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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think a 15 week old baby shouldn't be in a forward facing carseat?

28 replies

SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/11/2011 09:41

We saw BIL and SIL over the weekend with their 15 week old DS, and 2 DDs, the DS is in a forward facing seat already, as he has outgrown his old one Hmm yes he's big (bigger than our 5mo DD), but not as big as a 1yr old which is what age his old one went upto!

Isn't there a law or something about this kind of thing?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 21/11/2011 09:43

I can see no circumstance when a baby so young would be big enough to need forward facing and that's without even considering the safety implications of having nowhere near the muscle strength at that age.

My nephew is very big for his age and is still managing fine in his rear facing seat at 8 months.

Principality · 21/11/2011 09:44

If they have a crah he could very easily be internally decapitated. The guidelines are there for a reason. Have a look at www.rearfacing.co.uk

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 21/11/2011 09:45

Yanbu
It is against the law. See here and more specifically here

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 21/11/2011 09:50

The risk of internal decaptiation etc aside. Even for short journeys, it is unlikely his back would be strong enough to sit in that position. Ffs I don't get why people do this - is it becausr they think their dc is 'advanced'?
My ds is one next week and 10kg. He was fine in his group 'o' car seat until a few weeks ago, but outgrew it in length and weight,
we now have one that we were given that rear faces up to 13kg, but it doesn't fit in our car rear facing so atm he is sitting forwrd. We will be getting another rear facing that fits before we go on any journey involving major roads.

FetchezLaVache · 21/11/2011 09:54

Good god, YANBU! DS is 'normous (90somethingth centile height and weight) and we kept him in his rear-facing seat until he was about a year old. Are they Competitive Big Baby types?

Original poster
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/11/2011 10:01

I thought there were probably laws about it.

He was weaned at 10 weeks too, so were his sisters. No reason for it whatsoever. I just think SIL likes to rush them along.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/11/2011 10:04

They're very much 'anything you can do we can do better' types. Their CM bought a puppy, so they did. They got a cocker spaniel, and left him crated 80% of the time because he was too energetic for them and he might knock the 3yo over.

OP posts:
Original poster
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/11/2011 10:05

This included 8hrs solid while they were at work.

OP posts:
AKMD · 21/11/2011 10:05

They are ignorant and YANBU. I would have to say something.

worldgonecrazy · 21/11/2011 10:09

Surely a bigger baby is even more at risk because their heads will be larger and therefore the stress on their neck in an accident will be even greater. Some people obviously allow their competitive-parent streak to outweigh their sensible side. And yes, it is illegal.

Original poster
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/11/2011 10:18

I think there could possibly be a laziness factor too, they needed a bigger car so went a bought a 3 door car. So instead of them having to lug his seat in and out and faff about strapping it in they can just put him straight in the seat and strap him in.

OP posts:
3rdOneComingUp · 21/11/2011 10:19

DS is 13 months, 79cms and 11 kgs. We keep meaning to get around to turning him around and putting him into the forward facing seat. Keep forgetting and he's happy enough!

pigletmania · 21/11/2011 10:39

Yanbu at all, a baby of that age should be in a rear facing car seat, end if. I would have no qualms in telling your BIL

WhereMyMilk · 21/11/2011 10:39

My 3yr old is still in a rear facing seat (bigger size obs) purely due to internal decapitation risk-once I'd read about it I couldn't in all conscience put him in the forward facing one we'd had with other DC's. His life is worth more than the impracticalities IMO

Mishy1234 · 21/11/2011 11:19

YANBU. They really are putting him at significant risk and I'm afraid I would have to say something.

I'm very pro rear facing for as long as possible. DS1 (4 in a few months) is still rear facing and will remain so until we absolutely can't get away with keeping his brother in the infant seat any longer.

stuffthenonsense · 21/11/2011 11:23

Im afraid i would completely interfere here and tell them how stupid they are....surely that type of idiocy should be reported to someone...ss/hv/police? No idea who, but a childs life is in real danger here.

Everlong · 21/11/2011 11:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Minus273 · 21/11/2011 11:52

YANBU. Why are some people obsessed with getting DC weaned and turning the car seat round. Can anyone explain this, I've been trying to work it out for some time?

dreamfeeder · 21/11/2011 11:58

Oh for heaven's sake, the idiocy!!! They'll regret it if by any stroke of fate the have a crash and that baby dies. What absolute idiots...... I'd have to say something- it's a real safety issue.

cookingfat · 21/11/2011 12:00

Wtf? 9mo dd on 91st centile v happy in rear-facing seat. Expect it to last another couple of months.

Original poster
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/11/2011 12:24

everlong Re the dog, this was last year and there's a happy ending. They went to disneyland on boxing day next year and left him with MIL who promptly refused to give him back. He now has the run of half an acre of garden :)

I just know that if I mentioned it they won't take any notice at all, I know what they're like, they think they're above the law :(

OP posts:
Original poster
SpaghettiTwirlerAndProud · 21/11/2011 12:25

Next year? Ffs. I meant last year obviously Hmm

OP posts:
NinkyNonker · 21/11/2011 12:34

Yanbu. Dd is 16 months and still in her rear facing first seat...and she isn't a small baby. We will prob keep her rear facing when we get her next seat in the next month or so.

Everlong · 21/11/2011 12:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

worldgonecrazy · 21/11/2011 13:36

spaghetti it's not about being above the law, if they react like that when you tell them ask them if their baby and his neck are also above the laws of physics? I can't believe any parent would be stupid enough to put their child at risk of internal decapitation (yes it's a horrible term but it makes parents listen and that's what's important).