Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

New! EU wants to forbid forward facing car seats

301 replies

MissHH · 25/06/2008 07:03

Read more here:

kidsincars.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-european-research-children-should.html

What do you think? I can clearly understand why looking at that report.

OP posts:
CJMommy · 06/07/2008 15:26

NA - yes, I hadn't thought of that!! I suppose it just seems better as there is no way DS will fit into his infant carrier at 29lbs and the Britax one he will. Think I'm just looking for a compromise I suppose...RF as long as possible without the hassle of buying abroad or the expense, as really do need two seats.

chibi · 06/07/2008 15:39

I am thinking of getting the Britax seat (rf up to 13kg) because, if my dd stays on teh same centile, she will be nearly 3 before I will need to turn it around to face forward. (we do have a rf seat that goes up to 13 kg but my dd will be out of it due to her height - I am hoping to get another month or so out of it)

I have 2 questions -

  1. why does a seat which is rf to 13 kg need to be turned to ff once the child is over 13 kg?
  1. Is the whole 'keep child rf till they are 4' weight based or proportion based - my dd's head to body ratio will be similar to children the same age but she will always bve lighter as she is fairly slender. Is the safety of rf based on head-to-body ratio or weight?

TIA

Pixiepants · 06/07/2008 21:35

From what I understand, a seat has weight recommendations based on what it has been tested to. So I'm guessing that seat hasn't been tested RF past that weight.

Again, from what I understand, the RF 'til approx age 4 recommendations are head proportion based, and also take into account the limitations of a childs spine and neck which are still forming. However, I gather that some parents of 'lighter' children in Sweeden keep the children RF for even longer than the age guidelines too.

nappyaddict · 06/07/2008 23:05

if it is based on head to body proportion does that mean it's safer to travel ff or rf after 4 years of age?

Pixiepants · 06/07/2008 23:13

IN the majority of accidents we're all better off RF, but being practical about this, from around the age of 4/5years a childs spine/neck etc are developed enough for them to travel FF without the same risks to toddlers.

nappyaddict · 06/07/2008 23:15

but it's not more dangerous for them to still be rf past a certain age?

Pixiepants · 07/07/2008 10:41

Nope! So long as they're not to tall or heavy for the seat.

Original poster
MissHH · 07/07/2008 23:30

A bit on the side: Actually one of the experts on childrens safety in cars here where I live, he is a Medical Director at the Pediatric ICU in a hospital here, sait that it would be optimal if children could RF up till 7-8 YRS old.

And yes RF is in reality safest for everyone not just children.

It is not dangerous to RF over the age of four no

OP posts:
nappyaddict · 07/07/2008 23:34

is it true RF car seats only offer protection when fitted on a forward facing seat? not sure what to do re the whole childminder thing. i got it wrong - she has a mercedes estate not a volvo estate and apparently the dealer said its fine to put car seats on them.

Pixiepants · 08/07/2008 10:29

So do you mean that actual car seats in your childminders car face backwards na?

I'm confused now. Did the dealer specify which Group of seats he/she meant? A Group 0 seat shouldn't go into a RF car seat as that would mean the baby would be facing forward? Maybe they meant Group 1 FF, which would mean the child was traveling backwards. Could you perhaps speak to your road safety officer to find out?.

A RF child car seat can only safely in a FF car seat, as this is what it's being designed for.

I'm really interested, so if no other posters know the answer, would you mind letting me know what the outcome is please?

nappyaddict · 08/07/2008 13:16

yes they face backwards cos they are in the boot space. i don't know if she specified or not but i know she doesn't have any babies at the minute so perhaps she meant group 1 seats? in this case then is it safer for my ds to be in a forward facing car seat than a rear facing one?

Pixiepants · 08/07/2008 16:19

You probably did say, I'm just being dippy.

As you wouldn't be able to fit a RF Group 1 seat in the RF seats in the boot, (no where for tethering straps etc), the dealer must have meant a FF Group 1 seat. This would mean your child will be traveling backwards so I would imagine would be safer.

Just to say again, that I'm not in a position to advise on this, only offer my opinion. Please double check with a road safety officer or other expert if no one more qualified than me can reassure you on here.

MrsAki · 09/07/2008 21:56

As I understand it, after having talked to one of my sources, there has not really been any tests done for seats that are RF. (I am now talking about the seats in the car, not the car seat for the child.)
You can't put a RF car seat in a seat that is RF (this is so complicated with all the different seats ;)
So you would have to put a FF seat on the RF car seat, which makes the child face backwards after all. But there has not been crash tests etc. done for this, as far as I can tell, and the best thing, again, as far as I can tell, is to have the seat in the car FF and put the child in a RF car seat.

nappyaddict · 10/07/2008 13:31

so that is another reason why forward facing seats shouldn't be banned then - for people like my child minder who do have rear facing seats in their car.

Pixiepants · 10/07/2008 16:30

Not sure what you mean na? MrsAki's post points out that there haven't been any significant tests done on car seats that face backwards with any car seats in them, so the safety of putting any child seats in them isn't know, and couldn't really be used to argue a point.

More importantly though, I don't think anyone on this thread is arguing to see FF child seats banned na, just to see parents/carers offered the choice and up to date safety info.

However, I don't think your childminders situation or anybodies personal circumstances are enough of a reason to not want to see RF seats made widely available. (Not suggesting that this is your view na, just that a lot of people seem quite negative about something a bit different). This isn't a really a question of whether people are for or against RF seats, but more about freedom to choose iyswim.

nappyaddict · 10/07/2008 18:13

no i think rear facing seats should be made available but the title of the thread does say they want to ban forward facing ones. where would that leave people who need to fit forward facing car seats on rear facing seats because you can't safely fit a rear facing car seat on a rear facing seat.

Pixiepants · 10/07/2008 18:19

I know what you're saying. I guess if the EU did ban them (and lets hope they don't have to), then it would take years and years to happen. Therefore families and business's would have time to make alternative arrangements, they same way you would if you had a 2 seater car before having children I guess.

Original poster
MissHH · 15/07/2008 08:24

PP: I is suggested to ban the seats over a period of five years.

OP posts:
Original poster
MissHH · 23/07/2008 07:40

Bump

OP posts:
TheBlonde · 23/07/2008 09:49

I have read most of the thread and I have some questions

In the linked blog it shows RF seats which are touching the passenger seat in front. Is this okay or not?
The pictures imply it is and quote Swedish Folksäm (not sure what this org is?) saying you can rest the seat on the dashboard or the passenger seat

We have a Britax Hiway from Sweden and the manual says it must not touch the seat in front

MrsAki · 26/07/2008 00:21

Folksam is a Swedish insurance company and they have been researching and supporting rear facing for about 30 years. They have a scheme where you can hire your car seat and pay monthly.
Most RF seats I have seen are meant to rest on the seat in front or the dash board if you are in the front seat. It should be that way. But if the manual for the seat says not to do it, then that should of course be followed.
We have the BeSafe Izi Kid and it should rest on the seat in front (and it does).

Hope that helps

vesela · 02/08/2008 11:52

I've just ordered a Britax 2-way Elite from In Car Safety. I'm hoping I've got a good one. We don't have a car, so a fix system is out of the question.

CJMommy · 04/08/2008 00:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CatherineWilliams · 13/08/2008 20:26

I was wondering how ISOFIX seats would work rear facing? I feel that ISOFIX seats are clearly MUCH MUCH safer than seat belt fitted seats, so could you get an ISOFIX rear facing seat for children up to age 4?

silverfrog · 13/08/2008 20:32

Yes, you can get isofix rear facing seats for up to 18Kg.

we had a Britax one (can't remember what it was called, sorry - the one you can get from volvo)

It used the same Isofix base as the infant seat (sorry again, useless with names - is that the Rockatot?), and then you just clicked on the bigger seat instead of the baby carrier.

It was great, and dd1 was in it until she ws 3.8 or so, and she is a biiig girl