re: Forward facing a 5 month old...

Quoting Krystal Moses:" I turned by oldest around at 10 months because she started hating car rides because she really was bored. ... [snip!] ... is 19lbs). However, since she has my oldest to entertain her then I am not really in a hurry to switch her around anytime soon."

It's the law actually to keep them RF to 1 year and 20lbs. If they get tall enough and weigh enough, buy a convertible. It's not just about weight and age, it's about their actual body being able to withstand a crash.

Actually the law says and I am coping this,
Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing twenty (20) pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear facing position, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer's instructions.

So the law says under one, weighing less then 20lbs. It does not state anywhere that if the child hits the weight before their 1st birthday b-day that you can't switch them around. I fact if read like it is here it clearly states that if they are less then 20lbs then.......... Also my 1st is almost 10, and there were different laws then. They made changes in 2004.

Quoting Krystal Moses:" Actually the law says and I am coping this, Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing ... [snip!] ... are less then 20lbs then.......... Also my 1st is almost 10, and there were different laws then. They made changes in 2004."

I'd call you local police depat & ask. Ignorance of the law isnt' an excuse f you ge tpulled ove ror worse & it may not actually BE the way you interpret it by reading it. Our laws online are really murky - bu tI have a family member on teh force & am certain that despite how foggy ours are - they aren't foogy when it comes to tickets. Out state website doens't even clearly state when a child can go into a booster & there IS a minimum age here & minum weight for that. I *think* it is age 3 & 30lbs but I can swear to the weight. I do know the forward face is 1 yr and 20lbs or more - but the child must hit BOTH criteria, not one or the other..

If you read here: http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-1593_3504_22774-113709--,00.html
It sounds like kids over 4 can ride in the front. They can't...except when specified as when all seats are taken - you must be 12 yrs old in my state - it is not stated anywhere on that page, but I KNOW that is true...

Anyway - my only point is, even if what they list isn't clear - they will still hold the parent accoutanble for any improper use of the carseat - so doubel check. I am not aware that any state in the US allwos forward facing before 1 yr anymore.

To ME - if I was to say that it could be 1 yr or 20 lbs I woudl expect it to read that a child who is EITHER under 1 yr OR under 20lbs..... I wouldn't trust what you copied as meaning it doesnt' ahve to be both.

To me that means any child under one year (REGARDLESS OF WEIGHT) or any child (over a year) that has not met 20 lbs yet....

So see - not actually clear at all.