Car seats - how long did you rear face your child for?

[ShutterHaze]

I know a lot of people say “as long as possible”, but interested to hear what people have done in practice!

My two were age 5 and 6.

Until 5. Both above average height children in a small car.

I was hoping to reach 7 but she grew out of it at 6.5 years.

18 months - I know it should have been longer but she used to scream the car down and when she went forwards and could see me she became happier

Same as above, about 18m

3 and a quarter

5

3.5 yrs. She outgrew her 360 swivel seat so we then moved her into a forward facing one that will go until she doesn't need a seat any more.

Mine were both 4. The perfect age to get told they were far too old already by people who hate rear facing, and told I’m an awful mother by rear facing purists.

16months or so I think

DD1..14 months (now 14years)
D D2.. 2.5years (now 12)

Despite the small age gap, ERF became more available between the two.

I'm happy that there's been even more developments in car seat safety since they were toddlers, plus an increase in the minimum age (it was 9month for FF then, although most waited for the first eat to be outgrown).

They still are at almost 6, and 3 and a half.

1. Will try to go to 6 with second child. Wouldn’t dream of it before 5.

Both rear faced until 5. Our rule has always been rear facing until they start school.

Ah the perfect sweet spot! Excellently done haha

Age 4. Had no choice as his specialist buggy was replaced with a wheelchair that doesn't fold so can't fit in the boot. He now travels in his wheelchair which scares me as wheelchairs aren't crash tested below a passenger weight of 20kg. The restraints hold his chair down securely but the belts don't hold him well and I have seen the videos that show what happens in the event of a collision but what other choice do I have?

Aiming for age 7 or whenever they outgrow their ERF seats (currently 2 and 4)

I hated having mine rear facing as they both got car sick and cried a lot so turned them forward as soon as it was legal which was 2 years for DD (Illinois) and 15 months for DS (UK).

Yeah, we had that problem too! Infuriating on all fronts!!

Around 18 months/2ish and that was seen as a bit extreme at the time 😂When my eldest was a baby, 9 months was the standard.

Mine were both 4. The perfect age to get told they were far too old already by people who hate rear facing, and told I’m an awful mother by rear facing purists

Ha ha! Very nicely put.

Mine were both 9 months. It was the norm. Prepared to be told what a terrible parent I am.

Ds (15) was about 18 months. That was seen as old to still be RF at the time. Thankfully we now know a lot more about car seat safety.

He used a seat of some form until he was 12 as that was the time the seatbelt sat properly without one.

DC1 til almost 4.
DC2 til 3.5 - had planned to wait until around 4 but he started getting travel sick so we moved him round and that helped tons.

MN is full of people saying they rear faced for a long time because these threads naturally attract people who did so. But off MN I don't even know anyone who rear faced their children for as long as we did with ours. DC1 is 7 and lots of the children in her cohort are in backless boosters now.

Thanks so much everyone - really useful
to see. I should make clear that there’s no intention to judge anymore or make anyone feel judged here! There seemed to be such a range and it’s hard to know what’s best. I need to replace my almost 3 year old’s car seat and wondering how
long term to buy and what sort/which one to get…

This made me smile! Parenting is full of judgment from all sides…!