How many of you use 'Rear Facing' with your toddlers?

lauren_1

Just wanting to see how many others do it, what car and car seats they have. Also how many have sourced a 5 point seat for a 4+ year old.

I have seen a britax regent and another britax (cant remember the name off the top of my head) - we need to import it from america but cant see any in europe at all.

Thanks

MX5huggy

You don't get rear facing for toddlers.

Can't see any reason why you would want to import one from the USA.

TiTheRev

Me either. My boy would be so bored and frustrated looking backwards in the car all the time. You can get forward facing seats that slide forward slightly to allow for sleep and extra comfort, but rear facing is unnecessary and as MX5 said unavailable for children under about 12months.

If you want to protect your child's neck in the unfortunate event of an accident, get them a neck brace to wear everywhere, because putting them in a rear facing seat will only protect them if you hit someone in fron of you. If you are hit from behind a rear facing seat will have the same issue as you are trying to protect them from with the standard forward facing seat

lauren_1

MX5huggy wrote: »

You don't get rear facing for toddlers.

Can't see any reason why you would want to import one from the USA.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Oh you make me laugh

lauren_1

TiTheRev wrote: »

Me either. My boy would be so bored and frustrated looking backwards in the car all the time. You can get forward facing seats that slide forward slightly to allow for sleep and extra comfort, but rear facing is unnecessary and as MX5 said unavailable for children under about 12months.

If you want to protect your child's neck in the unfortunate event of an accident, get them a neck brace to wear everywhere, because putting them in a rear facing seat will only protect them if you hit someone in fron of you. If you are hit from behind a rear facing seat will have the same issue as you are trying to protect them from with the standard forward facing seat

No you dont!! What are you talking about?

If i am hit from behind how on earth will the force throw the child to the rear of the car as you suggest??

You get the shunt and crash force throwing everything forward, It doesn't matter which way you are hit (except sideways) in a rear facing seat the childs weight is taken by the seat in a cradle effect.

The only way that the shunt is directed to the rear is if you are hit head on whilst parked.

TiTheRev

lauren_1 wrote: »

No you dont!! What are you talking about?

If i am hit from behind how on earth will the force throw the child to the rear of the car as you suggest??

You get the shunt and crash force throwing everything forward, It doesn't matter which way you are hit (except sideways) in a rear facing seat the childs weight is taken by the seat in a cradle effect.

The only way that the shunt is directed to the rear is if you are hit head on whilst parked.

That's exactly what I was saying you cannot cover all bases with a child seat. Side and rear impact will both effect a rear facing seat. Side and front impact will effect front facing seats. Unless you have a child neck brace, there is always a chance of injury in an accident.

A law brought in in Sept 06 says that all children over 3years old or 135cms must be on a booster seat with a proper seat belt attached with the only acception being a taxi (for some reason!).

My 18month old would ball his eyes out of he couldn't watch where we were going or have a conversation with us about things he sees on the way. You are detaching the children from you on a drive having them facing the sky behind you! I dont understand your logic...

lauren_1

You don't understand my logic?

My logic is that the u.k carseat laws are so far behind in terms of child safety, In many European countries it is the law for under 4's to travel rear facing, there are larger seats available to give extra leg room and give a better veiw from the seat - Google the britax nordic, reccaro rear facing and britax fixway.


These seats are made in the U.K but exported as britax don't think there is a market for it as our laws are so lax. Hundreds of Britih parents either import or travel to these countries just to get these types of seats.

It's not about being mean to your kid and not wanting him to see out the window properly, it's about protecting your childs neck and spine in the event of an accident. Even a light shunt can result in whiplash for an adult so when your 2 years old and your head is still out of proportion to your baby it can do a heck of a lot worse.

TiTheRev

But my sons front facing seat has a 4point harness, head side cushions and recaro style seating to keep him secure in the seat. More than you or I get in the front seats hence we are more likely to get whiplash.

If the stats were analysed, Im sure that of the percentage of accidents, and the percentage of those that had children under 3 in, and the percentage of those that were in a forward facing seat, and the percentage of those that resulted in the child getting whiplash...you would see that it's not economically viable for the companies to sell them in the UK. If they were as great as you suggest, and provided 100% better security, they would be marketed as such and sell like hotcakes on that basis. I am sure that they actually dont make that much difference, and that is more the reason, there is not a market for them.

I appreciate what you are saying, and applaude your concern for childrens safety, but it's a bit OTT imho.

TiTheRev

In many European countries it is the law for under 4's to travel rear facing

I have seen a britax regent and another britax (cant remember the name off the top of my head) - we need to import it from america but cant see any in europe at all.

Ive been to Europe numerous times and never seen one in the UK or Europe... Does everyone in Europe import from USA too?!

lauren_1

Ok, sweeden, norway, denmark, finland and etc etc require rear facing for as long as possible up to 3/4yrs, Sweedish laws say 5, many countries without the law still use rear facing as its found to be safer.

Top tethers are also a requirement around the globe inc America, Canada and Australia.

What do we have in the U.K apart from a really bad infant RTA mortality rate?

No they don't import from america we import rear facing seats to sweeden yet have to buy them back if we want them, it's just easier to get a 5 point seat that will fit up to 36kg/79lbs from America.

Nothing is ever going to be 100% safer but they are selling like hotcakes to U.K parents! Our government wont pass any new laws on car seat safety due to the back lash from the last one.

If the law was passed tomorrow and you were told 'you must buy these types of seats' and rearface your kid until they are 4 years old, there would be a huge outcry of 'nanny state' 'my kid gets bored' and 'I know better' which is what happened with the last one.

Hintza

I can see both points of view here and if OP wants to source a seat from abroad. Although we didn't get the type OP is talking about I searched high and low in the UK and Europe and in the end the easiest way was to buy on EBay Germany.

Our Kelty Jogger came from EBay USA. So Lauren have a look there.


Slightly off topic but....

I'm afriad when our was a toddler and her mother was away I had her on the pony and just about every time it resulted in her being skyborne. She is coming up 5 now and plays Hockey, Rugby, Rides, Swims and will be coming shooting with me (prob just the afternoon shift).

My point is I feel that there are risks all around us but it makes life a lot easier for them if you toughen them up early.

Lauren you might be right to decide on this type of seat but I think what others are trying to say is that although safer these seats might detract from your toddlers life experience. Everything we do has plusses and minuses and that is the joy of being parents we get to do it our way for better or worse.

But good luck in your search.