How old is your rear-facing child?

[brachy]

I thought this might be interesting for those considering rear-facing. I think it will show that kids can sit happily rear facing until X age. On a previous thread, some posters seemed to think you had to switch your car seat so hopefully this can show people that rear facing can be done for many years.

Best answer my own questions!

My DS is 2yrs 6ms and rear facing in his Two Way Elite.

DD rear-faced until she was 2 in a Britax First Class Si, I wasn't as well informed about the benefits of rear facing back then. She is still harnessed in a Two Way Elite (forward facing) plus has a Sunshine Moneteret high backed booster as a back up. She was 7 last month.

Mine were rear facing until they were too big for the seats. Under a year.

Only 22 months, so not the best early example

Plan to keep her that way until she outgrows the seat, which at this rate could be 5 or 6

DD1 is 3.8 in her Izi Combi X3 Isofix and still had plenty of space - She prefers it to the FF seat in DH's car (where a RF just won't fit) She says it isn't as squished and her legs are happier [buhmm] She is quite skinny and still only weighs 15kg so 3 kg is about 18months according to the HV, unless she gets hugely tall and outgrows the seat height wise.

DD2 is 22mo and in the same seat as DD1 she has years to go before she needs another seat as she is still only tiny.

26 months and still loads of room. He was weighed today and is 13 kg on the nose. People have so little idea of the reality of the weight limits. He is a strapping lad to and could still have been in his infant carrier. Makes me shudder to think of all the tiny babies being moved not of there little seats.

2.6yrs, Britax Two way elite here too!

Dd1 rear faced until her third birthday (she was 18kg then so too heavy for her besafe izi, although still very happy and comfy in it).

Dd2 is still rear facing at 23 months. She's small for her age so will definitely have at least another couple of years in that seat.

Both mine rearfaced until 4 years (Britax 2 way elite). One was only just four but is extremely tall for her age. The other was a few months older but not quite as tall. They both slept better and more comfortably on long journeys in the rear-facer.

My DD is 5mo and will be going into a britax two way elite rearfacing when her head is at top of maxi cosi.

And no she won't be bored, yes her legs are fine crossed, no her view isn't restricted and yes it's safe...... Five times safer infact

My DD is in a Britax 2-way elite, very happily rf and she's a tall 2.3yrs now. She has lovely sleeps in it. I got her a steering wheel toy so we both have a wheel and she also has a small basket of toys next to her which is strapped in and has two cup holders on the front of it, came from Jo Jo mamanbebe I think . Would def recommend the seat to anyone.

Heh lagoon, yes quite! All the family were like when I said she'd be staying rf. as I always say, when it's FIVE times safer, why wouldn't you keep your dc rf?!

DD is 3.5, RF in Besafe izi X2 (DH car), Besafe izi X3 (my car)

I wonder if there was a similar debate when modern car seats were introduced? Now most people are horrified if a child isn't in a proper seat so I predict a future where extended rear facing will be the norm. To answer my friend's arguments against it...
No, your child is no more likely to be car sick (studies have proved this).
Yes they may put their grubby shoes on the seat so buy a seat cover.
Yes they are comfortable, even if your child has very long legs.
No you don't have to sit in the back next to your child. He will be perfectly happy with you in the front.
Yes it is harder to reach your child from the front seat but that's more about your convenience than your child's safety.

To answer the question, DD is 15 months and showing no signs of growing out of her rear facing Maxi Cosi. When she does she'll be rear facing in a Britax Maxway until she hits 25kg, although at the rate she's growing she might be a teen before then

2yrs6mo in a Britax 2 way elite. Don't know how heavy he is but he's pretty average build. He seems happy rear facing, even after a taste of forward facing in a Kiddy seat that he could escape from.

3.4 yo and happy in rf besafe Izi.

Mine is nearly 27 months and rear-facing. Our seat is Brio, imported just before they stopped importing them. It is supposed to fit up to age 4. He is just 13kg, though tall for his age, and is happy in the rear-facing seat (has never known anything different). The only trouble we have is that it pushes the front passenger seat so far forward that no one can really sit there, and I sit in the back beside him when my DP is driving. Not a problem, and I like chatting to him, but I do wonder what we will do if we have another child.... anyone else have this problem?

DC1 and DC2 were both 3 years 10 months when they switched to FF (although DC1 had been FF from 12 months to 2.5 years because I wasn't well-informed then)

DC3 is 2 years 5 months and still v happily RF.

DC1 rather blows the myth that once they've been FF they'll hate RF out of the water too . Never made so much as a murmer, in fact adored his big RF seat .

We've had a BeSafe Izi Kid (imported), a Britax RF seat which I've forgotten the name of and DC3 is in a Klippan Kiss, which is a truely excellent seat.

All of them have used a 2-way elite in their grandparents car.

Dd has just been switched to forward facing at 3.5. Loved it. It felt so so safe compared to forward facing as she has always been small.

Slight hijack, what age/weight can you use two way Elite from? I'm sure 7mo DS isn't safe in his current rear facing Maxi Cosi (or that we're strapping him in wrong) so want to invest now in a seat that will last a few years. Loads of you have mentioned the Elite, is that the best?

DD3 is 2.6y in a Britax Hi-Way II and will stay in it (or be bumped to DD2's TWE when DC4 needs the Hi-Way) until she hits 4y or older.

None of mine has gone past 4y unfortunately though all of them are stillvlight enough to fit in the TWE/Hi-Way (DD1 is 6y, 120cm & 20.6kg [weighed her today!], DD2 is 4.4y, 110cm & 18.2kg and DD3 is 87.5cm & 12.8kg).

DD2 was turned because she had gastritis due to arthritis meds and had unpredictable vomiting (not connected to the car though) so needed to see her in case she choked/aspirated vomit - she was about 3.8y though and DD1 was 4.2y and too cramped with 3 across and her super looooong legs so needed a bit extra room as she couldn't even cross her legs!

Now we have a bigger car DD3/DC4 can rf until 25kg (though DD3 would prob. be about 10y by then!) .

Truth-9kg I think

Dd3 still fits in her britax baby seat but only just . Alternative seat TWE. She's 18m.

DS is 2.5, happily and comfortably rear facing in Besafe izi combi (my car), and grace duo logic in DH car. Found recently due to Besafe being higher he gets much better view of road, fields, bridges etc which he enjoys. We hope to keep him rear facing for as long as we can. Otherwise we have no complaints regarding either seat, both have adapted to his growth so far really well. Still plenty room left for future growth.

We find DVD player helps keep him entertained on long journeys.

4.7 years in his two way elite. He's 109cm so prob just above average. He's v comfy. In fact last year he went FF in a hire car and hated it as it was uncomfortable. However he has now started wanting to turn round and see if our car is "in the lead" so I might swap him round now.

Also 2yr 4 months in a britax multi tech and also perfectly happy.