Reluctantly forward facing

[Mummatotwoxo]

Recently bought a new (ford) car, the joie stages car seat I have, I'm unable to rear face as the seatbelt isn't long enough to reach around the seat.
Every time I get in the car I remember how much I need to get it sorted, just seen a horrible post about a car crash and how the child rear facing saved it's life.
I must sort this ASAP!!
What can I do? Seatbelt extenders? New seatbelts?

Does it take isofix? Please do not get an extender or tamper with the car, it will make it more unsafe.

Try a 25kg ERF seat, they use very little seatbelt - have a look at fitting videos on the manufacturers websites. I'm probably going for a Diono Radian 5 for similar reasons

Isofix!!!!!! Why do people still put seat belts round car seats

Which Ford is it? My parents have a 15 plate Galaxy, and the stages is a royal pita to fit due to short seat belts, but it can be done.

It's easier if someone can hold the seatbelt at full extention. Pass the lap belt over,thread the shoulder belt round the back of the seat, push your hand or knee down into the seat to put weight in it and then clip into place.

Or buy a different seat

I've just got two new joie stages seats. I don't want to cut corners but I'd like to not spend money unnecessarily if I can help it.
Obviously il do what I need to do, but if there's a cheaper option than buying two need car seats (and after a quick google isofix bases are £150 each. So £300 on bases) then that's my go to

@Bringonspring not everyone has a car with isofix. Not everyone buys a car seat that fits with isofix. Fitting with isofix is no safer than seatbelt fitting

@Bringonspring maybe because my car doesn't have isofix points 🤔

@Mummatotwoxo if the short belt method I described above doesn't work, you could buy a Britax two way elite for not much more than £150. It was rear face until 25kg. My tall almost 4 year old is still in his rear facing and nowhere near outgrown.

The stages seats don't fare well in crash tests when FF.

nottalotta it's a kuga. Maybe I need to try it with the help from an extra pair of hands, I don't know if my memory is exaggerating but I remember it being miles off.

spring it worked fine for me in my last (much older) car.

Have you tried the short seatbelt method with the Joie stages? There is a video you can google if you haven’t heard of it. Also have you really pulled it right at the bottom before trying to get the diagonal bit around the back? The latter fixed the problem for me when I thought it wasn’t going to work.

Take a look at the rear facing for toddlers page on Facebook, the lady who runs it is an independent car seat specialist who Will demonstrate in person or online how to fit using a short belt of it can be done.

features thanks so much!
Will give it a go tomorrow!

Isofix!!!!!! Why do people still put seat belts round car seats

Because the 18kg rear facing weight limit with isofix is no good for those of us with heavy children

The stages seats don't fare well in crash tests when FF.

This is incorrect or at least unfounded. You're thinking of the Every Stage. Obviously it would be safer to rear face, but I would not be unduly worried by forward facing in the Stages specifically. And remember forward facing seats, properly fitted and with a well fitting harness still prevent something like 92% of deaths and 60% of injury, and that's among all children under 4, the higher proportion of these will be concentrated in the younger children forward facing.

Definitely rear face if you can but if you can't, there is no sense beating yourself up and worrying and feeling anxious over it especially if your child is closer to 3 than 1. IMO.

Isofix!!!!!! Why do people still put seat belts round car seats

If a seatbelt is fitted correctly, what’s the problem?

I have isofix points and isofix seats but have had to buy car seats that use belts. The isofix points if in use mean you cannot get anyone in the middle seat as they are quite far over. This was fine when I had 2 kids but with a third due soon I needed to be able to fit all 3 kids in the back.

Depends on the ages, if one you need to sort out a fix, if 3.5 I would not worry as much. All kids forward faced from 15 months ish until recently, we had a 60mph crash and dd was fine, I know others wouldn't be as fortunate but properly fitted seats suitable for your car is as important if not more than rear facing because a poorly secured rear facing is dangerous too.