Why I Am Passionate About Extended Rear Facing (& Chicco Fit2 Giveaway!)
When I first got pregnant with Lilly, the maternal instincts kicked in almost immediately. I started researching anything and everything I could about breastfeeding, cloth diapering… you name it. While I do not claim to be a parenting expert (I have realized that 99% of parenting is trial and error), I *can* tell you that one of the things that has stuck with me is my passion for car seat safety. While there are a lot of differing opinions on all things parenting, the one thing that I am incredibly passionate about and that there’s not a whole lot of room for debate is car seat safety. I learned about the importance of rear facing as long as possible and that is something I implemented with Lilly right away and have continued with Amos. We had Lilly rear facing until three and a half – when she hit the weight limit for rear facing on her car seat. Since September is Baby Safety Month, I’ve teamed up with Chicco and their Chicco Fit2 to share my own experiences and talk about WHY this is so important!
Chicco is one of the oldest baby gear companies and have been in business for more than 50 years! Their KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and NextFit Convertible Car Seat have consistently been rated #1, plus offer the newly launched Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat, along with a full line of playards, highchairs, car seats, strollers and soooo much more. (We also have the Chicco BravoFor2 double stroller and LOVE it!)
The new Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler Car Seat is AMAZING. It has two positions to be able to comfortably accommodate both infants and toddlers (which is KEY, y’all… KEY!!), making it easier for parents and caregivers to follow the AAP recommendation for children to ride rear-facing until at least age 2.
Now, we recently got Chicco’s new NextFit® iX convertible car seat since Amos is too big for the Chicco Fit2 and let me tell you… this car seat is also amazing! We have been SEARCHING for a convertible car seat that can rear face in my husband’s truck. My husband transports the kids in his truck a lot and we wanted to make sure that we could have a convertible car seat to safely fit in his truck. So many carseats we tried wouldn’t fit correctly or safely without the front passenger being pushed almost all the way up to the dashboard (and since I sit in the passenger seat… that was a NO GO). The NextFit® iX can fit in almost any vehicle (I mean, if it fits in my husband’s truck, I have a hard time picturing a car that it WOULDN’T fit in…) and it also fits your child with the SuperCinch® LATCH functionality and a new LockSure™ vehicle belt-tightening system. It was REALLY quick and easy to install. It is really easy to adjust and so it can accommodate kiddos from 5 to 65 pounds. Most importantly, you can safely rear face in the NextFit® iX until 40 pounds!
So why rear facing until at least two years old? Well, to put it plain and simple… it is literally FIVE TIMES safer for a child who is rear-facing in a collision than if they were forward facing. FIVE TIMES SAFER. A rear-facing car seat is positioned in a way that spreads the crash force more evenly across the back of the car seat and your child’s body. Rear-facing also limits the motion of the head, which reduces the potential for neck injury. This really isn’t about parenting opinion, it’s about scientific fact. (source)
Well, earlier this year Chicco launched TurnAfter2™, a national movement designed to increase the number of children who ride rear-facing longer by educating parents about the benefits of riding rear-facing longer, and empowering them to celebrate and share their efforts to keep their kids rear-facing.
Chicco is incredibly passionate about this (as am I!!) and they want parents to share how they are keeping their children riding in the car rear facing for two years or LONGER by using the #TurnAfter2 hashtag on social media to share photos of their rear-facing-riding kids! (We got to three and a half with Lilly, I’m hoping we can get at least that with Amos, too!!) This is all with the hopes that it will inspire other parents to keep their kids rear-facing for as long as possible. You can visit TurnAfter2.com to learn more!
What about you? Are you as passionate about rear-facing as I am? Have your tried the Chicco Fit2? Share your #TurnAfter2 pictures in the comments and on social media!
I have also teamed up with Chicco to giveaway a Chicco Fit2 car seat to one of you! Simply use the Rafflecopter tool below to enter.
Yes! It is the safest place for babies to be. As a nurse I am a HUGE advocate for this.
Amos looks so cute in his carseat. I will have say that with my two older girls they were car seats which seems like forever I think it was around the time they turned 8 or 9 I decided to not let them sit in them anymore. They both were so little and still are.
Yes I am very passionate about rear facing until age 2. I actually did longer with my daughter. It is safer. I’d rather them possibly break a leg in a wreck then lose their life!
Yes, it’s definely a good idea. Test show rear facing is safer.
Yes, I think it’s a good idea.
Yes and this is important and such a great giveaway.
My baby is a newborn, so I’m still learning!
We actually don’t use a car all that much living in the city, but I am still certain that having a great car seat is important! Since we only use a car occasionally, we have to install a car seat each time, so I can imagine this would be a serious help.
Oh my word, I’m all about safety!! Our little one is too precious to not make safety a top priority!!
Yes–I really am! I believe it is the much safer way to go in the case of a collision!
I didn’t know that about keeping kids rear-facing as long as possible, but as a soon-to-be mama I’m glad to know now!
Yes! My children’s safety is very important for me, so rear facing until the age of 2 is #1 in my list!
Yes! Safety is my #1 priority. Rear facing until the age of 2 is the best option.
Yes as it’s the safest way for a baby/toddler to be in a car.
Yes! I’ve done so with my older two as well
Yes, I think it’s very important to keep children rear facing until at least 2 years old.
Although my kids are teens now, I was super passionate about car seat safety when they were babies. We used rear facing car seats until they were each at least two. I didn’t know all the facts about it, it just felt safer to me.
Yes, we rear face until two. It is something simple that I can do to protect my kids.
I am definitely on board for keeping my children rear facing until they are 2, and maybe even longer. Babies need to build up muscle tone before they can face forward.
Currently using the Chico infant seat that came with the bravo stroller system. This is great information for our search for a convertible seat! Almost nothing fits in a dang Focus. :-/
Hey Molly! My daughter is 26 months and still rear facing. She’s little, still under 25 pounds, so I don’t think we’ll be turning her around soon! Thanks for posting about this! Love your blog!
I’m so on board for rear facing for as long as possible!
All 3 of my kids did (or will) be rear facing past 2!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
I am totally passionate about fear facing until the appropriate age because it is the safest position to be for your child.
just learning about it now
We are expecting a baby through adoption and are just researching all the baby information we need to know. Great info about how important rear facing. We are onboard for doing it as long as possible.
Yes, anything to keep my little ones safer is worth the effort, my kids have never complained about being rear facing for a long time
Yes I am!! It is the safest position for your child to be in
I’m totally sharing with my friend who has a 1.5 year old! Such helpful tips
-xo, Azanique | http://www.lotsofsass.com
One year down, another year (or more) to go!
I agree – Turnafter2!!!
I am more passionate than my husband. He turned our toddler in his car right at 2. I’m still holding fast in my car at a few months later.
I wish turning kids forward facing wasn’t a “milestone” in our culture for some reason. We’re solidly in the camp of waiting until kids are about to exceed a seat’s limits.
We got the Fit2 car seat for our little one and love it! We wanted to keep her rear-facing for 2 years and I loved that this will give her extra leg room as she grows. Plus it connects in any of the Chicco strollers which is so convenient for on-the-go!
I rear faced my son until two weeks before he turned two and still feel a little guilty about turning him around. I plan on rear facing my daughter as long as possible, though. My son was really antsy rear facing, but my daughter’s going to have him to look at so she’ll be just fine. I am definitely on board with carseat safety.
Yes! I think it’s the safest position for your child
I agree that this is much safer! A lot of people seem in a rush to turn their kids around, but I’m not convinced it’s any easier to get a toddler in a car set whether they’re front- or rear-facing 🙂
I think it is great!!! Would love this!
I say rear face or go home!!
I will what is required to keep my daughter safe.
My LO is only 4 months, but we’ll be rear facing for as long as possible. Would love to try this seat!
I rear face to the max now. Over 8 years ago I didn’t know better and made the switch too soon but thankfully we didn’t get into an accident or have to learn the hard way. I love that more information is out there now and people are spreading the word!!
I think rear-facing until 2 is important. I usually mention it to my friends and families with children.
I’m kindness of crazy about car seat safety, too! Love Chicco!
I didn’t realize the weight limit was 40lbs for rear facing! 😳 For some reason I only had 30lbs in my head. Super interested in that car seat for baby #2!
My daughter rear faced till nearly two years old… She exceeded the weight limit so we switched her to face forward right before her birthday. We love our chicco carseat too!
I am expecting my first and honestly I never knew a child is suppose to be read facing until two . I have seen many people front face their child so early on. So this is so great to know for first time mom to be like me.
Yes! This is so important and such a great giveaway!! We’ll be keeping our guy rear facing until he reaches the weight limit, too!
My children are grown and I don’t have any grandchildren. (Yet! 😉 ) But, I def have an opinion on this and yes! rear facing until 2 is super important and safe!
Yes! I think it’s very important to rear face until 2. Rear facing seats are able to protect better than forward facing. I have a 10 month old baby and 3 year old. Of course, my oldest is already forward facing and I hope to keep my little one rear facing as long as possible, for her safety.
Im passionate about RFing as long as possible! I want a seat that has the highest weight limit I can find. this seat looks amazing
My son is over 2 and still rear facing. I think it is so important and I can’t accept the fact that he is big enough to face forward 🙂
I am passionate about rear facing until 2 and proper car seats for kids. I also like the brands that rate well.
I love this! I’ve been doing a bunch of research and decided I wanted the Fit2 since we’ll have to have two car seats once the baby is out of the infant seat, so I want it to last as long as possible. There haven’t been that many reviews on the Fit2 so thanks for that! All of our friends love the NextFit (I actually found a pretty much brand new one at a consignment sale) and we’re going to register for the NextFit iZip for the other car.
Love this post – I’m expecting my first child in December and already purchased the Chicco Keyfit travel system for when she’s first born (it’ll be cold here so I definitely wanted the carrier!) but have been looking at the Chicco Fit 2 for after she outgrows the infant carrier! And I hope to keep her rear-facing as long as possible!