Turning the car seat from rear facing.

[PeoniesandPretties]

So my 9 month old baby keeps wriggling out of his harness in the car seat. Brought an anti escape harness, the only thing mothercare sell and that worked briefly but today he's twisted his shoulder out. I've realised he's trying to look out of the front window.
Previously he had a mirror attached to the head rest but that was what started the escapism!
Today, after pulling over on the motorway I turned him forward facing and he was happy as Larry.
However, gov law states turning from 15 months. My argument is, children are all different, so how can going on age be appropriate? I also think turning him is safer than pulling over on motorways to readjust straps etc.
Any help, advice or tips would be great. We have the joile 360 spin isofix seat.

Don't do it. All babies aren't different. He's at FAR greater risk being turned forward so young. Have a look at the crash tests done with forward facing vs rear facing. You need to sort your restraints not turn him. The risk of internal decapitation isn't one I'd personally take.

Sounds like you need some advice on fitting him in the seat. He shouldn't be able to twist out.
Can you put him in an infant seat?
15 months is the bare minimum to forward face.

It’s to do with bond development in the neck and spine, technically their necks are not strong enough until they are 4! 9months is not an age to forward face...please Don’t do it!

If you haven't securely strapped him in rear facing, then he won't be securely strapped in forward facing either.

Hearing you loud and clear, he's very big compared to his friends. Was born at 10.8lb, must be incredibly nosey. We've watched countless videos on restraining him and have been back to mothercare, hence the anti escape restraints. I'm at a total loss. I know this will be affecting my driving having to constantly see what's he's doing next.

Smoggle, he won't fit in the infant seat.

Can I just edit, we're not restraining him... I mean securing him in the car seat!

The law is in place to protect your child. The reality is your baby is 95 percent more likely to die or sustain serious injury if you have accident than a child is rear facing.

I'd say go for it!

(If you don't mind your baby being internally decapitated in a small 30mph bump - who needs an intact spinal chord anyway?!?!)

I'm not looking for critism I'm asking for advice or tips from other parents who may have experienced the same, isn't that one of the perks of mumsnet?

Much too young, safest is to rear face til 4

Mothercare are a bit useless on car seats in my opinion. I'd contact the In Car Safety Centre and get some advice from them. They only have a couple of shops but they can advise by phone and email.

What seat is he currently in?

I would not forward face until age four or five. Why would you risk the life of a nine month old?

@sunshinegirl82 thank you, he's in the joile 360 spin car seat. I've loved the seat until now.

Call 'in car safety' in Milton Keynes. Ask them for advice. They are super helpful and it is free.

Cross posted!

My argument is, children are all different, so how can going on age be appropriate?

Children are all different but there are certain developmental milestones that happen at pretty much the same age for all children, unless other factors cause delay. The 15 months figure is to do with physical development, of bones and muscles. Crash tests have been used to inform the latest guidelines and regulations. I think a lot of parents may struggle with toddlers who want to forward face but your baby is a long way short of the legal age to do so. As you say, pulling over on the motorway to adjust straps is not ideal. Can you go back to the place you purchased the car seat to ask for guidance on fitting the harness, particularly as your baby grows? Or contact the manufacturer for help, because he should not be able to wriggle out and the next scenario could see him not restrained at all. Difficult if you have a budding escapologist.

Thank you @zigyzagyzigzag

Don't turn him forward facing.

Also, when you say 'stopped on the motorway' do you mean on the hard shoulder? If so, DO NOT DO THIS. He's safer partially unstrapped until the next junction than he is in a car stopped on the hard shoulder.

Please don't turn him. That's scary. Read up on internal decapitation.

Where are the straps in relation to his shoulders? Level, above, below shoulder height?

@Someoneonlyyouknow totally get your point, and have been back to where we purchased it from. Will take the advice of contacting the manufacturer for help. Thank you.

Thank you to those who gave advice rather than critise (we don't get it right all the time) I'll be emailing the manufacturers this evening.

Current advice is 15 months minimum (it was 9 months when my kids were small) we turned at 20 months as they were small and only reached 9kg them. Neck development is the reason for delaying but put into perspective, if he's not staying in the harness he's at more risk than facing forward. Get advice on securing him for as long as you can and then ensure you can keep him in even when facing forward.

We have one of those too. I do like it but the straps can be tricky and everything needs to be positioned right (the head rest, padding etc). If the headrest and straps aren't quite right they don't sit on the shoulders properly.

I would definitely get some extra advice, it may well just be a phase and with some help you can push through it.