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Would you like your baby to be five times safer....

92 replies

lagoonhaze · 01/05/2012 22:22

in the car?

If so then check out extended rearfacing car seats.

When I had my DS i went down the traditional route of infant carrier and forward facing at around 9mths. I was blissfully unaware of the risks that forward facing seats could pose to a young child body.

I started to see posts on mumsnet about extended rear facing (ERF) and it sparked me to do further research.

From //www.carseat.se

Children who sit rear facing in a car seat cut the risk for death or injury dramatically. But why is rear facing so much better and where did the idea come from?

There are three main reasons why rear facing is so much better. First one is the outstanding protection of a child?s head, neck and spine in frontal collision which is roughly 80% of accidents. Second is superior protection in side collisions. A rear facing child is pushed further into the car seat where it?s well protected. Third is a social reason, rear facing car seats often work better since driver/passenger can more easily communicated with the child

From before my DD was even conceived I knew she would be extended rearfacing and I set to work about slowly convincing my DP. I expected a struggle as this baby was his 3rd and my 2nd and all the other DCs were turned round like other around the year mark.

He looked at the research, videos and said yes knowing what I know now I, happy for us to ERF best start saving up for the seat!

Im pleased he has come to this conclusion with me as its something I feel very passionate about. However when I mention it to friends they look at me like I have two heads!

So if you want to check it out for yourself here are some good sites.

//www.rearfacing.co.uk

This is their facebook site which can answer any questions

www.facebook.com/groups/209783279077720/357870094269037/?notif_t=group_activity#!/RearFacingTheWayForward

Another fab site is

www.carseat.se/

There are loads of seats becoming available due to consumer demand. This along with an expected law change in early 2013 to keep all babies rearfacing til 14 mths means hopefully they will become the norm.

OP posts:

Report

JJWMummy · 07/05/2012 23:09

Have to say haze, the obvious answer to the question your post poses is 'yes' most definately.
However, as a lot of others have said it is v v expensive. I have 3 dc aged 13, 5 & 18 mths, I will not be having anymore and have purchased car seats already. As much as I appreciate what you are saying regarding the safety of rf it unfortunately just loads on the guilt, as we just can't afford to replace car seats at the click of our fingers. We have two cars and from what i've read two children who would require these seats, I just don't have a grand to spare at the moment, and i don't believe for one minute i'm alone in this.

I have a child with a brain injury, compared to that of an accident at 40mph and completely understand the life changing nature of disability, though this doesn't change my financial situation.

Not suggesting for one minute you are wrong in promoting these seats, i think you are quite right to do so, stats speak for themselves, but i do think you could be a little more careful in your wording.