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Parenting

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Original poster

When did you turn your baby's carseat forwards?

14 replies

Jennisaurus · 29/10/2004 13:38

The title explains it all!

Our carseat is still backwards (DD is 11mths) and I think we will keep it like that until after the new year. I think we are quite late in turning it, so I wondered what was the norm?

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jane313 · 29/10/2004 13:49

I know a friends child who is still turned backwards at 17 months.

We had 2 different seats and the small britax carrier one seemed very squashed and I hated strapping it in every time so we put him in the seat one at 9 months which was the recommendation

misdee · 29/10/2004 13:51

depends on teh build and weight of your child really. dd2 had to go forward facing at about 6months (way before recommendations) as she outgrew everything very quickly. she reached the weight limits on strollers at one year old oops.

but i know some seats say they can backwards facing till 15month (think thats right). the 9months thing is to do with neck control and if you were involved in a car crash, its safer them being backwards facing if small.

Dickers · 29/10/2004 13:52

The general advice is that a baby can go into a forward facing car seat at nine months. The reason for this is that in an impact their neck muscles are strong enough to stop their backbone in their neck snapping at 9 months + ...that's why all milatary planes have their seats facing backwards, it reduces injuries in the event of a crash landing, as the momentum pushes you into the seat. I think the only reason they don't do it in commercail planes is that passengers prefer to face forwards.
So Leave your DD facing backwards as long as his legs are not to restricted.

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Original poster

Jennisaurus · 29/10/2004 14:05

We have a big carseat that is forwards/backwards facing and should take her up to about age 2. I am not squishing her into the tiny one that came with our travel system still!!

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nailpolish · 29/10/2004 14:06

i was told keep them backwards as long as poss as long as their feet are not touching the back of the car seat, which could damage their legs in an accident. dont know if this is true, but its what i was told. i changed the seat at 12 months but then ihad a small car

acnebride · 29/10/2004 14:34

about 9 months as ds was outgrowing the backwards facing seat, also he was becoming fed up with having nothing to look at.

Actually because I locked the backwards facing seat into my car and lost the keys and my mum was taking ds for an afternoon, so we got the forwards facing one out of the shed.

KateandtheGirls · 29/10/2004 14:36

Jennisaurus, you're definitely not late. They should be rear facing until they're at least one year old AND 20 pounds.

WigWamBam · 29/10/2004 14:58

If I'd have kept my daughter in the rear facing seat she would have needed her legs cutting off! The recommendation in the UK is 9 months and 20lb.

LIZS · 29/10/2004 16:36

dd still fitted into her Rock a Tot at 16 months ! I'm not sure she quite made the weight even when we did finally switch her. When we went to Majorca recently the taxi had a fitted car seat which was rear facing - she is 3 !! I think it is normal to leave them longer in some areas of Europe and seats are designed accordingly.

ernest · 29/10/2004 17:02

it's supposed to be by weight, not age. My ds is nearly 1, but still in a rear facing one - these are generally till 13 kilos. The forward facing ones are from 9 kilos. My ds is a lightweight, at 8.5 kilos fully dressed, so not yet ready for forward facing one.

The experts agree that rear facing one is safest option, and the legs being bent up is OK & doesn't mean the child has outgrown the seat. rear facing is best, irrespective of leg length.

pixiefish · 29/10/2004 18:04

I had the mamas and papas primo viaggio car seat and i found that at 19 lbs dd was very squashed up in it so i bought her a forward facing car seat- 8 1/2 months and 19 lbs- she's loads more comfy

KateandtheGirls · 29/10/2004 18:53

I should have said that the US recommendations are that they should be rear facing until they're both at least one year old AND 20 pounds. My girls were both 20 pounds before a year, but I didn't switch them until they were over a year old.

LipstickMum · 29/10/2004 18:54

I went by the weight guideline - roughly!

Clayhead · 29/10/2004 18:58

I understood they had to be both 9 months and 9kg (about 22 pounds). Anything before 9 months and their necks are not strong enough, despite their weight. Neither of mine were 9 kg until they were about 11 months. When I asked a safety officer about dc legs being too long he agreed they could potentially get injured in a crash but the alternative was a neck injury, which would be more serious.

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