What age did you face your LO forward in a car seat?

[Mamabear04]

What age did you face your LO forward in a car seat?

[tiredoftiers]

We changed our oldest to ff about a year ago. Due to covid restrictions we hadn’t travelled far in it, now we are ‘free’ again he moans about his legs and has been travel sick a few times. Something that never happened when rear facing

[IHateThinkingUpANewUsername]

Still rf at almost 2 but most people I know seemed to turn at around 1 - I guess when they outgrew the baby seat?
I was surprised as I thought it was ‘normal’ to rf for longer now but 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m happy with the decision I’ve made for my child. Based on car seats we own and her current size I think she’ll turn at around 4.

[soditall56]

@Onedaysomedaynowadays

Wow to these replies. Moved to FF at 12 mths with mine. She hated RF and screamed and puked all the time. Now thinking I'm chronically negligent 😂
We only go in the car about once/twice a month so I guess that makes it better...

I was planning to at 12 months too (later this month) and feel like a terrible mother 😂

My dd is very tall and could never imagine her being rf till she's 4

[Puntastic]

@tiredoftiers

We changed our oldest to ff about a year ago. Due to covid restrictions we hadn’t travelled far in it, now we are ‘free’ again he moans about his legs and has been travel sick a few times. Something that never happened when rear facing

When your legs are dangling unsupported, you get pins and needles in them. Also, rear facing can be better for travel sickness because they can see out of the back window and watching everything going away from you doesn't upset the brain as much as watching everything going past you from a side window. It's why travel sickness sufferers generally feel better in the front seat.

If he doesn't like it, you could always switch back?

[Liverbird77]

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation as I said, the safety advice is clear.
I also can't understand why people bed share, smoke around their children or feed them crap.
What should I have said? "It's dangerous but you do you, mama"?
Also, you need to ensure you can afford things like car seats when you are planning to have a child.

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

DS is nearly 13 and still rf. No plans to turn him anytime soon. Hope they figure out a way for him to rf when he goes for his driving lessons!

[HercwasanEnemyofEducation]

Your tone is extremely judgemental and holier than thou @Liverbird77

If you want people to RF longer, then educate them politely and help support their decisions.

ERF seats are an expense over and above a FF car seat. Not everyone chooses to have children, not every child is conceived in ideal financial circumstances, people's circumstances can change during /after pregnancy.

You haven't mentioned the travel sickness?

[HercwasanEnemyofEducation]

FF isn't dangerous, that's a falsity.

ERF is just safer IF there is a crash. FF seats do still provide protection.

[ballsdeep]

I kept my lo RF but he was sick on every journey. It was a nightmare. I nearly crashed the car a million times panicking he wasn't choking!

[Pinetreesfall]

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion 13?! My son is the same age and nearly 6ft - I can't imagine having him in a car seat let alone a rear facing one!
My other two forward faced from 12 months and 18 months. Surely they wouldn't sell forward facing seats if they were so lethal?!

[EssentialHummus]

I’m fairly safety conscious but this is one of those issues for me where MN diverges wholly from reality. I have a 3yo. Thinking about the parents I know/see regularly, I can think of one who RF’s past a year or so and (it may not be related, but I’d wager it is) she’s an anxious soul whose kid is also still not out of his cot, eating raisins or off reins at nearly four. He sits in his car seat with his knees practically at his ears.

[sarahc336]

Isn't it dictated to by height these days?? There is guidance around it out there on the internet, I bet maxi cosy have it on their website. I think they suggest at the earliest is 18 months these dsys as it's to do with head and neck strength if hit from the rear isn't it xx

[BlueShrew]

@riddles26

4.5yrs and still rear facing. Planned to switch when started school in Sept but may wait another year as not growing out of seat anytime soon

Same here. Still considering switching in September (almost 5y.o.). Our seat converts to a FF harness or high back booster so will see what seems most suitable at the time.

[YorkshireIndie]

Still RF at 18m but I want to get an extended rear facing one that will do until he is 5/6

[Liverbird77]

@HercwasanEnemyofEducation look it's not my job to educate anyone. Advice isn't welcome anyway. I just said I can't understand why people do these things. I can't condone them. I guess, yes, I am judgemental. I don't understand why people contravene safety advice and data.

Also, having children is indeed a choice. Contraception is free and, if that fails, abortion is free. Bringing a child into the world is a choice.

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

@Pinetreesfall, 🤣 I was kidding. Mine is 5ft 8. I don't know anyone irl who has their child rf beyond probably a year old.

[Pinkywoo]

DS is 18 months and will be rear facing until he grows out of his Joie 360 spin, which I suspect will be due to height rather than weight as he's a little beanpole!

[iusedtohavechickens]

9 mths for my little one, she used to get travel sick, no issues since putting her forward facing. X

[BlueShrew]

@lboogy

2 years. D.C. is too tall to sit in a rear facing position. Shes 100cm already

@iboogy my 4 year old is 118cm and can still rear face. Height has relatively little to do with it. They bend their legs which is usually more comfortable than dangling them when FF.

[Pinkywoo]

[quote Iminaglasscaseofemotion]@Pinetreesfall, 🤣 I was kidding. Mine is 5ft 8. I don't know anyone irl who has their child rf beyond probably a year old.[/quote]
Everyone I know rearfaced until at least 3, I thought that was the norm, and certainly the safest option.

[HercwasanEnemyofEducation]

@Liverbird77 I've listed a few reasons why people may not follow the advice to the letter. After all it is only advice and not law.

As for your comments on contraception and abortion, I don't really know where to start. Some reading on abusive relationships may be good for you.

[Pinetreesfall]

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion oh haha sorry! I was gonna say I think mine would be most amused at the thought of trying to rear face at his age!
No just thinking of other nursery parents...There is one rear facer post age 2 so I'd agree with you entirely!

[Norked]

@Terminallysleepdeprived

10 months but mainly because I was fed up of clearing up sick. She has never suffered travel sickness when travelling forwards but did horrendously (and still does on a train or bus) when backwards. The hv advised turning her and it was the best decision ever

Same here had to turn her forwards form about 10 months and put her in the front (airbag disabled) and she still suffers from terrible car sickness.

[Iminaglasscaseofemotion]

Everyone I know rearfaced until at least 3, I thought that was the norm, and certainly the safest option.

Really? I'm a childminder, have been minding for 10 years, and none of the parents I have minded for have rf passed 1. Infact most ff by about 8 months. I also know a lot of other childminders and just parents in general and have never come across this.

[BlueShrew]

Most of the parents I know were RF until 3 or 3.5. I'm the only one I'm aware of still going at 4.5. I don't know anyone who turned them around at 1 or 2. I think a lot of people are now aware of RF until 4 because I think the new i-size seats are designed that way as far as I'm aware. Not as many people are aware of the taller seats you can get for up to 25kg.