Car seat laws

[lancslass17]

Hi,
At what age must a child be rear facing? ( or is it a height of weight thing?)
Ta

[2dogsandPG]

According to gov.uk,

"They must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. Your child can use a forward-facing child car seat when they're over 15 months old. You must check the seat to make sure it's suitable for the height of your child. Only EU-approved height-based child car seats can be used in the UK."

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

[Smurf123]

It's just based on the seat currently here in the UK. A lot of seats only go rear facing to 9 kg which isn't very old about 9 months. However I have read it is safer to be rear facing for longer and I think that are in the process or trying to change it that children have to be rear facing to 15 months.
I ended up going for a seat that rear faces to 25 kg which is about age 4 (although I don't we will make it that long) as I want son to rf for as long as possible

[MrsL2016]

The first reply is for height based seats. The guidance is slightly different for weight based seats. The link PP provided explains it clearly.

[lancslass17]

Thanks all no wonder I'm confused. My seat is ok ( up to 4 years)but now need 2 spares for daddy and nanny.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

There are two laws running in parallel at the moment which is why it's so confusing.

The old law says you can forward face from 9kg.

The I-size regulation requires seats sold as I-size to rear face until at least 15mo.

However, neither of these laws actually go anywhere near far enough to what is actually the safest option for the child. The safest option for any passenger in a car is to rear face but as this isn't practical, rear facing until at least 4 before moving to a high back booster is considered to be the safest option for children.

[SherlockSays]

This may be a stupid question but, how does a 4 year old rear face? Where do their legs/feet go?

[AlwaysColdHands]

They just tuck or fold their legs up, they’re very flexible! It’s not even an issue for them. My DD was rear facing til nearly 4, didn’t bat an eyelid at it

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

My almost 4 year old has got loads of room for her legs in the Minikid but she rests them against the back seat if she wants to. In the Britax Two Way Elite she crosses her legs.

Some children who have rear faces find forward facing very uncomfortable because their legs just dangle unsupported.

[Hairymess]

Yep, as above, the rules depend on the seat, but based on the safety of your child, you want rear facing until 4 (or more).