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Original poster

I am going to put my baby in a forward facing seat when she is 6 months old

80 replies

morningpaper · 08/03/2006 09:54

(She is 5 months now) It can't be any more dangerous than driving with her screaming, coughing, gagging, vomiting, choking, INCESSANTLY.

I discussed this with a paed. and she said that that hers were so bad she just drove with them on someone's lap because she was far less likely to crash without the screaming.

Any thoughts on the least dangerous way of doing this? Or any other approaches? It's got to be worth a try.

DH has booked this summer's holiday with just him and dd1 because of this. :(

OP posts:
Kelly1978 · 08/03/2006 09:55

do u really think a forward facing seat will solve the problem?

Original poster
morningpaper · 08/03/2006 09:57

No idea but must be worth a try

It's that or valium (for me)

OP posts:
LaylaandSethsmum · 08/03/2006 09:58

Is it not more to do with her weight and wether she can sit up rather than age?

Angeliz · 08/03/2006 09:58

I think it can be more dangerous actually as a forward facing seat isn't suitable until they can sit unaided and hold their neck for at least half an hour (i think).
Do you mean your dp is going away without you then as the baby cries?

Tatties · 08/03/2006 09:59

I know in Australia they go forward facing much earlier than here - at 7kg rather than 9kg here I think? Don't know why that is. I felt much happier alone in the car with ds once he was forward facing as we could see eah other.

Angeliz · 08/03/2006 09:59

Your paediatrician sound like an idiot! Just on the offcahnce that she did crash the baby would have been the first through the windscreen!Sad

Mistymoo · 08/03/2006 09:59

Have you any idea why she gets so upset in the car?

Does playing nursery rhymes help? Or singing?

Is it just in the car she is like this?

It doesn't seem very fair that you miss out on a holiday because of this.

4blue1pink · 08/03/2006 09:59

john lewis sell a ridiculous seat that is suitable its like 600 squid though!

throckenholt · 08/03/2006 10:00

have you dried dangling some toys in front of her - and maybe rigging up a mirror so that she can see you ? Have you tried different types of music - maybe something will soothe her.

I can understand what you mean about the distraction of screaming more likely to cause you to have an accident - but it doesn't have any impact on the other idiots who might crash into you Sad.

I did put my kids into front facing seats early (they were lightweights and should have been back facing until they were about two !) - but they also have long bodies and the straps were just too short on the small seats, and their heads were almost sticking out of the top.

Kelly1978 · 08/03/2006 10:01

My dd was the same, hers was due to travel sickenss though. Forward facing didn't help her. Can you try having the seat in the front next to you? The dealer should be able to disable the airbag if you can't.
I agree it might be worth a try tho, I can cope with screaming on quiet roads, but I was coming down the m3 in heavy rain and didn't feel safe at all when my two started. I couldn't deal with that on a daily basis.

rickman · 08/03/2006 10:02

Is it not worth getting your airbag deactivated first and then putting the baby in the front. Is she not calmer if she can see you?

Tatties · 08/03/2006 10:02

But yes LASM I think it goes on weight and how well they can sit up, rather than age, although the suggested age is 9mths afaik. How much does your dd weigh Morningpaper?

hunkermunker · 08/03/2006 10:02

Your paediatrician is, sadly, a moron on this issue.

How heavy is your DD? How long can she sit unaided for?

lockets · 08/03/2006 10:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
morningpaper · 08/03/2006 10:05

I have tried her in the front

Mirror - tried it

Toys - tried it

Dummies and constantly replacing them - tried it

Mozart, the Clash, various story tapes and rhymes - she can't hear them because she is SCREAMING

it is really upsetting the 3 year old

I am getting beeped all the time by other cars because I can't concentrate and I'm driving like a fecking idiot - have to do motorway driving quite a lot

There is no way we can go on hol with her because we want to visit relatives abroad which requires a total of 4 hours in the car, there is no way we can do this. We have tried up to one hour but the screaming doesn't stop. It can't be good for baby either

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 08/03/2006 10:05

Medised?

compo · 08/03/2006 10:06

When you go on holiday could you or your dh sit in the back with her and your dd go in the front in her car seat?

SoupDragon · 08/03/2006 10:07

seriously, can you borrow a variety of seats from friends to see if they make any difference?

Kelly1978 · 08/03/2006 10:07

It really does sound desperate. If she hates the car that much though, even when she can see you, the chances of a forward facing seat helping look slim. How about trying a cranial osteopath?

Original poster
morningpaper · 08/03/2006 10:08

Paed is not an idiot although I agree it's not a very good approach

Baby can't sit unaided at all, weighs about 16lb I guess

Was planning on trying it with a slight recline

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 08/03/2006 10:08

How heavy is she and how long can she sit unaided? You will risk breaking her neck in an accident if you put her forward-facing before she's ready. I realise that sounds harsh and I know how hard it is to drive with a screaming baby in the car (although mine doesn't do it in the concerted way your DD does), but honestly, I wouldn't take the risk.

hunkermunker · 08/03/2006 10:09

Sorry, but anyone who says they carried their babies on laps in a car and says forward-facing is fine for a baby with no neck control is an idiot.

Original poster
morningpaper · 08/03/2006 10:09

Have tried DH ins back - doesn't make any difference at all

Don't believe in cranial osteopathy, don't want to fork out money on it

OP posts:
rickman · 08/03/2006 10:10

Can babies get travel sick? You could try the acupressure bands.

Maybe she just doesn't like the car, in that case a different car seat probably won't make any difference.

SoupDragon · 08/03/2006 10:12

and i disagree - driving with children on someone's lap does make the paed an idiot. It may make her think she is less likely to ctash but it has no effect on the other idiots on the road.

But that doesn't help you...

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