Would you turn toddler car seat in these circumstances?

[jumpyjayj]

I know the recommendation for a rear facing car seat is 4 years and we’ve followed this advice for our first but now our second is turning his head around for the entire car journey every time we go out, I’m worried he’s straining his neck desperately trying to look forward.

Legally he’s allowed to face forward but it’s safer for him to be rear facing and I absolutely want him to be in the safest position but is travelling with a twisted neck looking out the front windscreen actually safer than having the seat forward facing?

Any other suggestions would be gratefully welcomed.

Is sitting in the car with a twisted neck safer than the consequences of being forward facing? Have a little look at some of the videos showing what the impact does to their tiny bodies when forward facing, that should make the decision for you.

You don’t say how old he is, but regardless of that it’s a no from me. Does he have a mirror? My child could see everything through the windscreen via the mirror, including my speed on the dashboard!

The only reason I would turn a child earlier is if they were horrifically car sick and nothing but forward facing would fix it.

Not for turning his neck, no.

My 4yo is still rf and can see pretty much everything with his mirror. Better a sore neck from trying to look around than a broken one from a ff crash.

While I acknowledge that RF is best practice, a child in a good quality car seat in a modern car is well protected in the event of a crash, so I think it’s personal choice.

Why is he trying to look round? Can he see out of his window?
If he wants to see the windscreen could you put a mirror on the middle seat?
Is he strapped in tight enough? Difficult to imagine he can move enough to get his head round the side of his seat if his shoulders are pinned back.

Thank you for the advice, mirror purchased.