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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that putting a small 7mo in a forward facing car seat is just bloody stupid.

46 replies

bubbleymummy · 14/03/2011 07:41

Why are people in such a rush to turn their children forward facing? Even the car seat manufacturers say to keep them rearward as long as possible. Is it a difficult thing to understand?

OP posts:
Bearcrumble · 14/03/2011 07:57

Of course YANBU.

We did our research and bought a scandinavian one that's rear facing until 4 years.

If it's someone you know and care about you should show them this: www.rearfacing.co.uk/

SecretNutellaFix · 14/03/2011 08:05

I fight it every single day. It's not the people who go to shops that can gove decent advice that do it, normally, but those who already have children or will buy from argos.

Bunnyleroux · 14/03/2011 08:08

Yanbu. We have a rear facing BeSafe one from Norway for our 1 yo. He will stay in it until he is about four hopefully. Most of my friends have bought forward facing ones so their lo's can see out of the window Hmm

fiveisanawfullybignumber · 14/03/2011 08:22

YANBU
There have been cases of babies turned too early in accidents who's spines and necks have not withstood the force of the accident.Sad
When will people learn?Sad

DaisyDaresYOU · 14/03/2011 08:24

My dds in forward facing she's 2and half.I think alot better when they can see thier parents.Though I think 7months is to young

DesperateHousewife20 · 14/03/2011 08:31

So when should they go in a forward facing one? My ds is 8 months, he is still in rear facing but we have the forward facing ready for when hes outgrown it.

I have no problems with putting him a forward facing, I know someone who put their baby in a FF seat at 6 months.
I think that WAS too early but Im going to put ds in a FF seat when he has outgrown his RF seat and I dont really care what other people think.

DaisyDaresYOU · 14/03/2011 08:33

I think 9months.I could be wrong though

ScroobiousPip · 14/03/2011 08:34

YANBU OP. Sadly, there are instances of horrific deaths out there (internally severed spines) in toddlers who would likely have survived if they had been forward facing. I really don't understand why any parent would take this particular risk. I mean, for what, a view? Why not wait until 2 or 3 at least when their necks are a little stronger?

LIZS · 14/03/2011 08:36

9kg plus and able to support his own weight well ie sit unsupported. Age is just a very rough indicator, weight is more improtant

Indith · 14/03/2011 08:37

9 months desperate and only if they weigh more than 20lb. Rear facing is far safer, you should only move them from their rear facing seat when their head is about to start poking over the top of the seat. For mine this was about a year old.

ScroobiousPip · 14/03/2011 08:37

DaisyDaresYOU - no, at 9mo, their necks are very weak, particularly given the size of their heads. When subjected to the force of an accident, the spinal cord severs internally. It's a preventable death because if they are rear facing they will be protected from impact by the back of the car seat.

Sorry to be brutal but really there's no good reason for a child to be forward facing until they are much older - ideally 3 or 4.

DaisyDaresYOU · 14/03/2011 08:40

Sorry.I'm just going by what it said on my carseat.It said 9months to 4years but I think it gave weights too

DaisyDaresYOU · 14/03/2011 08:42

Well ive never seen rearward facing carseats tbh

Mobly · 14/03/2011 08:42

It's ignorance. The information about forward facing and rear facing car seats just isn't widely publicised in the UK.

You can't even buy the RF car seats for older children in Mothercare or Halfords- it's a joke.

I have the BeSafe rear facing- but I researched before buying. If I hadn't have researched myself on the net I would have gone for forward facing on the advice on Mothercare, for example.

Desperatehopusewife please read the link provided by one of the first posters on this thread, then come back and let us know if you've changed your mind.

ScroobiousPip · 14/03/2011 08:43

I know, that's the really sad thing, Daisy, that carseat manufacturers are allowed to sell FF car seats for such little babies. Parents end up thinking they are safe when they are not. There are RF car seats available which will seat a child until age 4 - they should be top sellers but sadly they are not because so few parents seem to be aware of the risk.

DaisyDaresYOU · 14/03/2011 08:44

Where would their feet go though.The time when I had to have dd forward facing is when her feet and legs were getting squashed which was 15months

Indith · 14/03/2011 08:45

I agree scroobi that 3 or 4 would be better for forward facing and I really wish that we had the same availability of carseats here as they do elsewhere. Dc1 onl outgrew the infant carrier at a year and went into forward facing, although I did not know as much about in issue as I do now. Dc2 outgrew the infant carrier earlier and I wan't happy with her being forward facing but since dc1 was still in the other seat I had to buy a new one anyway and there was a Britax seat which she could stay rear facing in for a bit longer which thankfully fitted out car. If it hadn't fitted the car though I wouldn't have been able to afford one of the Scandinavian ones nor oculd I replace the car!

Sonnet · 14/03/2011 08:46

I put my dd in a forward facing car seat at 8months - why? because it was 1996 and the only rear facing ones available were for tiny babies Hmm

so YABU for infering I am bloody stupid Grin

Indith · 14/03/2011 08:46

Daisy that is why I said when their head sticks out and not when they are too tall as people do worry about legs but broken legs can be fixed, broken spines are rather more difficult. YOu just sit them cross legged anyway, they don't mind.

ScroobiousPip · 14/03/2011 08:47

If it's a properly designed RF car seat, there's room, trust me. At worst, they cross their legs. Better that than dead IMO.

Seriously, if there was one thing I'd love MN to campaign on it would be this. The answers on this thread (and no criticism of those who have posted) show the lack of awareness of the risks of FF, and, worse, that so many parents trust the car seat manufacturers.

DesperateHousewife20 · 14/03/2011 08:48

I have, Ive read alot on car seats when making my decision to buy the next stage, the majority of people imo buys FF for the 9 month- 4 year stage.
Well everyone I know in RL have.

DaisyDaresYOU · 14/03/2011 08:49

But thing is though if you don't have the internet how would you know Shock I never had the internet when my kids were little.Everyone I know has forward facing.Shops sell forward facing.Parents can't really be blamed though but the manufacturers

Indith · 14/03/2011 08:51

Of course they do desperate, because that is what is available. I think that the main cristicisms on this thread are not levelled at the parents but at the manufacterers and retailers. Please don't take personal offence, just do your best to keep your baby rear facing for as long as he will fit in the seats you have available to you.

DesperateHousewife20 · 14/03/2011 08:51

So if RF is safer, WHY do the manufactureres sell FF? It doesnt save them money does it?

lindsell · 14/03/2011 08:52

Yanbu op however if I hadn't read about rearfacing seats for up to 4yr olds on here I wouldn't have known about them or the risks of putting them FF.

I have the britax two way elite for my ds (23mths) and he's perfectly happy rearfacing - and enjoys the view out the back particularly when he spots trains going over railway bridges we've just gone under! More importantly I know that he's as safe as he can be and if there's an accident he stands a better chance of avoiding horrific injuries than of he was forward facing - surely that is what is most important for any parent?

Daisy - the RF seats designed for up to 4yrs have more room for legs, there are different ways to install mine depending on age/how much leg room is needed. Have a look on the site linked too above which has pictures iirc.