's NOT worth the risk. Take some time to educate yourself and keep your baby as SAFE as possible!!!

i have never seen a foward facing one that reclines. i think they are like that for safety. also check your carseat because all the regulations are different. our 18mnth old is still rear facing because he is only 30.5 inches tall and his car seat says it is forward facing for children at least 34 inches tall.

I have never seen a forward facing one that reclines like a rear facing one does. Unfortunately, your little guy is just going to have to learn to sleep sitting more upright. It can be done (my son still crashes constantly in the car and he is 4), but it may take a little time.

Did you read the manual? Most things I don't even open the manual, but car seats I do. There are usually different ways to put the seat in that will help with the reclining...and they recommend that the seat is reclined more for younger kiddos too.

Perhaps the local fire department could help you?

EDIT: Oops, just read the other responses, I must be thinking of reclining for RF. SORRY

Some forward facing seats do recline. I had a graco (could be rear or forward facing but no booster) and it had four recline positions. Granted, one position was for rear facing only but the rest were for forward facing. I would just recline the seat (the large one that's part of the car) to match the angle of the child seat. I suppose this wouldn't work in a car backseat, though.

I think the Eddie Bauer forward facing to booster I had briefly may have had the option for a slight recline, but that was one of the few things I liked about it. (don't have it anymore)

We have a Graco Nataluis and we love them. They are in both cars and have held up nicely to two kids so far. They also have the 5 point harness to 65 lbs instead of the 40. They then can be changed into a high back booster then to a normal booster. They run about $165-185 in price. This one also reclines! I would check it out it is a highly recommended seat.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-Nautilus-3in1-Car-Bravo/8...