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Pushchairs

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Original poster

When did your DC stop rear facing?

42 replies

FanjoForTheMusic · 20/03/2011 14:58

Looking for a pushchair, and am not sure how important it is that it is rear facing. DD is 9 months, the current pushchair we have does rear and forward facing, but we generally only use it in rear facing mode.

I really enjoy being able to see her and talk to her, particularly as we spend at least two hours a day out and about. There aren't many rear facing options that are 'off roady' enough for the park etc, and will she want to shun her mummy be forward facing at some point anyway?

OP posts:
tigermummy35 · 20/03/2011 16:12

Our pushchair only forward faces, so DS was foward facing from birth. He likes to see where he's going, not where he's been :) or who is pushing him lol

horsemadgal · 20/03/2011 16:30

My eldest hated rear facing from about 6 months, he wanted to see where he was going (or maybe he was sick of looking at me!)

My youngest however didn't go forward facing until about 18 months. He doesn't seem to mind either way.

My eldest BTW was fab fab talker but my youngest at now 2 hardly has any clear words! Oh and I never shut up Grin

TuttoRhino · 20/03/2011 18:27

About 14-15 months. I would have preferred her staying rear facing for longer but she started throwing herself out of the pram by wiggling out of her straps.

I may try and switch it round again and see how she reacts.

LifeOfKate · 20/03/2011 18:38

DS is 15 months and still rear-facing, although when DH takes him out, he switches him round as he thinks it's more interesting for him. DS isn't bothered either way though, I have him rear-facing mainly because I get bored and lonely when pushing him around on our own Blush :o

upyourdiva · 20/03/2011 19:13

My DS was exclusive rear facing until 9 months then on and off forard/rear as we fancied basically. Our pushchair handle just flipped so it was easy.

18m onwarrds solely forward facing.

I don't think it's as much of an issue as the media would have us believe though.

cat64 · 20/03/2011 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
FanjoForTheMusic · 20/03/2011 19:25

Thanks everyone! I don't think DD is that bothered, she's been front facing a few times and seemed happy enough. I'm with LifeOfKate, I get bored and lonely if I can't see her!

Just didn't want to factor in rear facing and narrow my choice hugely to find she hates rear facing next week! Grin

OP posts:
MonkeysPunk · 20/03/2011 20:01

Ds still rear facing at 2 and a half. We sometimes have him forward facing too as buggy can do both. Mostly he prefers rear facing.
He does spend a lot of time in the buggy as I walk everywhere. A minimum of two hours a day Mon to Fri. It would be quite isolating to have him facing away. It's a densly populated area with a lot of road traffic. We can barely hear each other to chat sometimes so facing me provides better communication in these circumstances.

Original poster
FanjoForTheMusic · 20/03/2011 20:53

What pushchair do you have MonkeysPunk? I think I've narrowed it down to a Baby Jogger City Elite or a Teutonia, but only the Teutonia does rear facing AFAIK.

OP posts:
jellybeans · 20/03/2011 21:20

16 months.

ChasingSquirrels · 20/03/2011 21:21

mine - when they stopped using the buggy

tigermummy35 · 20/03/2011 21:53

MonkeysPunk has a good point to make, I guess it depends on where you live/go to, to a certain extent. It's quiet here so I can prattle on talk to DS and he can ignore listen to me as he chooses.

I've not heard any media comment about forward/rear facing. I bought a practical buggy from birth 'cause I didn't want to spend loads on something that dismantled into several parts (rather than a quick fold down), and filled the whole car boot when folded. After all, it's a tool, not a fashion statement!!

I've seen the Baby Jogger in a shop recently and was very very impressed Fanjo.

Purplebuns · 20/03/2011 22:02

My DD is rearfacing at 22 months, we have a good chin wag :o I do have forward facing option but she is fussier then.

Mumbybumby · 20/03/2011 22:08

My DD is rear facing at just turned 2. This is in a double buggy with DS's cot/carseat in front of her. She just likes annoying DS facing whoever is pushing. :)

Original poster
FanjoForTheMusic · 21/03/2011 07:23

Thanks all, yes, the Baby Jogger looks great but it's only forward facing. Aargh, decisions decisions.

OP posts:
upyourdiva · 21/03/2011 09:48

The Baby Jogger select is rear and forward facing AND if you are planning another DC soon you can add an extra seat to it, both facing either way :o

MonkeysPunk · 21/03/2011 10:43

Hi, I have a Bugaboo Cameleon Grin.....it's taken me years to get one - at first I resisted thinking it too fashionable - a fad, a status symbol etc...

Then a friend of a friend got one - and I had a little push - and found it was a dream pushchair for me - I love the seat unit - it tilts all in one (so feet go up wards too and are supported - so not just the back that reclines), I love the hood which is rain proof and also keeps sun off, it pushes so nicely. It's light, it's smaller than the huge baby jogger I used to have (baby jogger summit - which is quite wide and long) so nippy in the shops (I grocery shop daily after dropping kids at school).

It is a very expensive pram to buy - I got on discount offer from Mothercare and then bought the top covers from another shop (on sale) - and I'm hoping to get a good price when I'm finished with it - which won't be until he's about FIVE Shock because of the distances we cover.

DS has older siblings in school which is over a mile from home - there's no bus service and we walk there and back twice a day - and when he starts school on half days he will walk there and back several times so we can collect his siblings too (so he's bound to need the buggy for some of this!).

DS does walk a fair bit too - he's not IN the buggy all the time - but it's there if he needs it, and to transport the shopping too. (and I did sell a LOT of stuff on ebay to help raise the money for it too).

Yes I do feel a bit guilty about the high cost - but it's making life much more pleasant, and I don't spend out on car insurance /diesel / road tax on the other hand. Blush

MonkeysPunk · 21/03/2011 10:52

I did have a baby jogger city elite, it was lovely to push - and a good size seat and very comfortable for ds - BUT - in our circumstances he was complaining and asking to be carried instead because he couldn't talk to me or see me most of the time.

I sold it on ebay.

I did used to use slings a LOT too, but I have been plagued by serious back problems (possible slipped disc) which has made that difficult (even using uber-comfy back carries in a wrap sling - because of the twisting and manouvering to get him on my back - not the weight once there).

Also back carries are quite antisocial - in that baby/toddler still cannot see your face and you still can't hear them in heavy traffic and you are missing the eye contact.

Purplebuns · 21/03/2011 11:27

I recommend the bug bee + and cameleon, for an older child the bee is a lot lighter. I keep trying to sell my cam, but keep chickening out from sticking it on eBay.

Original poster
FanjoForTheMusic · 21/03/2011 12:02

Will the Bugaboo be OK off-road? The wheels look more of the size of the ones on city pushchairs.

Yes, upyourdiva, I liked the look of the Select online, but not see keen in the flesh, the two front wheel posts seem to stick out v far (which I presume they need to to put the second seat on). Will go back and have a second look.

Interesting MonkeysPunk about your City Elite, that would be a NIGHTMARE, to buy one and DD not like it!!

Starting to wonder if Teutonia is the only answer, it's front facing and suitable for off road apparently. Bloody expensive though, there don't seem to be many second hand.

OP posts:
Purplebuns · 21/03/2011 12:39

Bug cam is good for terrain, If you are a serious off roader then you can get snow wheels, my cam has done some snow and woods. With the standard wheels or in the two wheel terrain position fine. There are lots of vids on youtube take a peek. :)

Icoulddoitbetter · 21/03/2011 12:50

My DS is still rear facing at 17 months. I have a stroller that DH likes to use that's forward facing, but it just seams wierd when I take it out and I can't see him! DS doesn't seem to mind. He's not talking yet so it'd be difficult for him to get my attention when he's facing outwards.

I'm newly and if all goes well DS will be 2 when the new bub is born. I've started to think about prams and I'm very torn as to what to do. Loads of people round hear have Phil & Teds, but I don't like the idea of a newborn being underneath and facing away from me from the start. Not sure where to go with this, any advice gratefully recieved!

Original poster
FanjoForTheMusic · 21/03/2011 13:29

There are lots of Phil & Teds around here too, and I don't like the look of the newborn lying with its head right by the pusher's legs, IYSWIM. Not that I'm having a second any time soon! Grin

I agree, it's weird not to see DD. I think I've spent SO many hours pushing the pram (not a good cot napper at the beginning!) that I've got used to looking at her. She's also very cute. Smile

OP posts:
eeyore2 · 21/03/2011 14:06

Around 14-15 months DS started to lean around and wanted to look forward so I changed the buggy to forward facing. Now he loves seeing where he's going and tends to sit forward looking all around.

stinkyfluffycat · 21/03/2011 14:11

She stopped rear facing when she started to crane her neck round to see where she was going. Can't remember how old she was - somewhere in between 14 - 20 months..

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