Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Rear facing car seat - advice

28 replies

Jellllybeeen · 22/01/2022 18:49

In laws purchased a car seat a few weeks ago for when they have DC who is 9 month old and almost 9kg. I remember discussing rear facing being safer a while ago. I don’t remember if I fully looked at the detailed specs when they mentioned they wanted to get this one. I’ve been looking today for a new seat for our car and I’ve looked at the one they bought in full detail and realised that it is only rear facing till the child reaches 10kg before it must be used as forward facing. I’m kicking myself for not fully reading all the details when they discussed getting it. I’m not too happy that DC will soon need to be forward facing. Should I say something? They may have 3 or so days before it will hit the 28 days after purchase so may have time to return it. Issue is they can be sensitive and I know DH will think the one they have is fine so it could cause an argument. What would you do? They will only have DC once a week

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Sagaris · 22/01/2022 19:01

Please say something. That is not a safe age to be forward facing. Could they exchange it for a better seat eg. Joie, Britax, Axkid?

Surelyitscoffeetime · 22/01/2022 19:04

Please say something. If they quibble, show them this:

GinGella · 22/01/2022 19:11

For me rear facing was absolutely non negotiable so I brought a suitable seat for the grandparents car, not sure if that's an option? The two way elite fits in nearly all cars and is at the less pricy end of extended rear facing which is what we had in the grandparents car.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

6-9 months old 9-12 months old Babies & sleep Families

Lockdownbear · 22/01/2022 19:11

Your existing infant carrier should be good to 13kg at least.
I'd keep them in it until they physically outgrow it.

The reason the next stage start at 9kg as some kids are long and slender, one of mine was 3 before they hit 13kg but had long outgrown the baby seat.

Original poster

Jellllybeeen · 22/01/2022 19:29

I think the issue is they've already bought it and may no longer be able to exchange or return it. I remember reading it was rear and forward facing but didn't realise it was forward facing so early. DC is tall so even though ours is suitable till I think 15kg, DC's legs are already touching the seat and it is getting difficult to get them into the seat also. We've upgraded ours to an extended rear facing and it is group 1-3 so should last. This is why I've properly looked an in laws model. Have just looked up the Britax but it's about 4x more than what they've paid!

OP posts:

Surelyitscoffeetime · 22/01/2022 19:43

What seat have they bought?

DockOTheBay · 22/01/2022 19:45

It doesn't matter if their feet touch the back of the seat, they can sit cross legged

DockOTheBay · 22/01/2022 19:46

I would definitely ask them to return. Phrase it as your mistake, offer to pay the difference. Safety trumps possible offending the in laws.

Original poster

Jellllybeeen · 22/01/2022 20:21

Its this one https://www.halfords.com/baby-and-child/car-seats/child-car-seats/halfords-group-0%2F1%2F2-child-car-seat-230281.html?istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=367c5610-f937-4c81-8609-f84582324cd6&istItemId=xplalillr&istBid=t&$ja=tsid:%7Ccid:11903244413%7Cagid:118030936760%7Ctid:pla-329083274064%7Ccrid:487905864639%7Cnw:u%7Crnd:18361571079166324730%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1006955&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1tXdg--F9QIVKO tCh30sQl9EAQYBiABEgIFpvDDBwE

OP posts:

Hugasauras · 22/01/2022 20:22

Return. Have a look at Joie seats. Well priced and good.

Hugasauras · 22/01/2022 20:27

And definitely no way at 9mo he's getting too big for RF. DD is nearly 3 and not small and still happily rear-facing and will be for a while yet! They just bend their legs, cross them over, etc.

Crazycatlady83 · 22/01/2022 20:28

It's against the law for a child to seat forward facing before 15 months regardless of their weight. Definitely you need to change the car seat for one that is rear facing

Surelyitscoffeetime · 22/01/2022 20:43

Here’s an alternative that is only a little more that will take your DD up to 18kg rear-facing.

www.halfords.com/baby-and-child/car-seats/baby-car-seats/joie-steadi-group-0plus%2F1-baby-car-seat-365182.html?dwvar_365182_colour=Dark%20Pewter&_gl=11s3ei42_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1tXdg-_F9QIVKO_tCh30sQl9EAQYBiABEgIFpvD_BwE

Tee20x · 22/01/2022 20:44

Even if it's over the 28 day return period some companies will allow an exchange/gift card so that you're still spending the money with them.

If they explain I'm 99% sure it will solve itself in some way. Just mention if, you'll be kicking yourself if you don't.

Sagaris · 22/01/2022 20:45

Avoid that Halfords one OP - tested to the legal minimum, the Joie seats are much better.

Surelyitscoffeetime · 22/01/2022 20:46

Or if you want isofix:

www.halfords.com/baby-and-child/car-seats/baby-car-seats/joie-tilt-0plus%2F1-baby-car-seat---pavement-806866.html

Original poster

Jellllybeeen · 22/01/2022 21:23

Thanks so much, will have a look at the link

Just to clarify, we've bought ourselves a new isofix extended rear facing car seat as DC is outgrowing their 0+infant seat, it just isn't as comfortable for them, they are tall and it's hard getting them in.

My in laws have bought a seat for their car which currently is rear facing but for some reason when they explained what they were thinking of getting, I thought it was extended rear facing but only by looking for a new one for our car, I've seen that theirs is actually only rear facing up to 10kg which DC almost is

In the new seat for our car DC will be able to rear face till 4 years old or thereabouts but now that I know the specs of the one my in laws have I don't think I can rest easy if DC were to be forward facing as they're only 9 month old.

Urgh I'm going to have to mention it to DH and discuss with them.

Thanks everyone. I can often worry about things, most people I know wouldn't know this about me as I always seem cool and calm so I just needed to get a bit reassurance that it's not just me being ott worrying for no reason

OP posts:

user1471457757 · 22/01/2022 22:47

Forward facing is illegal before 15 months so they definitely need a new seat.

Original poster

Jellllybeeen · 22/01/2022 23:54

I think it's only illegal if they are in an i size type seat which has to be rear facing till 15months old as these go by height?

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

otherwise I don't think a lot of these seats would be legal to buy?

OP posts:

annlee3817 · 23/01/2022 20:29

I was fussy as hell about rear facing, and researched and sent my parents options of what to buy that were in their price range, but that also had a good safety rating. Can you offer to take the seat back for them and swap for something more suitable? And maybe just pay the difference?

BlueberryPancake21 · 23/01/2022 22:12

@Jellllybeeen I realise it's only a legal requirement for i-size but maybe that's a route into the conversation? I.e. the law's changed for me car seats based on the latest research and it's 15 months now? It really is against the law for a reason as well - babies have weak necks and heavy heads.

I wasn't tightening the harness enough because I thought it would be uncomfortable for DC. The lady at the showroom was quite brutal and told me that you only have a car seat for one reason - to save your baby if you're in a bad crash. If you're not going to do it properly there's no point doing it at all.

They might surprise you once they realise?

Original poster

Jellllybeeen · 24/01/2022 21:29

Thanks everyone. Spoke to DH and he had a look at all the safety stuff and agreed we should definitely speak to in laws. I would have spoken to them regardless but was better he understood and was supportive. Have discussed with in laws today. They've been really understanding and are going to exchange it. They've asked for some advice on what what seat we think is best and we've sent some links. It's great to get a sense check sometimes to make sure it's not just me over worrying!

OP posts:

Shmithecat2 · 24/01/2022 21:35

@Jellllybeeen

I think it's only illegal if they are in an i size type seat which has to be rear facing till 15months old as these go by height?

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

otherwise I don't think a lot of these seats would be legal to buy?

You're correct. If the seat is isize (R129) then they have to rearface until at least 15mo, but in a R44 seat (as is the seat your ILs have bought) they can forward face after 9kg. Its awful, but legal.

CPDubs · 24/01/2022 21:54

We’ve had a similar situation, my daughter outgrew the seat in Grandparents car and they wanted to either carry on as she was just over weight limit, or go to hard backed booster.

She was only 3.5!

We had talks back and forth and they weren’t too happy. Easiest option in the end, I sourced and paid for a car seat I was happy with

Original poster

Jellllybeeen · 26/01/2022 16:03

Ah @CPDubs sorry you've had bother. I'm really pleased mine didn't get unhappy as I would have had to have been really firm and probably done what you had to do. I really think that these forward facing seats for such a small weight should have to have a disclaimer or something to say they are legal but rear facing is much safer, ideally I just wish they weren't available to buy, I've only discovered it through researching but a lot of people will have the viewpoint that they are safe because they are sold by household brands. And it's not that they are completely unsafe I suppose, it's just that they are a the legal minimum. Am sure most people if they knew would go for the safer ones

OP posts:

Flip

1 2