When did you move your LO into their forward facing car seat?

[AlmondFrangipani]

I know all the advice but just wondered when everyone actually did it. We've got a 10kg 9 mo who hates his rear facing car seat. Tempting to change him into the other seat but holding out as long as poss!

RF 'advocates' would be a better word than 'devotees' sorry.

Much better

I decided to ERF based on being introduced to it on here. I went off and did some research and agreed with those advocating it. I told a few friends about it. One now ERFs her LO. A couple said the seats were too expensive (one of these spent the best part of a grand on a pram.....). One said she was "too scared to look to much into it" and just FF her nine month old as that "is what everyone does".

All their choices, and I did nothing but introduce them to ERF, as someone once did to me on here.

Thats all an advocate can do.

To those of you that dont ERF, fine. Youve made that choice. I just think people should know that it is an option and be able to read around the topic rather than just FF based on social impressions.

Will definitely be looking at getting 2 then . Thanks

We got a Cybex Sirona and yes it was bloody expensive :( but it was virtually the only new bit of kit we have bought, pretty much everything else for DD we have had second hand - borrowed a travel system for the first few months and used a secondhand buggy afterwards, her group 0 carseat was my sister's (so I know it hadn't been in an accident etc.) Would have loved to have had a brand new pram like lots of people I knew but we felt we'd rather have an unfashionable old one and get the RF seat. I know it sounds sanctimonious, sorry but like others in the thread I know lots of people who got new bugaboos etc., jumperoos and suites of matching new nursery furniture costing several thousand pounds, then claim they can't get an RF seat due to cost!

I know it sounds sanctimonious
Frankly, I'm inclined to think that anyone who says its 'sanctimonious' to prioritize safety is in denial about their own choices.

Errol well that's rude How am I in denial? It does sound sanctimonious of me to pass judgment on others' spending choices.

We've just got the joie tilt mentioned by a pp, it's a really nice comfy seat and very reasonably priced - £83.

The Tilt only rearfaces til 13kg though, I think the Stages is the erf one.

train... I didn't think anything you said sounded remotely sanctimonious, that's what I was trying to say, and its not you that's maybe in denial! Sorry I was evidently unclear.

the tilt rear faces to 18kg
www.joiebaby.com/tilt-4

Tilt to 13kg

Applause to Minipie.
A lot of extended RF promoters are evangelical and judgemental about it being the only valid choice. Seems like most online child carseat fora are dominated by people who are extended pro-RF even though ERF is incredibly rare IRL, which makes it difficult to even discuss other options. Evangelism in any form puts me off doing whatever they're promoting (ERF, religion, politicians, whatever). I think that's a pretty common response.

FWIW, I moved mine forward facing about 15 months, when they outgrew the first infant carriers. They were small babies.

When I looked at extended RF the seats were very expensive, required many hours of driving for me to acquire, couldn't adapt to front seat driver/passenger with different leg lengths, and didn't easily transfer between vehicles (could be tricky to fit correctly, too, or required fittings my car didn't have). It will be great if all of that is untrue now.

ps: I love the word Sanctimummies!!

I've just checked the instruction booklet that comes with mine and if definitely says rearfacing up to 18kg, with the choice to turn to forward facing at 9kg if required.

Erf is nothing like politics, religion or even some of the big parenting debates (formula, baby wearing etc), because all the relevant options are safe ones. People are evangelical about spreading the word about extended rear-facing because its a no-brainer in safety terms. So much so that in Sweden it is illegal for babies and toddlers to face forwards. Tell you what, go and watch the videos on the home page of the website linked above, them come back and tell me you still think it is a matter of opinion.

Erf seats for u4s hould be the norm. Hopefully, in 20 years a discussion like this will look as ridiculous as one from 40 yrs ago about front seatbelts in cars. I bet there were people saying 'how ridiculous' about those too.

That's a bit confusing about the Tilt! I'd rather get that than the Stages for DS2 as it's so much cheaper, and DS1 still isn't even 16kg at 3.9 so hopefully DS2 could rf until at least 4 in the Tilt.

Thanks for checking MrsDean - is it easy to install/use?

Gawd I hate the Safety First culture. There are other valid priorities in life.

Even the US has gone to 2 years mandatory RF.

I'm judgmental towards the manufacturers and retailers for not providing the same options which presumably are available to parents in the US and the European countries where RF till 4 is mandatory. Most parents do the best they can in the circumstances in which they find themselves - certainly don't judge them. But the rhetoric of 'sanctimony' and 'evangelism' is .

it's really easy to fit with the seatbelt, feels secure and the straps are easy to adjust. We only use it once or twice a week and DS (11kg) seems very comfortable. I'd say the only issue with ERF is taller kids might want to stretch their legs, and it only rear faces when reclining so older ones might not feel as comfortable.

My DC are tall but stringy, both had their heads over the top of the baby seat at around 12 months. Neither were anywhere near 9kg at that time (let alone 13) so they went into a bigger rear-facing seat (Britax First Class).

I turned Dd 1 at 20 months, when she was 9 and a bit kg, because we needed the extra space for the front passenger - the rear facing seat took up lots of room, and it was harder to get her into it.

Same thing happened with the bigger seat - she was too tall for the harness before she was heavy enough to be in a high back booster - I think Dd 2 is heading the same way.

I guess the problem with the Tilt is going to be that it is outgrown height wise way before most children reach 18kg though? DS1 had the top of his head level with the back of a group 1 seat at 3 despite only weighing 14.5kg.