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Rearfacing Car Seats for 9 months to 4 years- Please read and spread the word

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By Mon 26-Oct-09 13:39:43 Add message | Report | Contact poster

Please please spread the word about rear facing car seats for 9 months to 4 years.

“In Sweden between July 2006 and November 2007 not one child under the age of six was killed in a car crash. Children in Sweden sit rear facing until the age of four.

205 children under 5 are seriously injured in the UK every year and a further 21 are killed, while in cars (the AA).

Two thirds of child fatalities in the under–four age group in the UK occur in cars (the AA).”

Rear facing car seats for this age group have now been proven to be 5 TIMES SAFER than forward facing.

If this isn't enough have a look at these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKIeExpDLDA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=Y2DVfqFhseo&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8gU9zzCGA8

The other day I walked past a mum having her car fitted outside a well known retailer, and I felt so sad for her that the staff would be giving her the standard "no seat is safer than any other", when that is total rubbish angry

There is a vast vast difference in the safety of these seats.

I just really want to spread the word to other mums and let them see the facts for themselves. (The government and retailers are of the view that UK parents don't want to buy these seats - and therefore don't tell us about them - incidentally there are places across the country now starting to stock them...)

I've done the research, and there is no way in this world I would now get a forward facing car seat. Yes they can be slightly more pricey- but generally about the same price as the higher end forward facing ones- and to be honest, I'm of the view that if you can possibly afford it, safety is the one thing you should skimp on

Anyway, if anyone wants more info, please just give me a shout, also there is loads of great info on: www.rearfacing.co.uk

happy car seat hunting

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 05-Nov-09 20:00:55

I think you may be able to import one from the US, try googling 'babycenter car seat questions' and you should get some good advice as there are some Australian posters on that board.

Do hope I haven't committed a faux pas by recommending another baby website. blush

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 05-Nov-09 14:08:26

mmm strange when it's on the volvo australia website!

for you as they are a lot of money to start with and then postage on top. would try and get one then that lasts to 25kgs so you get longer use out of it. am off out to get one.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Thu 05-Nov-09 13:51:46

nicm, thanks again for the good idea. I rang our local dealer, who said they don't sell them here as they are not approved for Australia

Just trying to convince DH its worth the money now...

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 14:31:40

astrophe was thinking about the seats and how expensive the postage and everything would be for you and thought about volvo. have looked on volvo aus website and they have the same rf seat to 4 although it looks like the britax multitech which rf to 25kgs(approx 6) so this may be the answer for you? www.volvocars.com/au/campaigns/Misc/ChildSafety/Pages/1-3-years.aspx hope this works, let me know how you get on.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 09:24:10

I have a rear facing seat and found www.rearfacing.co.uk very useful. My DS has a 'Besafe Izi Combi Isofix' and apparantly even though it is made in the UK it is exported to Scandinavia before being shipped back to here!? Why do the manufacturers refuse to market rear facing seats here above 9 months? We should be given the info and the choice. Most Mums I know admire my DS's seat but go and buy a forward facing one anyway cos it's easier than doing a bit of digging on tinternet ... and cheaper too sad

NB BMJ article here about rear facing seats - a bit dull, sorry!
www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/338/jun11_2/b1994

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 09:08:10

oh and thanks, I contacted carseat.se and they will shop to Au and have recomended a couple that should suit us. I'll do a bit more digging before I get it - its pretty pricey esp once shipping is added.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Wed 04-Nov-09 08:58:36

thanks nicm. i have contacted kidsafe in the past, and they didn't reply. also tried contacting charities for kids with disabilities asking if they know about car seats but also no reply! I might need to try ringing rather than emailing...

The 'top tether' is basicly a length of seatbelt type strap, which tethers the seat to the vehical. In cars sold here there are anchor points - like a little metal loop, usually in the roof of the car behind the rear seats. You can see it here.

Thing is, under current law, you only have to have a child in a seat until they are 12 months! Crazy! After that, its just 'recomended'. They are changing this law in November, but tbh I can't imagine being prosecuted for not using an Australian Standards seat - I've never heard of anyone being stopped, and anyway, so long as I know they are safe I'm willing to risk a fine.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 03-Nov-09 20:09:56

astrophe, i'm not sure if you could use any of them in australia though. read this page www.childcarseats.org.uk/countries/australia.htm and it says that you need a top tether on your seats. not sure what this is though?

also have you looked at special needs seats? this is what the rf seats were originally sold for use in the uk. although the price always seems to be really high hmm

i would also contact adventuredad on the website www.carseat.se. he is really helpful and might be able to advise you better as he ships to aus for 75 euro, so might know about the top tether straps and how they work or what other people have done.

i found convertible seats on this website too but they only rf up to 12kgs which probably isn't much help to you, www.childrestraints.com.au/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=5

another website recommends contacting kidsafe or the australian red cross, you might know somewhere local to you? hth

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 03-Nov-09 11:40:59

thanks guys, I'll do some more digging. Problem may be that shipping costs will make the cost prohibitive...but I'll see. We have a Holden Commodore, which is the same, essentially, as a Vauxhall Omega, so maybe the retailer will know if it fits or not.

The seat we have can be rear facing until 11kg, but DD is already almost 7.5kg at 3 months, so we wont have too long with it.

It is such a shame this hasn't caught on, and, worse still, I know SO many people who turn their babies to forward facing even before they grow out of the seats that we do have here.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Tue 03-Nov-09 09:09:35

Yes Astophe - I think I've seen some of the UK suppliers with shipping instructions too- I'm sure snowflakes (the place I got mine from, which is in Weymouth in the uk) had some form of shipping available. I know the bad thing about that is that you wouldn't be able to try it in your car first though

I guess it depends on what car you have and if it's a fairly standard model that they retailers had experience of fitting elsewhere....
good luck

It's sad that its not just the UK that lags behind on some of these things

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Rearfacing Car Seats for 9 months to 4 years- Please read and spread the word