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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

there is no such thing as a car seat from 9 months!!

62 replies

SqutterNutBaush · 15/05/2014 09:53

Trivial I know but a lot of my friends have babies and I am so sick of hearing about which car seat to get when they are 9 months!

I would love to tell them that car seats by age went out years ago and now they go by weight, many of the babies are small (smallest is 7.5kg, biggest is just under 9kg) and none are big so plenty of space in infant carriers. I just don't get the rush on a non-existant milestone but is there anyway to point out that group 0+ seats are fine until 13kg or the head goes above the shell without being preachy?

It's a trivial thing I know but it really grates on me when I see/hear people discussing it.

OP posts:

Original poster

SqutterNutBaush · 15/05/2014 13:15

Miaow at which point did I say I was offended?

I also said I wasn't going to bang on about it but would like a way of gently pointing it out without going on about it or being preachy.

I also didn't say that anyone has to use an infant carrier group 0+/1 is better in most cases but the group I'm referencing all have infant carriers.

I think you may find its you who's looking for something to be offended about.

OP posts:

Original poster

SqutterNutBaush · 15/05/2014 13:15

Miaow at which point did I say I was offended?

I also said I wasn't going to bang on about it but would like a way of gently pointing it out without going on about it or being preachy.

I also didn't say that anyone has to use an infant carrier group 0+/1 is better in most cases but the group I'm referencing all have infant carriers.

I think you may find its you who's looking for something to be offended about.

OP posts:

TheNightIsDark · 15/05/2014 13:25

DS is 8 months and in forward facing. He's too long for the infant carrier and quite a chunk. Although his ff seat can rf I just need to read the instructions and figure it out.

TheScience · 15/05/2014 13:30

Do you not worry about him in a crash TheNight?

natwebb79 · 15/05/2014 13:35

I have a giant 2.5 year old who is in a very good forward facing seat but am interested in ERF for DS2. Nobody ever seems to be able to recommend me an ERF seat which a.) doesn't involve taking out a second mortgage to buy and b.) fits comfortably in the back of a Fiat Punto without the front passenger having to become a contortionist. I'd be genuinely grateful for any advice!

FatalCabbage · 15/05/2014 13:45

I had two big babies who were too big for the backbreaker infant carrier style at four months, at which point we moved to Britax First Class and Safety First Primeofix respectively, rf. Oh the trouble we had sourcing them though.

YABU because the nine months thing does matter - under no circumstances should a baby forward face before nine months - as their necks simply aren't strong enough before that.

But YANBU because I think 0-9kg carseats shouldn't be legal in the UK, only 0-13kg. Because: 9kg is 50th centile at 9mo, which means at least half of babies will outgrow a standard infant carrier and need another rf seat. By contrast, a 13kg rf seat will last even a 99.6th centile baby until after his first birthday.

Original poster

SqutterNutBaush · 15/05/2014 13:45

Natwebb are you on Facebook?

There's a page on there "rear facing for toddlers", the lady that runs it sells the seats and has lots of great advice and action shots of various seats and cars.

OP posts:

Original poster

SqutterNutBaush · 15/05/2014 13:47

My daughter is just below 50th centile and was just over 8.5kg at 13 months.

OP posts:

Original poster

SqutterNutBaush · 15/05/2014 13:47

My daughter is just below 50th centile and was just over 8.5kg at 13 months.

OP posts:

Cheby · 15/05/2014 13:47

We're going with ERF for 13mo DD, who is 99.6th centile for height but only 50th for weight so still comfortably in the first car seat. Her legs are bent but that's fine - I think people don't realise it's ok for them to bend their knees up.

MIL and my DMum are both nagging constantly about when we will get her a 'proper seat', meaning forward facing. Same as previous posters they seem to see it as a developmental milestone, whereas I'm more concerned that she doesn't break her neck in a crash!

WeeClype · 15/05/2014 13:56

What is 13kg in LB's please?

I'm going on holiday with MIL shortly and I know she'll bang on about turning my 6 month old so she can see better (she's in a car seat that can face both ways) so I'm going to tell her to google some facts on car seats!

This was the same MIL that went moaning to DH as I told her my DC's weren't going in a car seat from the car boot sale.

TheScience · 15/05/2014 13:59

Google says 13kg is about 28lbs.

Mutley77 · 15/05/2014 14:01

Drives me mad. Most people here in Australia ff from 6 months!! And most seats here are 0 to 4 front and rear facing so it is even easier to leave them rear facing!!

I have heard so many comments such as. "mine were ff from 6 months and fine..." and my immediate thought is "yeah but were you in a car accident?" my baby would have been fine with just a seat belt until now as we have never been in an accident so our carseat has never been tested. Doesn't mean it hasn't been 100 per cent necessary though.

I just smile sweetly and say I have a bee in my bonnet as people in UK are cautious about it so I am being overly careful....!

Waltonswatcher1 · 15/05/2014 14:07

To anyone thinking about buying any car seat - forget all the stores and just drive to an In Car Safety Centre . The one in Milton Keynes is worth the journey .
You won't find pushy sales assistants trying to sell - you will find knowledgable staff with a passion for the job .
If you want rear facing you have to per book a session , these take time to properly fit .
I can't recommend them highly enough .

As for the nine month thing , my neighbour was desperate to get their Ds into a f facing . Why ? Cos they were planning the summer hols and the long journey , the DVD player was more important that safety it seems ...

TheNightIsDark · 15/05/2014 14:21

No not really. He's strapped in securely, his head doesn't loll and when I had to do an emergency stop the other day (dickhead in front of me) he didn't lurch forwards or anything. His seat scores highly on which reviews and is fitted correctly. He also has horrendous ezcema that causes him to claw at himself and scream. Tbh ff is a lot easier as I can check the mirror and know why he's screaming. Not an excuse I know but not everyone has the means to buy £££ erf seats.
DS1 was smaller and in the carrier until he was about 15 months (but the size of a 9 month old) and DD went ff around the same time as DS2.

The bigger ones have high back boosters at 7,5 and nearly 4 (she's very tall though and would have to fold in half to fit in a 9month-4years type seat!

MagnaCharge · 15/05/2014 14:26

I hated those infant carriers, the one I had I just left in the car. I have no idea how people who have just had a baby can carry them They are so heavy.

So with DS who is now 8 as well as that his head used flop forward as it seemed too steep an angle. I bought a FF at 9 months and felt a lot safer as I could see he was comfortable and could breathe.

At some point between having him and DD (now 5) I learned it was not the safest thing to do and still now feel guilty I put him at risk.

DD had a group 0/1 car seat rather than an infant carrier and stayed rear facing until 21 months.

If I can educate people politely I do and will continue to do so. If someone had told me I would have done better by my son.

HeyBungalowBill · 15/05/2014 14:54

Hello, I have read this thread and have found it very useful.
My only problem is I'm struggling to find a next stage rear facing seat.
Can anybody recommend me one?
DS is currently in his baby carrier seat and hopefully won't grow out of it soon. He's tall for his age but has a few inches left above his head in the seat.

Any suggestions would be helpful! Every time I google for rear facing I click on the seat and it's actually forward facing

WeeClype · 15/05/2014 15:06

HeyB my car seat is for 0-4years and it can face forward or rear, so maybe that's the ones you are looking at are like that too but are only showing you the ff way.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 15/05/2014 15:16

But YANBU because I think 0-9kg carseats shouldn't be legal in the UK, only 0-13kg

I could be wrong but its my understanding that group 0 car seats can no longer legally be manufactured for sale in the uk

thenight you use a mirror on the back of the seat so you can see the child with your mirror and you can get erf for approx £200.

Not one manufacturer of car seats in the uk advocates ff a 8 month old baby they say don't.

TheScience · 15/05/2014 15:22

HeyBungalow - Joie do a couple that can rear face or forward face, called Tilt and Stages. Both are around the £100 mark I think.

Original poster

SqutterNutBaush · 15/05/2014 15:41

Bugger just wrote a big post and its vanished!

The just of it was...

Bungalow there are quite a few around depending on your budget and of course what fits your car.

We've only looked into the cheaper seats as it will barely get used.

Joie Tilt. £99.99. Birth - 18kg. Does come up small though so not good for a tall child.
Joie Steadi. £129.99. Birth -18kg.
Joie Stages. £149.99. Birth -18kg rear facing then high back booster to 25kg.

Joie Anchorfix and Hauck Varioguard retail at under £200 and use Isofix, both rear face to 18kg.

I don't know much about the higher end but I have heard that the Besafe Izzi, Britax two way elite and Cybex Sirona are great seats.

I'm sure there are more so check out the rear facing for toddlers page on Facebook :)

OP posts:

slithytove · 15/05/2014 17:24

DS is 14 months and still in his cabriofix as he is still within the weight and height limits.

Just tell them, there is no harm! RF is safer so move to the next one when you have to. Easy peasy.

slithytove · 15/05/2014 17:25

And any decent salesperson would tell them too, when we bought DS's next stage seat, (still in its box) the saleswoman was very clear that he could be in his cabriofix till his ears brushed the top and he was over 13kg

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 15/05/2014 17:38

I have had ds forward facing from about a year old in a Kiddy Guardian Pro.

The shape of my car (mini with no rear doors) meant that rearward facing and a five point harness was incredibly awkward to get him in and out, so I tried to find the absolute safest forward facing seat I could.

I love the Kiddy seat, it's so easy to use and luckily we've never had any problems with ds undoing seatbelts (otherwise I may have a different opinion about the seat )

They're hard to find but well worth it if rearward facing isn't working:

www.kiddy.de/en/car-seats/9months-12years/kiddy-guardian-pro-2.html

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 15/05/2014 17:47

DD is a very tall 2.5yo in a Britax Two Way Elite and will rear face til she no longer fits in the seat. I love ERFing and so glad I heard about it on here.

I also happily saw all car seat adverts in the latest Bounty and Emmas Diary magazines were advertising ERFing.

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