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Original poster

Age to turn baby seat around?

41 replies

gravity · 14/10/2005 02:18

i should go looking for baby seat instructions but quicker to ask here

i have had a brain block, i cannot remember what age we turned dd around from rear facing in her car seat. we have the car seats that convert from newborn to 32kg booster seats

can someone please advise me?

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intergalacticwalrus · 14/10/2005 02:23

You turn them round from when they are 9kg (20lbsish) but I'd leave your baby in the rear facing position as long as poss. On average, most babies reach 9kg at about 9 months. They also need to be sitting unaided, btw.

In America, they advise the baby stays rear facing until a year, but definitely don't put your baby forward until they reach 9kg, as the seat won't protect them otherwise.

Hope I'm not rambling too much

bobbybob · 14/10/2005 04:16

1 year is the point where the direction of the seat doesn't make any statistical difference in accidents and so it's not worth the inconvenience.

However I have seen some car seats which will only be rearward facing until 9kg, others go to 13kg. So you will have to look at your seat!

NannyL · 14/10/2005 10:31

Its better to leave it until the child is a year (or 13kg whichever comes first)

Its 'safe' from 9kg, but still safer to be sitting backwards until they are a year.

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nailpolish · 14/10/2005 10:39

leave them as long as possible, 9 mths to a year is the norm, as long as their feet dont touch the seat they are facing IYSWIM

ie if baby cant fully extend her legs cos the seat they are facing is in the way, it could be dangerous in a crash and its time to turn

Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 11:03

oh you guys are awesome........ its only been a couple of years since i had to last do it but had forgotten. My ds has a while to go.

THANKS HEAPS!!!!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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mumfor1sttime · 14/10/2005 11:09

I turned my car seat when ds could support his head/neck, we have a Nissan 200sx car which has tiny back seats(might as well be a 2 seater).
Does it depend on what sort of seat you have?
Mine is birth to 4 yrs!

Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 11:18

hi darl........ thinking back now, i know its going to kill your back reaching in but makes good sense to be rear facing. in the event of a collision from back if baby is so young regardless of if holding his own head up, we know what whip lash is like in adults.....i'm thinking the consequence of one so little.

i think i will be opting as long as possible rear facing - lucky me got a grown up car before baby 2. Was horrified initially. But thankful now. People mover van mum now - i just have mr long legs to detest that thought (ds only 5 months but is very tall)

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GillL · 14/10/2005 11:38

sorry to hijack your conversation gravity...

nailpolish - my dd is 6 months,just over 6kg and she can sit up unaided now. I read your post about turning them round when they can't stretch their legs out without touching the seat they are facing - dd has had her legs bent for ages because they are too long to stretch out. I don't want to move her into a second stage car seat yet as she's far too small. Would having her legs bent cause damage to them in a crash?

LIZS · 14/10/2005 11:41

Think you'll find the risk to her legs are less than risks of more serious injury if she were forward facing.

Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 12:15

hijack away GillL!!!

much more important to find out about our kids safety!!!!!!!

have same concerns with the length of my ds's legs..... bloodyy father's fault

but i will definately agree with LIZS. it will probably never happen, but in the event it did we'd never forgive ourselves!!!!

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GillL · 14/10/2005 12:29

I know what you mean gravity. I think dd's going to tower over me. I'm 5 foot 2 but her dad's 6 foot 8! All the women on his side of the family are very tall.

Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 12:35

SHOOOOT! Thats tall. My dh is 6'4-5. He towers over me. You would look positively tiny next to him!
Our dd 2 5/12 is already as tall as an average 5 or 6 year old
Basketball dh player GillL?

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GillL · 14/10/2005 13:28

We're not a very sporty family (well, not at all really) - although my dad says as soon as dd is old enough she's going out running and cycling with him. He's told her she's going to be the first woman to do the Tour de France!?!?

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gravity · 14/10/2005 13:34

oooh... good for your dad! sounds like someone has a very proud grand daddt there

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GillL · 14/10/2005 13:37

Yeah, he thinks she's wonderful - only now that she smiles at him and interacts. He wasn't too keen when she just laid there and did nothing but eat, sleep and cry.

Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 13:39

he sounds wonderful........ get plenty of photos and videos.for future memories. please make sure you do! i dont want to sound like im harping on at you. but if you read my other threads you'll know why i say this.

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GillL · 14/10/2005 13:41

I've been doing some research and found this info at \link{http://www.car-safety.org/rearface.html}

"When used properly, rear-facing carseats provide significant safety advantages in frontal, frontal offset and side impacts. These types of crashes are far more frequent and severe than rear-end crashes. For these reasons, rear-facing is the safest mode of travel, especially for infants. In the USA, this recommendation is valid through the 30, 33 or 35 pound maximum rear-facing weight limit of newer convertible carseats, or until the child outgrows their convertible carseat by height. The height limit of a rear-facing carseat may be listed in the owner's manual. A child is also considered too tall for a rear-facing seat if the top of their head is at the level of the top of the carseat shell. It is NOT considered a safety issue if a child's legs are bent at the knees in a rear-facing carseat, or if their feet can touch the vehicle's seat back. At a very minimum, children should remain rear-facing until AT LEAST one year of age AND 20 pounds in weight."

Cooperoo · 14/10/2005 13:43

The legs touching the seat is not a problem. The head coming over the back of the infant carrier seat due to a large child is the only thing that should make you change a car seat direction early. Broken legs mend better than broken heads and necks .

GillL · 14/10/2005 13:44

Oops, looks like my link didn't come out right. Anyone know what I've done wrong?

Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 13:44

awesome! well done! at least we know.

we shall tie our babies lomg legs around their necks i think!!!

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Cooperoo · 14/10/2005 13:44

X - posted GillL

nailpolish · 14/10/2005 13:47

gill, youve proved me wrong, but its good!

im sorry i was wrong and worried you

i went and read my manual and it witters on about the legs but as someone said they do mend better than necks and heads

GillL · 14/10/2005 13:47

I think we'll have to. By the time she's heavy enough to be in a forward facing car seat her knees will be by her ears

Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 13:48

but we are all now wiser mummy's for it!

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Original poster
gravity · 14/10/2005 13:49

nah........ she'll be out of the car seat and on her bike with your dad!!!!!!!

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