Just wondering if anyone else practices extended rear facing? I recently learned that it is the safest way to go. My two and a half year old can rear face up to 35 lbs in her seat. She is only 28 lbs now, so it will be a while.

Here is a video about this...

YouTube - The Importance of Rear-Facing: Version 2

the entire thing is informative, but around 1:36 they show the different Crash tests.

I do not believe that a 2 yo should be rear facing at all. They are big enough to face forward and should be because of the length of their legs. I could never imagine having my kids facing backwards at 2 yo for fear if we do get in an accident more harm would be done because of their legs being jarred and all.

((NOTE: MY 'C' key is broken... my typing is a bit funky)

You should watCh the video and read up on it. It is muCh safer--legs are fixable, as it says, neCks are not. Internal deCapitation is a very real thing, and very likely with a forward faCing seat. The positioning of a rear faCing seat, allows the Carseat to take the brunt of the impaCt off of the Childs neCk.

It really is something worth learning about--- I know, I know.. I thought it sounded Crazy too, when I was told by a Child saftey teCh at a Carseat Installation CheCk. But, it Could save your Child.

I don't know if you would call it "extended", but Tommy wasn't big enough, nor did he have the trunk control to be forward facing at 1 year old. He didn't hit the magic 20 lbs until he was 15 months old, and even then, I had to buy him an expensive car seat that had better head and trunk support for him.

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Why don't more people know about the RF weights? - Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Forums

and MSN had something about it...

Child car seat advice questioned - Growing Up Healthy - MSNBC.com

DAISY -
All this information is extremely overhwelming and put me in panic mode...
Thank you so much
I know its crazy that I stress so much over my childrens safety, I've had a traumatic event regarding a toddler w/o an infant seat that died in a car crash almost 4 years ago. Is there any way, you think, that my 6 and 4 yr old can be safe while still bigger, in a regular booster (convertible) seat? Im sure I could probably make them fit without compromising their comfort, I just don't want to compromise their safety. I've thought about making them wear motorcycle helmets in the car... im being completely serious. Anyway, let me know

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Miss Lucie: There are carseats on the market that won't break the bank that 5 point harness till 65 pounds.. Forward facing okay.. Most children can not fit into a booster at four.. If any... Carseats.org is an awesome website. You do not have to register to ask a ?... Maybe ask a question the techs will be able to help you.

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Miss Lucie, my daughter is 6 years old and still uses her booster seat. Only something like 10 percent of children that should be using booster seats actually do. Here are some websites for you.

Who Should Be in a Booster Seat?
http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.pdf
Booster Seats: What Parents Should Know

Thanks so much for the resources girls, I very much appreciate it. Both of my kids use booster seats, the ones you secure with the seat belt only though. I was actually thinking about getting a new dodge caravan, since on the commercials they show the middle row seats facing backwards...they have a table separating the middle row and last row seats so I figured this would be worth the expense...dh and I will have to have a convo about it though! Thank you lots

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I recently bought my 5 year old (in a belt positioning booster) a Britax Regent. It harnesses up to 65 lbs. She is 52 lbs and has plenty of room and loves the seat. I feel much better knowing that she is harnessed in, held by a seatbelt, AND tethered in. The seat is expensive, but I think worth every penny. The RADIAN65 OR RADIAN80 are great choices for older kids, too. And if $$ is an issue Graco just released something called the Graco Nautilus, that is pretty popular.