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Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

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Original poster

When to stop extended rear facing?

41 replies

Zippyzulu · 18/07/2017 21:18

Ds is 4 and still rear facing in her car seat. She weighs just over 21 kilos and is really tall but still fits in the seat.
The problem we have is that she is begging not to use it, complains that it's not comfy and wants to face forwards like her friends. So far we just laugh and cajole her into it and she's ok once strapped in etc.
She starts school soon and keeps talking about being a 'big girl' who needs a seat like ds (who is 9!). She also says it is too hot as the air con doesn't reach her as she faces the wrong way
When do most ERF users change to forward facing? And any ideas on how to make her happier in the seat?!

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moggle · 19/07/2017 13:12

For DD we'll be going up to almost 5, I think, which will be about when she starts school. I'm expecting twins in January and if they last in their infant seats for 18m or more (like DD did) then they'll be ready to move up into an ERF seat when she's almost 5. I don't think we will be able to justify the cost of a third rear facing seat.
Although if we have got to that point and DD has not mentioned going FF at all, maybe we would get a cheaper Joie ERF seat for one of the twins instead. We need to buy a bigger car so hopefully the leg room issue won't be a big deal for us.

Strokkur · 19/07/2017 13:18

The 'two way' in the name is a reference to the fact that you can use it forward facing, I am pretty sure our manual demonstrates it both ways. Because ours has the old style grey buckle we can use the harness rf or ff up to 25kg, but if it's a new style one then you can only harness ff up to 18kg as I understand it.
I was also definitely told that you can use it as a HBB but I don't remember any of the details!

anotherdayanothernc · 19/07/2017 13:36

Ds is almost 4 and still rear facing and it doesn't bother him.

His seat rear faces until 23kg and he's still only 13 so he'll be in it a while yet!

Pretty much everyone we know around here rear faces until at least 4. Cars and tricks are a lot bigger than in UK and we travel much greater distances.

Original poster

Zippyzulu · 19/07/2017 13:51

One thing that is clear is that my dd is on the large side she's 98th centile for weight and height so in proportion but seems huge compared to others! I double checked her weight this morning and she was just over 21 kilos so we should have some leeway with the TWE for some time- I just have to convince her to stay in it! We have lots of driving planned over the holidays so won't be moving her until after that, if at all.

Off to brush up on my bribery skills...

OP posts:

Dentistlakes · 19/07/2017 13:58

Our rf seats only went up to 18kg (they were isofix) so once they hit that weight we turned them forwards. They were both nearly 5 so it worked out ok. Now they are 7 and 9 they are in HBB's.

Kursk · 19/07/2017 13:59

Our kids were rear facing until 18 months

Madonna9 · 19/07/2017 15:35

When DS was about 1,5 years old. We got a different car seat, so that was that. He loves it!

trilbydoll · 19/07/2017 19:13

DD will go rear facing for long journeys, she's happy to accept it's safer on long journeys. Is it an option to switch it round depending on where you're going? Or is it a bit of a faff turning it round?

BertieBotts · 19/07/2017 19:18

I'd put her in a high back booster. I'd be happy with that at 4. Shame not to get the use out of the TWE but maybe you have a younger child to put in it, or could you keep it for the comfort factor on long journeys?

BertieBotts · 19/07/2017 19:21

Stroker I don't think you can use it as a hbb. Perhaps the person who told you that got confused by the fact it covers the group 2 weight category, because group 2 seats are normally high backed boosters.

Laquila · 19/07/2017 19:26

Bertie, the ICSC told me it could be used as a HBB to 25kg. (Whether you'd want to is another matter, I guess.)

AliceMum09 · 19/07/2017 19:44

You can use the Two Way Elite as a high backed booster forward facing from 15kgs (although I don't know why you would ever want to!). It is supplied with a red metal shoulder adjuster on a strap, not got time to screenshot my manual just now, sorry!

Original poster

Zippyzulu · 19/07/2017 22:34

Dd is our third and there won't be any more so we haven't really had a lot of use out of the seat.
Coincidentally I had the car valeted today and they removed both car seats and as dd wasn't with me I tried installing it forward facing- it was really easy and didn't move at all. According to the advice kn the website it is safe to use The harness forward facing as long as it was bought prior to a date earlier this year, which we did.
Still not convinced I will turn the seat round permanently but it seemed a lot more secure than the hbb I also have in the car for my 9 yo. I'll try and persuade her to stay rear facing for as long as possible anyway

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 20/07/2017 07:01

Ah okay sorry!

Original poster

Zippyzulu · 20/07/2017 11:35

No need to be sorry, it's a decision I am very happy about . Theee is plenty!

OP posts:

BertieBotts · 20/07/2017 23:12

Oh no I wasn't replying to that point, I meant sorry that I'd given incorrect info about the TWE being a HBB. :)

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