8 month old in FF car seat?

[jinglet]

Really need some advice here please. I have an 8 month old who weighs 10.5kgs and is 75cm tall. He's always been in a maxi-cosi cabriofix seat. He very suddenly decided he hates sitting in the seat and cries and cries until he's taken out- this makes the thought of going anywhere in the car a daunting prospect. I've been looking at front-facing car seats and have come across the MC Pearl. This is suitable from 9kgs onwards. Would it be okay for baby to go into that? We tried it out (my Neice also has one) and that was the first time he didn't cry during a journey. I'm desperate to find something that works.

Contact the in car safety centre and speak to them,

I personally wouldn't as rear facing is safer, and i would rather have a crying baby than am injured one

Have you tried distraction like toys hanging off the headrest/mirrors, -loud music to drown out the sound-

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think he could still be rear facing in the pearl.

There are two regulations running alongside each other I believe, there’s the new regs that say they should be rear facing until 15 months old and the old regs. I think it depends on whether it’s a height based seat or a weight based seat. If it’s I-size it’s ff until 15 months, but under the old weight based seats it’s 0-10kg ff.
Personally I opted to rear face a little longer and when we’d outgrown the maxi cosi we got an Isize 0-3 group seat and rear faced until she was nearly 2 because the seat allowed it. We did this because in the event of an accident it’s the safest possible position for the child. They don’t get bolted forward like they would forward facing which can seriously do damage to a young infants neck.
However you aren’t doing anything illegal by ff now if your baby is over 10kg.
Have you tried toy distractions, or a mirror or something? X

I believe its against the law to forward face a baby before 15m old (for good reason). If you need convincing then Google internal decapitation. I know it's horrible listening to them cry (I have a car journey hater too), it's better than the possible alternative. When mine was little I tried to time journeys with naps to lessen the pain!

Please do not ff your 8 month old baby. Current isize regulations make it illegal to ff before 15 months as it is so dangerous for young babies. He may need a bigger seat but please look into a rear facing for your boy, perhaps a joie stages which rf to 18kg or an axkid minikid which rf to 25kg.

If you Google extended rear facing it will give you some info on the benefits of rf vs ff and at least you will be informed making whatever decision you make then.

Sorry I meant it’s rear facing until 15months with I size! Whoops

Please please please don't forward face. The phrase "internal decapitation" should be enough to make everyone keep their kids sitting backwards. Join the Facebook group Car Seat Advice UK. It's run by expert fitters and retailers to try and educate people that the laws on car seat safety just don't come anywhere near up to scratch.

If you get the two way pearl you could start him off rear facing and then turn him round.

My daughter weighs the same as your son, but she is 2 - I turned her forward facing at 18 months

I don’t think it is illegal actually. Manufacturers sell both weight based and I-size. I-size are now recommended as they allow rear facing until 15 months but it is not against the law to use the weight based seats which ff from 10kg.
Rear facing for as long as possible is the safest thing to do though for sure as others have said.

Some useful info on here. It depends on the seat.

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

@PavlovaFaith I came on to say that.

DO NOT FF.

He very suddenly decided he hates sitting in the seat and cries and cries until he's taken out

This isn't a good enough reason to compromise safety.

For those of you who have asked- so far, in the car, I have some books, dangling/light-up and teething-type toys. I also sit with him in the back (since he was born) and am known to sing (really badly) when he starts crying. I feel like I've tried everything but thanks for the collective advice to keep him rear facing.

This isn't a good enough reason to compromise safety.

I agree 100000% but was confused with the weight/height allowance to go FF so thought I'd ask first.

I haven't got the heart to google internal decapitation but the very mention of it has made me think he can stay rear facing and cry for as long as he need and be safe than the alternative.

As a cm. I can tell you many of them go through a period of hating it . However it passes with all of them.

I kept all children rear facing until at least 15 months.

We have a tablet in a holder with TV shows downloaded onto it - makes car journeys so easy!

If your child is 10.5kg now, you really need to get a 25kg seat rear facing seat. They're more upright than infant carriers. Try the Axkid Minikid or the Britax Two Way Elite.

Please do not forward face an 8mo old.

I would suggest checking the straps are in the correct position. DS suddenly started screaming every time we put him in his seat. We checked the positioning and realised that the height needed raising; we’ve not had a scream since.

The axkid is much more upright which might help.

There's also a mirror which lights up and plays songs (esp for the car) that i find useful.

Often tbh i just turn the radio up and block DC out a bit. I do motorway driving (so will stop for breaks!) But knowing they are safe and just a bit upset kind if helps me mentally soldier on!

I would definitely move on from an infant carrier now, but remain rear facing. The next stage seat will be more upright and children can see perfectly well out of the windows when rear facing. If you have a mirror they can also see out of the front and see you.
If you're interested in maxi cosi, the 2way Pearl is good but just beware if your child is tall they will grow out of it before age 4.