When did you change to forward facing car seat?

[PrincessConsuelaBannanaHammock]

We have a Joie Every stage car seat & I'm wondering when others moved it to forward facing?
DD has only just turned one, so I feel like she's to small for forward facing but I'm really struggling to get her in the car seat!!
She's always been on the 95th centile for her height so she is quite a big girl, but now when I try to put her in the car seat she's kicking her feet off the car seats and tensing her body up, then standing up so it's a battle every day to get her in the car! Dp feels like it's time to put her forward facing but I'm not really keen. Are the guidelines for keeping them rearward facing until 2 really achievable?

They sit like they do anywhere else you can’t swing your legs off. So they sit like they do on the floor or on the carpet at school. Or when they sit back on the sofa instead of on the edge swinging their legs.

There were definitely proper rear facing seats around 5 years ago. When I said I kept mine RF till 2.5 but it was years ago I was meaning up to 14 years ago not 5 years ago! I also have a seat bought five years since and the choice then was massive!

Around a month ago when DD was just over 3.5

We only turned her round due to car sickness, it was getting dangerous when she kept vomiting while dh was driving alone with her. Since ff she hasn’t been sick once.

Still rear facing at almost 3, no plans to turn until at least aged 4, why would you?!

I moved to forward facing when they started school at almost 5 years old.

14 months, that was normal then, actually that was late because my DD's were both small, it said from 9 months on the reversible car seat, carrier car seats were 9kg then and most people bought forward facing then.

As of the moment maybe don't change it quickly from rear to forward. Unless he/she is at the age of 4 you can trust them already.

My dd was 5 years old. She still only weighs 15.5kg but she was getting some comments at school so we changed her into a high backed booster. I wouldn't dream of forward facing a baby, it is 5x safer to rear face.

At least 4. I wouldn’t compromise their in car safety. The every stage is a bit of a pain to lift little ones into especially when they start being awkward about being out in the car, my youngest had one and learned to climb himself in by 2.5 and then it was much easier. I currently have a forward facing 5yr old and a rear facing 3yr old.

DS is 2 and no plans to forward face him yet. We have a 360 seat so can spin to get him in easily.

He is 95% centile height but fits no problem with rear facing still.

Thanks everyone. Maybe a spinning car seat would be a bit easier. The every stage is quite awkward to get her in to the way the seatbelt is too

DS1 was 4 was when turned him forward facing. He's on the 50th centile. He was never bothered by the rear facing.

DS2 is 14 months and on 75th centile, still plan to rear face until at least 4. I won't particularly care if he doesn't like it in the near future, that's just the way it'll be for his safety.

We've got the cybex sirona (swively one). Fairly expensive compared to joie but worth it.

Not seen anyone mention the maths, but IIRC a 20lb toddler will be subjected to 600lb of force in a 30mph crash - rear facing them means the force is absorbed by he seat, rather than their bodies.

9 months. He screamed every time gecwas in the car. Once he was forward facing no more screaming. He's almost 4 now.

They are 5 times safer in a crash if they are rear facing. We are just moving to the Joie 360 so hopefully the spin will be so much easier .

Thanks everyone. On to the next question. Does anyone have any reccomendations of car seats that aren't too expensive that are easy to fit? DD spends a day with each granny each week so I need a spare car seat to go between cars. It was so easy with the first stage car seat but need something easy to fit in another car

The Britax two way elite is perfect for this. The fiddlesticks bit is fitting the tester straps so get a spare pair(s) to leave in each car that you might use it for.

I think he was nearly 4 and he’s 75th centile. He wasn’t quite 18kg but nearly.
I wouldn’t turn a 1 year old if at all possible.

To add, we only had a RF for our main car- for DH and both grandmas we had FF 123 seats- 2x kiddy guardian pro 2 and a britax evolves. Still in use now at 6.

Ds was 9m but that was 15 years ago, Dd was 18m (11 years ago)

DS is 4 and still RF in an axkid minikid. He is a 95 centile child too. The seat gets transferred to Grannies car once a week and we find it easy but we did buy spare tether straps for her car to save some hassle. DS climbs into the seat himself and crosses his legs, hangs them over the side etc. He now FF in my car and does the same with his legs, usually draped over one side of the seat.

Are there any UK stats for accidents rear v forward facing? I've looked but never found any.

Age 5. Was in a Joie Tilt, and I needed it for a sibling. Did get a Joie Stages intending to continue rear facing, but it doesn't fit properly rear fading in our vehicle (but does forward). Sibling still rear facing at 2.

We bought a 360 spin car seat to make it easier to get her in.

Will probably keep her rear facing till 18months/2yrs

About 4 I think? Maybe a month or two before