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Original poster

Rear facing car-seats safer for children under 4 years old

53 replies

DarrellRivers · 20/06/2009 09:48

I read this in the BMJ this morning

in the section to change your practice

I had only read about this on mumsnet before, and will be interested to see how far it gets reported in the mainstream press

Will you be changing your seats?
My youngest is 4 [phew]

OP posts:
silverfrog · 22/06/2009 10:13

the need for a bigger car really is a red herring.

my dds have both had RF toddler car seats (dd2 is still in hers - she is 2.4), and we have fitted them in a variety of cars.

we originally had dd1's RF seat in a Volvo XC90. it fitted ok.

we then changed cars (form one fo the biggest on the road to one of the smallest) and it fitted better in an Audi A2.

we have also fitted it in a few other cars too, form big to small and in between.

nicm · 22/06/2009 17:49

you don't need a big car for rf. we have a grand scenic and my 2 way elite fits better in my mums clio than in my car!!

Supercherry · 22/06/2009 21:20

I have a BeSafe Izi Kid x2, it's rear facing up until the age of 4yrs. It fits in my Clio fine so having a small car is no excuse. It is awkward getting DS in and out because it's high, rear facing and I'm pregnant (my clio is a 3dr).

It also cost a bomb but, having the knowledge that rear facing is safer meant that I couldn't posssibly put my child in a forward facing car seat. How would you ever forgive yourself if your child, god forbid, died in a car accident where their death could've been prevented had they been in a rear facing car seat? See this article

GertieGhost · 22/06/2009 21:36

this was worrying when I read it in Daily Mail last week.. my 3y/o is in a forward facing group 2 Britax
my 11mth old is in a rear facing group 0/1 that he can stay in till he's 13kg

I know lots of people who have moved their 2/2.5/3 stone ds/dd's into booster seats early as they cant be bothered with the group 2 seat or cant afford.

I dont know where to start now buying a rear facing one for 13kg+ for my ds (to fit in a Focus)

GertieGhost · 22/06/2009 21:39

so what is 15kgs in stone? and do they have to be 4 as well? for a booster seat

I know lots of 2.5 and 3y/o put in booster seats.

Supercherry · 22/06/2009 21:41

Gertie, like Catski suggests, go on rearfacing.com, there is all the info you need on there.

Supercherry · 22/06/2009 21:43

Converter

Supercherry · 22/06/2009 21:46

Sorry, it's rearfacing.co.uk you need to go on.

Supercherry · 22/06/2009 21:48

Gertie, I ordered my car seat from www.rearfacingcarseats.com/

I emailed them stating my DS's weight, height and age and they emailed back with a recommendation.

FairLadyRantALot · 22/06/2009 21:54

am glad that awareness about importance of extended rearfacing travelling is raised It's been known for many years, just not very well reported!
This will, hopefully, force carseat-manufacturers to make these seats available over here...

Upwind · 23/06/2009 11:49

"It also cost a bomb but, having the knowledge that rear facing is safer meant that I couldn't posssibly put my child in a forward facing car seat. How would you ever forgive yourself if your child, god forbid, died in a car accident where their death could've been prevented had they been in a rear facing car seat?"

That is emotional blackmail, which will make those who truly can't afford these seats feel even worse. Anyway, if such a tragedy were to happen, it wouldn't just be the car seat that I would feel guilty about. I would wish I had never taken my DC on the (almost certainly unnecessary) car journey. I would blame myself for not being more alert, for not having faster reflexes in preventing the crash.

At high speeds, the best car seat in the world might not save our babies. Every time we use our cars we put them at risk. Sometimes I think we have to face up to that - we just cannot guarantee their safety, though we might try to minimise the danger.

FairLadyRantALot · 23/06/2009 11:59

Upwind...but hopefully now these rearfacing carseats will become norm, and hence should be priced similarily to forward facing ones (and there is no reason they shouldn't be)...and tbh, maybe those forward facing ones will just completely weaned out, iykwim....

Upwind · 23/06/2009 12:09

Agree, I hope so.

Upwind · 23/06/2009 12:13

As it happens, I have now invested in a rearfacing that is suitable to 13kg (average 2.5yrs) was readily available in a local store and did not break the bank.

forward facing the same seat is suitable to 18kg

Supercherry · 23/06/2009 12:53

I'm not trying to emotionally blackmail anyone Upwind. The fact is rearfacing is safer, babies cost a hell of alot more than the £350 (at most) it takes to buy a rearfacing car seat suitable up to age 4. We ought to start seeing it as an essential not an optional.

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 23/06/2009 13:13

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

catski · 23/06/2009 13:22

It's not emotional blackmail, it is a fact that rear facing seats prevent far more serious injuries for children under 4 than forward facing.

If you watch this you will see how a rear facing seat can prevent serious injuries, including broken necks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKIeExpDLDA

I'm sorry if it upsets you. Don't be upset with the people who trying to raise awareness to enable british children to be safer in a car, be angry with the manufacturers who will not make these seats available in high street shops in the UK.

If you feel sufficiently strongly about it, email them, write to them, and do the same to mothercare, halfords, your MP etc. The woman who runs the rearfacing website has even drafted templates to make it easy for people to do so. They are here

www.rearfacing.co.uk/emails.php

Supercherry · 23/06/2009 13:22

Hope, can totally appreciate the difficulties you are mentioning, however, I have a clio, my DP is 6ft 2 and 18 stone, so pretty large and sometimes he has to sit in the passenger seat with the car seat behind him. Bit of a squish but we manage.

Regarding the height of your DC, I can't see that being a problem really.

nicm · 23/06/2009 13:59

and some are not that much more expensive, my maxi cosi priori's were 120.00 a few years ago and my 2 way elite that i just got was 185.00. and it is a rf seat to 25kgs (about age 6)

HopeForTheBestExpectTheWorst · 23/06/2009 14:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn on request of the poster.

catski · 23/06/2009 14:08

To add to what nicm said, some forward facing car seats are more expensive than rf ones. The maxi cosi priori isofix is retailing for 250 quid on the mothercare website. I'm sure some parents will be buying it thinking they are doing the best they can for their kids, when in fact they'd be better off getting the brio zento which is 200 quid from a shop in york.

FairLadyRantALot · 23/06/2009 14:09

HopeForTheBest....the theory is, that legs might be uncomfy, but in case of accident broken legs are preferable to a broken neck...

FairLadyRantALot · 23/06/2009 14:12

Oh and upwnd, the kind f seat you mention have been around a long time...indeed I used the longer rearfacing(that could be turned forwards facing later) for all of my 3 boys...and my oldest is now 13 years old...

thinking about my es age makes me realise just how long it has been known that rearfacing travel for as long as possible is safer...and they only NOW starting to properly act on it...that is kinda shocking, isn't it?

Upwind · 23/06/2009 14:40

fairlady - agree again

When DD exceeds 13 kg I will consider buying a new seat

EldonAve · 23/06/2009 14:48

I wonder why the manufacturers aren't keen to try to sell RF seats in the UK

Maybe they make less profit on them?

The RF are expensive, I'm sure most people spend more like £100 on a front facing seat

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