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I have a 5-month-old that weighs 20 pounds, and has outgrown his infant car seat. Can he be placed in a convertible car seat facing forward?

April 26, 2017car convertible infant outgrown Placed pounds seat weighs

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10 Posted

I have a 5-month-old that weighs 20 pounds, and has outgrown his infant car seat. Can he be placed in a convertible car seat facing forward?

1 Answer

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10 Posted

It is VERY important that an infant stay rear-facing until at least age one and 20 pounds. The vertebrae in a child’s neck are not completely developed until age one. Infants have large, heavy heads on a “weak” stem (neck). That is why infants face the rear of the vehicle – so that their entire body will take the force in a crash. If you turn them around to face forward too soon, their large heavy heads are thrown forward which presents a very high risk of a brain injury, broken neck, spinal cord damage, etc. Your infant should remain rear-facing in a convertible seat until at least age one. You should look for a convertible model that goes rear-facing to at least 30 pounds. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s directions on the seat.