Forward Facing Car Seat at 11 months??

[Theresa24]

Looking for some advice as I'm clashing with DH on car seats for our DS.

DS is 11 months & weights approx 10.3 kg & is about 70 cm's tall. He's currently in a Silver Cross baby carrier, which he is rapidly growing out of. (My DD used this until she was 15-18 months because she was so small, so moved straight into a forward facing seat about 4.5 years ago).

However...I only have a Ford Fiesta (15 plate) and so room in the back is tight. (Only just fits the Silver Cross on the ISOFIX base). BUT all reward car seats don't seem to fit in my car. DH said put him in forward facing now as he's the right weight (9kg+ for our Joie car seats). But with all the new research, post lockdown driving style changes & a small accident when someone reversed into me while I was driving last Friday (with DS in the car!) I'm really worried about putting him forward facing. He's so young & the advice it to keep them reward as long as possible now.

Am I being extra paranoid? DH keeps saying "it was fine for us as kids", but that was the 80's & 90's!!

I need a bigger car & I will get one later this year/early next...but I'm so torn with what to do. I just want to keep my DS safe, the roads are a scary place these days.

Well it's illegal (at least it is where I live) so you could lead with that - I could never do it, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened..

Not really sure what you want to hear because you clearly know what the new advice is. You will get lots of people saying my child was forward facing and fine bla bla but the advice hasn't changed for no reason. When my parents were children you didn't have car seats but you wouldn't do that these days. I wouldn't put my child forward facing at 11 months but the choice is yours. Changing your car probably isn't an option. My husband has a suzuki swift and we have a spinning car seat which just about fits and makes getting them in and out easier.

Are you in the UK OP, it’s law to rear face until 15 months. Not a weight.

Join car seat safety uk on Facebook, post saying what car you have and they will give you rear facing options suitable for your car

I had a rear facing car seat in an 3 door and used to lift DD in and out through the boot. We kept RF until she was 4 having read the research and seen the videos. You are not being unreasonable wanting to keep your child safe.

I have my 4 year old rear facing, I don't think you're paranoid! Have a look at the Facebook page car seat advice UK and they'll probably be able to tell you how to get a rear facing seat in your car.

You need @BertieBotts

Other option is front seat, air bag off, rear face. Which I had to do earlier than I would have wanted but middle child has chronic car sickness in back

Rear facing until 4 is safest - look at the British medical journal for info. 2.5 years old and still rf here!

The joie i360s are minimum 15 months before facing forward and the child also has to be certain weight and height. My son wasn't able to sit facing forward until he was 20/22 months as he was so small.

I wouldn't put a child that young in a forward facing seat. I had an axkid minikid in my hyundai i10 and I could get a 5ft 10 passenger in the front, britax two way elite can fit in smaller cars too due to the way it is installed. The car seat advice groups on Facebook will be able to recommend more I'm sure. I haven't bought a car seat for a few years and I know there are many new ones available.

Also ff doesn’t take up any less room if you get a proper extended rear facing seat eg axkid.

Ff too close to the seat in front can also be fatal as they need a good survival gap, in a crash everything goes forward so they’ll hit their head on the head in front.

Had no idea such a group existed! Thank you!

Also you need safe space in front of a forward facing car seat and generally if you don't have room for a rear facing seat you don't have enough space for a forward facing one.

I've tried this in my car & sadly it doesn't fit 😞

Rear facing until as close to 6 years old or more is the safest due to bone development.
I have had an extended rear facing seat in a Ford fiesta-avoid spin seats as they take up loads of room-the britax maxway plus is the most compact and the Axkid Minikid 2 is a popular seat.
Rear facing can often take up less space than forward facing seats as you need 55cm from the child seat to the back of the vehicle seat too stop the child hitting it in a crash.
Join extended rear facing car seat group on Facebook for help.

Gov website states can forward face from 9 kg in a weight based seat.
i size seats must be rear faced until at least 15 months.

When trying seats don't forget to have the passanger seat or driver seats as upright as comfortable as they will help with car seats fitting and not changing the leg room for the driver. I found we have more space drivers side for seat's as only 170cm tall.

That is an axkid move (cheaper version of a minikid) in a fiesta.

I'm not sure if you are looking for a new seat because your ds is outgrowing or because of the accident but now that seat has been in an accident you shouldn't really use it anymore anyway

Yeah was going to say this. Old seat is unusable now

Where do your child’s legs go when rear facing at 4-6? Genuine question. My some I’m 115cm so can’t imagine him tear facing

They just sit with them a bit crossed. It's more comfortable than them dangling

I have my 2 DC in my tiny aygo both rear facing. My eldest is nearly 5 and I have no plans to change things anytime soon. Rear facing is SO much safer. Join car seat safety UK on FB and they will give you lots of great advice on what seat to get and also some good resources to share with your partner on why RF is a better decision.

This

I was going to suggest this page- a friend of mine. They do free safety checks all round the country.

www.facebook.com/ChildSeatSafetyLtd/