When can I change the car seat to face forward?

The laws have not changed. A baby still must be 1 year and 20lbs to sit forward facing. The AAP has officially stated that they recommend children sit rear facing for 2years or until they hit the upper limit of the rear facing convertible seat, that's probably what you were thinking of.

I am pretty sure he meets the minimum requirements by law to be foreward facing since he is over 1 year old and at least 22 pounds. But keep in mind the APA is now recommending keeping all children rear-facing until age 2. Rear-facing is safest!

He will be *so* much more comfortable rear facing- I promise. Regardless of the law- why would you want to make him unsafe and uncomfortable by turning him forward facing? My godson is 2 1/2 and recently took a 3 hour trip rear facing- he was happy. Not too long ago he took a 2 hour trip forward facing and he was miserable the whole trip. He took a 7 hour trip rear facing around 18 months and was able to sleep through much of it because he was reclined and comfortable. When they're forward facing, they have nowhere to prop their legs, and this hurts. Sit on a bar stool and dangle your legs- that's what forward facing car seats feel like. Rear facing gives them a place to put their feet and their heads don't flop forward when rear facing either.

They actually now are saying they should be rear facing until 2 years old. I actually could not find anything about what age they "legally" can face forward. If you will be changing him to face forward I would at least make sure he was in the middle of the car (rather than to the right or left) as it is safer as well, especially if you are hit from the side.

Legally, you can do it anytime now. Physically he's 6 times safer rear-facing until he reaches the weight limit of his seat.

That '1 yr 20 pound 'law' is based on cars and car seat crash tests from over 20 years ago, and MUCH has changed. Why was the law written that way? Because back then most car seats only rear faced to 22 pounds! And please keep him rear facing for the trip. Rear facing is MUCH MUCH more comfortable than having your legs dangle over the edge of the forward facing seat. FYI he feds that test the cars and car seats recommend that it is safest to rear face to the seat limits. http://www.nhtsa.gov/ChildSafety/step2 This is based on CURRENT research, not research from 20 years ago. My youngest is 2 yr 4 months and HATES forward facing, he hates his legs dangling with no where to comfortably prop his feet. Rear facing you are at a bit of recline and your feet are propped up or you can dangle them over the side. Far more comfy!

at least in my state, those new guidelines are reccomendations, not laws. my daughter is bigger than average, and when her legs started getting cramped at 8 months, i put her forward facing. i feel that if we were to get into an accident, and she were crunched rear facing, it would do her more damage. my chiropractor put it well, he said there shouldn't be and age limit for facing your child forward, does it take the intellegence of a one year old to sit forward? it should be a matter of height and weight. so if your child is big enough, and you feel comfertable, put him forward. and i know my child is much happier to see whats going on. id hate to travel with her rear facing.