Forwards or backwards in car seat?????

[DebitheScot]

My ds 8 months old next week. He was weighed last week and was 21lb 12oz (9.9kg), he can sit up for a long time on his own (at least half an hour)
We are driving to Scotland from SE England for Christmas and don't know what way round to put him in his new car seat. Its one that goes from birth to 4 years so we could put it in forwards or backwards.
He doesn't really like being backwards on long journeys (although he's never been forwards so don't know what he'd be like then I guess) but it is obviously a bit safer to be backwards.

So I thought I'd have a vote, would you put a baby of this age, size and strength facing forwards or backwards for a long journey???????

I kept my DS in a rear facing car seat until he was nearly one. I thought the current recommendatipn was at least 9 months? Anyway I guess what I'm saying is my vote is for backward facing.

the recommendations aren't very clear. They are usually worded like this (this is quote from mothercare catalogue) "forward facing once your child can sit unaided, from approx 9-18kg (approx 9mths to 4yrs)"
Not clear whether the weight or the age is more important.

But then somewhere else in catalogue is does say "your baby should be positioned rearward-facing for as long as possible" and "use a rearward facing seat until your baby reaches the max allowed weight and can sit up unaided"

Makes me wonder why there is an overlap (rear birth-13kg, forward 9-18kg).

I think I'm leaning towards rearwards facing. Either me or dh will just have to sit in back with him if he gets bored