Rear facing for toddlers?

[Beesmummy]

Hello, have a three year old (in a booster seat with a back held in with a seatbelt) and a 20 month old in a very scruffy Maxi Cosi Priori XP. Think the three year old doesn't seem very safe and have just given myself a scare in an accident, so wanted to buy one (or maybe even two) new car seats for them -- can't really afford it but nothing matters more than safety after near-miss.
I wanted to find a five point harness car seat for the (very tall) three going on four year old, so was looking on the web and have just seen this car seat video:
kidsincars.blogspot.com/
Now totally terrified. Don't want to be over the top and make her friends laugh, but if it really is that much safer to be in a rear facing car seat?? What do you think?

[FannyLogan]

Supposed to be 500% safer.

We have DD age 2 in a besafe izi combi rear facing and she will be there till she outgrows the weight limit - probably at about 5.

They are pricey though.

Have a look at www.rearfacing.co.uk/

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

I have a very tall almost 3yo who's outgrowing his Priorifix (he's almost eye level with the top of the seat) but he;s only 15kg!! (he's on the 75th centile for height and the 60th for weight., I don't understand how Maxi Cosi can say this seat is suitable until 4yo)

We always recline the seat so that in the event of an accident the force is more through his body, rather than the flip action from his head moving forward (IYSWIM). Obviously this isn't as good as rear facing, but at the time of purchase I didn't see RF as important as it probably is (and I don't think there's room in our car for one anyway, as it barely accomodated the maxi cosi baby seat)

I'm also looking for the next stage seat that's as safe as the Maxicosi... I can't put him in a basic seat just yet, I'd love to know about one that could be RF, has a harness, that is suitable up to about 25kg (

[Beesmummy]

Exactly the same as us -- our very tall three year old had to go into a stage 2/3 seat way before she was ready in my opinion.
Am going to always recline the maxicosi for our (again v tall) one year old now - thanks for the tip.
It is going to be really hard to get either of them into a rear-facing seat now though, having been used to forward facing...
Besafe Izi vs Britax 2 way Elite?? Any other suggestions?

[TruthSweet]

If your car seats were in the car (even if unoccupied) they will need to be replaced. Your car insurance should deal with it they can claim from the other party later.

If they won't ask then to give you a letter stating the car seats are safe for your children to use even though tthey were installed in your car at the time of the accident, therefore if they fail in a subsequent accident you know who to come back to. Take their name very carefully 'That's S..A..R..A..H S..M..I..T..H Miss, Ms or Mrs? Job title?'

If you have a very tall child try a Britax Two Way Elite. It is good to 25kg rear or forward facing and my very tall 4.9 y/o fits nicely in it. It is a large seat but if you have installed it in the upright position it's not totally humongous. It is very neat forward facing as well.

[nicm]

a two way elite would be good for a tall child or a britax multi tech. you can buy these from volvo apparently for about £170?

it should be fine for the kids, my mindees all travel ff in their parents cars. i have taken the headrests off so they have a better view out the back as well as the side.

:)

[Carseatcrazy]

I'd just like to echo everyone's comments abour RF - definitely the way to go if you're looking for safety. If you get those nice little mirrors so you can see your LO's they can also give themselves 360 vision! My son loves looking out the back and sides of the car, but will also tell me what is approaching (ie "tractor mummy"!) when it is in front of me :) They'll never get that sort of view if FF!!! Good luck with the decisions :)

I've got a Besafe and KISS which I love both of, but like many have said, I've heard the TWE is good for tall ones :)