A baby should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer, which is often between 30 and 50 pounds (13.6 to 22.7 kg) depending on the seat model

. Legally and safety-wise, many guidelines allow switching to a forward-facing car seat once the child is at least 9 kg (about 20 pounds) and at least 1 year old, but experts recommend keeping the child rear-facing as long as possible, ideally until they reach the rear-facing seat's maximum limits, which can be around 40 to 50 pounds (18 to 23 kg) or more

. In summary:

• Minimum weight to face forward is often around 20-22 pounds (9-10 kg), but this is the minimum, not the recommended weight

• Recommended to keep baby rear-facing until they reach the rear-facing height or weight limit of their car seat, often 40-50 pounds (18-23 kg)

• Age-wise, children are usually at least 2 years old before facing forward, but weight and height limits are more important than age

Always check your specific car seat’s manual for exact weight and height limits to ensure safety.