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Original poster

Should I go back to rear facing?!

7 replies

Herts501 · 16/07/2023 10:18

My son is 2yr9mth (99cm & 15.6kg) and has been forward facing for a while. I turned him forward facing when his seat was able to as I didn't know how much safer rear facing was. I know wish I'd kept him rear facing.

He has now outgrown his seat early as he is 91st centile for height (83rd for weight) and I'm lost about which car seat to buy.

Should I put him back to rear facing? My husband thinks he will hate it as he likes looking around whilst we are driving, I am not sure. Has anyone else turned their child back to rear facing?

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Capitulatingpanda · 16/07/2023 10:20

Haven't ever had him ff but my 3yo is completely fine with rear facing.

Lolacat1234 · 16/07/2023 13:58

My girl is 4 and she has just turned forward facing in dads car and still rear facing in mine as I have a minikid which is rear facing until around age 7. She is fine with interchanging which really surprised me! I thought she would hate rear facing after forward facing in dads car but she understands, id say she prefers forward facing but is fine with rear as well. She has better car naps rear facing xx

BertieBotts · 17/07/2023 15:46

Lots of people do turn DC back and it's fine. In fact if he's used to FF he will probably find RF to be a novelty.

The issue with the next size of seats is that they are either RF or FF, you can't get one that does both.

It sounds like you have a while in his current seat though, as they tend to last to 105cm or 18kg and he's at neither. Why not turn that around if you have the option and try it out. Or do you have a younger child you can pass a larger RF seat onto if he hates it?

BertieBotts · 17/07/2023 15:47

I'd add that they can still look around just as much when RF, in fact can often see quite a bit out of the boot because there are no front seats in the way to block the view.

Original poster
Herts501 · 17/07/2023 18:54

BertieBotts · 17/07/2023 15:46

Lots of people do turn DC back and it's fine. In fact if he's used to FF he will probably find RF to be a novelty.

The issue with the next size of seats is that they are either RF or FF, you can't get one that does both.

It sounds like you have a while in his current seat though, as they tend to last to 105cm or 18kg and he's at neither. Why not turn that around if you have the option and try it out. Or do you have a younger child you can pass a larger RF seat onto if he hates it?

Thank you for your reply. This post has been really helpful and we have also taken some independent advice as well. We have decided to do what you suggested in turning his current seat back to see how he gets on. Ours in the Cybex Sirona Z first edition which I'm sure only goes up to 16kg (the new one is definitely 18kg) but on remeasuring he weighs 15.6kg so we still have a little bit of time. I'm much more inclined to aim for a RF seat for his next one as EVERYONE is recommending them and they certainly seem the best in terms of safety. What a minefield it is! X

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 18/07/2023 13:30

No the first one of those is 18kg as well :) Check your manual if unsure but I'm sure that it is. The weight limit will also be on the orange sticker underneath the seat.

GallowwayGirl88 · 18/07/2023 13:36

Of course you should put him RF. Its significantly safer…and they can still look around facing the the opposite way ☺️

there’s a great Facebook pages called ‘Extended rear facing (ERF) car seat safety”. I’d suggest posting on there with your child’s age/ gender/ centiles/ car/ budget, you’ll get great recommendations.

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