Talk to me about ERF and seats

[CherryLips1980]

Please!

DD is 11.5mo and is still rear facing, but, um, in the same car seat she came home in - Stokke Izi Sleep - and she's getting somewhat cramped now. She's tall and slim - she's just under 9kg so still well within the weight limit of the seat.

A problem is that the Izi Sleep is so massive, if anyone is (I am) sat in front of her, their (my) knees are rammed into the dashboard which is uncomfortable for anything more than about 20 minutes so don't really want a bigger seat, which I assume I need as she is long. I don't know! I am utterly clueless when it comes to seats :(

Hi,

Now that your DD is getting older she can have a slightly more 'upright' car seat, so a bigger rear facing seat might take up less space than the Izi Sleep. It will have a longer back, but won't be so reclined.

There is a useful table here www.securatot.co.uk/rear-facing-vehicle-compatibility that lists the space required for loads of different seats. They might not all necessarily fit in your car, it's best to go places and try them out.

I have a Britax Multi Tech II that is on that list. I have it in a Peugeot 5008, which doesn't have a massive amount of legroom to say that it's a big family car, but there is plenty of room left in the front seat for passengers legs. I can't put the Multi Tech behind the driver though, I do all the driving (DH hates driving!) and have quite long legs so I have the seat quite far back. My chest would be much too close to the steering wheel if I had to fit the ERF seat behind me.

It doesn't matter that your DD is still in the same seat she came home from hospital in, as long as her head has not yet gone past the top of the seat it's perfectly fine. I think that because Group 1 seats are marketed as being suitable from 9 months it makes people think you should have moved your baby out of their infant carrier at that age. My DD2 is 2 1/2 and only weighs 10.4kgs (about 24lbs). Because she is on the 9th centile for height too she can still (just) fit in my Britax infant carrier, so I use that if we ever need to get a taxi or go in someone else's car. I'm sure people are thinking "whatever is that child doing in a baby seat?"! But she's within the weight and height limits for it, so there is no problem. I'd rather use that than a forward facing seat!

Brilliant, thank you AliceMum!