To think most parents don't know that rearfacing DCs is safer?

[mumaw]

I'm in Facebook groups that specialise in advice for mainly extended rear facing car seats. It's proven that rear facing your child is much, much safer (in fact 500% safer) than front facing.

But I never see anybody RF'ing their child and don't know anybody that does either.

Is it just a case of parents not knowing that its safer?

"No, they're not. Many children can RF up until age 12.

A 2 year old may well be too tall for an infant carrier, but not for an ERF car seat."

Omg...My 12 year old is as tall as me!!!!! Absolutely ridiculous to ask her or the majority of her classmates to rear face. Even the shorter ones wouldn't fit!!!

When she was 2, her legs were dangling off the seat she had, to rear face her, her legs would have been up the seat.

winter sorry - I made a real hash of my post. The point is that it isn't that their is evidence of only a marginal difference. Its that there is insufficient evidence altogether.

A better study may show the actual benefit is either smaller or bigger than the 500% previously (and erroneously) quoted. We don't know.

I'm surprised people who are so anxious about car safety are happy to drive their children at all to be honest. Or is it more that they enjoy being sanctimonious?

@mumaw

Interesting thread. Some questions for you please:

I watched the youtube video which was interesting. Is there one doing the same experiment with an older child with longer legs? If they are crossed, or god forbid sticking up onto the back seat / even parcel shelf, I think this might possibly alter the result quite considerably with regards to injuries.

Do you have a link to studies that prove that RF seats are conclusively so much safer than FF ones? Ones that have been done by an independent agency and not sponsored by a RF seat manufacturer? And not anecdotal evidence from a hospital friend or similar.

You said there is a solution to any problem that might be encountered preventing a parent from using a RF seat. My daughter is dyspraxic and tall so would be extremely uncomfortable sitting with her legs crossed or up the back seat for long journeys. She has also been extremely car sick since she was 10 months old. What would your solution be please?

@adaline I'm not ignoring them. There are solutions to it though..

Op, can you enlighten me? Because if anything, this thread has made me realise that I wouldn't dare buy a rearfacing seat for a baby in case they are sick and choke in their vomit. I've never been in a car accident but half the family has motion sickness (including me). So to me the chance of a baby dying would be higher with rear facing.

@TabbyMumz

Short, light 12 year olds that are under
the weight limit are capable of RF'ing comfortably......needless to say, most of them don't!

However, up until age 4 or so it's just a different matter entirely. Their bodies and bones are still very undeveloped.

ERF seats are very different from infant carriers. There is plenty of room for a child to sit with their legs crossed, which actually is more comfortable for them than sitting with legs dangling off the edge of the seat. Most ERF seats will seat a child comfortably until age 6 (possibly four for larger children).

@cranstonmanor

You can buy mirrors that you attach to the back seat. That way you can see them in rear view mirror just as you would if they were FF.

Under UK law, my 8yo requires no car seat. She 136cm tall. (She uses one btw, a HBB designed for children up to 150cm under the law in other European countries). I would be interested to see what ERF seats she could use. One of her friends, also 8, is 20cm taller than her.

My 2 yr old is still RF and will be until they are too heavy to be RF. They have never known any different and hasn’t questioned why older sibling sits FF

I read face as long as possible because God groin we had an accident and my child didn't survive I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hadn't done everything possible to keep them safe

@Aroundtheworldin80moves As a tall 8 year year I can't imagine she would fit in an ERF seat, or possibly even a FF seat then. HHB may be the only option.

“ We live in an affluent area where breastfeeding/baby wearing is very prevalent ”...

Wow. Just wow.

Also ...

I think we should produce a bumper sticker proudly saying

“I rear-face my DCs. DO YOU?”

"Short, light 12 year olds that are under
the weight limit are capable of RF'ing comfortably......needless to say, most of them don't!"

They'd have to be incredibly short, with legs no more than 1.5 to ft long max. (I've given room for legs being bent and going up the back seat there. Hence me saying there would need to be a height restriction. Also as children grow, their shape changes, I doubt a 12 year olds bum and back could fit in the restraints of the back of it, and their head would go over the top. I couldn't imagine a 12 year old climbing into a rear facing car seat. As my kids grew, their shoulders grew too, that's when i had to take them out of a car seat, and onto a booster as they couldn't move, let alone get into one.

bugsy bad news I'm afraid...your phone hates you!

some 2 year olds simply are too long for a rear facing seat.

The seat we had is suitable for up to 125 cm tall child. I have not yet seen a 125 cm tall 2-year old.

That should have read 1.5 ft to 2 ft.

@TabbyMumz they have weight restrictions, but height is harder because it depends on a persons build. Their head needs to be within the shell of the seat, so it really depends on whether they have along legs or long torso....but for that reason it is harder to put a height restriction than weight restriction.

In general though, the ERF seats should not be outgrown until age 4 at the very, very minimum.

The seat we had is suitable for up to 125 cm tall child. I have not yet seen a 125 cm tall 2-year old.

Yes, but was that rear facing or forward facing? Booster seats are suitable up to 135cms, but most kids are out of them well before the recommended 13 years. I've just measured 125 cms, that's just over 4 ft, you couldn't put a child if that height into a car seat rear facing.

What's the height and weight limit for forward facing?

My child was just over 4ft age 7. Theres no way shed have fitted into a car seat at that height, and her head would have been over the top.

DD was RF until about 2 or 3 I think. We knew it was safer and I also don't let her travel in the front of my car unless I have to.

It's not about age generally but height and weight. You can get erf seats that last until a child is 25kg or 125cm. I'm not aware of any seats that rear face beyond these limits.

I know the "where do their legs go" issue is quite prevalent, my in laws are very concerned about DS1's legs! They are honestly completely fine, he has loads of room (he's 3). If you google images of erf seats you can see how they fit.

I'm very much a believer that every parent should make their own informed decision about their DC but the legs thing really is a non issue.

I haven't got time to read the whole thread so apologies if this has already been explained.

Genuine question. So you say it's 500% safer.

Surely this is all dependant which direction you car gets crashed into?

I didn't rear face at all. Two reasons. One. Child was very long/tall for his age and was completely squashed rear facing. Two. He screamed like a banshee. Enough to put me off my driving and for me to actually BE in an accident. For those two reasons, I had to put everyone's safety first, even if it mean theoretically it was less safe.

I had my 5.5 year old in a RF seat last week and he was perfectly comfortable - legs included.

Examples of ERF.

There is no way a 2 year old would be too big for these seats.

Anyway, it is personal choice and that is fine.