Re-forward facing child’s car seats.

joe134

FreddieFrugal wrote: »

Can see why there's confusion joe as you've said that the seat is butted up but also has inches of space.


As said - there are two standards currently along side each other. The 15 month rule applies to I-Size seats only - at the moment.

You want to keep them rear facing for as long as possible. Childrens legs are very flexible - you don't need to worry about leg room. It's only if their head is above the top level of the seat OR their weight is reaching the maximum weight for the seat that they need to move up -

I've got a 0 - group 3 car seat so lasts from birth to 12 years and can be rearward facing up to 18kg (roughly 4 years old)

Although as I said, I can't actually fit it in my car rearward facing anymore with it adjusted to his height.

thanks for pointing that out to me Freddie.
I did say butted up, sorry about that.
As I have a two door car at present,and looking at a new seat, ideally, forward facing would be more practical , for getting him in/out of it.
I take the whole seat out at present with him in it, not ideal.
I am looking at leaving the new one in permanently, so want one that can turned, when required.
At 6ft 4inches, my seat has to practically abut his at the moment, I move it to opposite side.
A new rear /forward facing one, would be ok, when I get a new 4 door.
His will probably ? last till he is 15 months at present, but will have to change seat before the car.
Only want to do both once, without falling fowl of the law, and keeping him safe.:beer:

kirmal12

You want to keep him the safest you can then rear face until he's four/ish, my son is very tall for his age, he RF until he was four. I purchased his seat from Sweden as it wasn't available in the UK 6 years ago. They have the best car seat laws and knowledge in the world regarding child safety. We are far to quick to turn them round here. Same goes for older kids, deaths are rising in 8yr olds, people are far to quick to take them out of high backed booster seats.

victor2

sheepy21 wrote: »

500% safer rear facing to at least four years! Forward facing you risk internal decapitation and the child is much more likely to die in an accident

Where do you get your data from?
If you're hit in the rear, surely a child facing the rear is going to risk more injury than a forward facing one? I would have thought a majority of car accidents where a small child is a passenger involve "shunts" of some sort and for every car that runs into the back of another, there is one that is hit from behind.
Add to that the discomfort of a growing child being forced to be rearward facing and have it's legs folded up, plus the child can't see the driver (and vice versa). When do we conclude that it is just too dangerous for a small child to travel in a car under any circumstances?

Just being the devil's advocate.

rach_k

victor2 wrote: »

Where do you get your data from?
If you're hit in the rear, surely a child facing the rear is going to risk more injury than a forward facing one? I would have thought a majority of car accidents where a small child is a passenger involve "shunts" of some sort and for every car that runs into the back of another, there is one that is hit from behind.
Add to that the discomfort of a growing child being forced to be rearward facing and have it's legs folded up, plus the child can't see the driver (and vice versa). When do we conclude that it is just too dangerous for a small child to travel in a car under any circumstances?

Just being the devil's advocate.

The car accidents where a child would be safer forward facing are less common than the accidents where rear facing is safer. Plenty of stats if you Google. Do you disagree with babies rear facing too? The only difference in the physics of an accident involving a baby and a child is in the strength of the neck... and children are still much more vulnerable than adults, even when past the toddler years.

Anybody who has actually used a proper extended rear facing seat would find your objections based on comfort ridiculous. Children are more flexible than adults and will happily cross their legs or lean them up the seat. ERF seats tend to sit the child higher in the car so they get a great view out of the windows. My kids missed the visibility when we switched them to forward facing aged 5. You can add a mirror if necessary, although drivers really shouldn't be looking at kids in the car.

joe134

Having just ! had my car repaired after a rear end bump, from a woman in a Land Rover, on the phone, I /we are very careful.
Great grandson should have been in the rear seat at the time, just circumstances he was not.
This is not my only great grandchild, I have an 18 month one too, (who sits in a !!!!!! in all other cars,)so trying to get the seat for both to use in my car.
17 year old one is past a child seat.
As you can see, I am no spring chicken, and have used seats before.
There were no seat belts when I started driving, and I did not like wearing them, but, soon, it became automatic.
Times change , too quick nowadays.
Run before they can walk, but, I am just a victor meldrew. :-)
Armish according to the kids!
However, my grandchildren and children, and all their friends all use front facing seats as soon as they can , and they mostly all drive suv!, so I am afraid I can only put a rear facing seat in my car!
I am at loggerheads with my kids /grandkids over this, as they have used !!!!!! since the child became 9 kg! If not before.
Same as mirrors, they all have them, I won.t!
I see it all the time.
That is why
I am trying to determine the law for myself, as it has been a while since I purchased one.
I am not a lover of stats!
They can be used to prove anything, but take them aboard
The old adage.
There is lies, damned lies, and stats.

:beer:

sheramber

No need to be confused

If you want to use a front facing sear before the child is 15 months old then you need to buy a specific weight based seat, assuming the child is at least 9kg. There is no age restriction on weight based seats. Only the weight matters.

If you buy an I-size one then it needs to rear facing until 15 months, regardless of weight.

Brookside88

Please stay rear facing until at least age 2 if you can, it's so much safer! A Joie every stage is a very good option.

As for the "uncomfortable" and "can't see out the windows" comments. My son (just turned 2) if perfectly happy rear facing, his legs can still fully extend and he can see much more for much longer rear facing, imagine having your legs dangling for any length of time, i know id rather have my legs supported. He tells me when he sees "neenahs" and points at lorries so I know he can see plenty

Just do a bit of research into the benefits. So many people are so quick to turn their kids too early

Just my view but I feel quite strongly about it

joe134

Brookside88 wrote: »

Please stay rear facing until at least age 2 if you can, it's so much safer! A Joie every stage is a very good option.

As for the "uncomfortable" and "can't see out the windows" comments. My son (just turned 2) if perfectly happy rear facing, his legs can still fully extend and he can see much more for much longer rear facing, imagine having your legs dangling for any length of time, i know id rather have my legs supported. He tells me when he sees "neenahs" and points at lorries so I know he can see plenty

Just do a bit of research into the benefits. So many people are so quick to turn their kids too early

Just my view but I feel quite strongly about it

hi brook side, just looked at them on Halfords site, + others.
Wondering whether to go for isofix, as my car has it?
As I said, I read stats but do not always accept them.iso stats RF that I have read, not many, say they they are not nescesarily safer than belt ones?
In maxi-cosy at present!
Buying a car is easier than buying a seat:rotfl:

Brookside88

joe134 wrote: »

hi brook side, just looked at them on Halfords site, + others.
Wondering whether to go for isofix, as my car has it?
As I said, I read stats but do not always accept them.iso stats RF that I have read, not many, say they they are not nescesarily safer than belt ones?
In maxi-cosy at present!
Buying a car is easier than buying a seat:rotfl:

Go for belted, more compatible and just as safe when fitted correctly. Much cheaper too. You shouldn't have to pay more than 140. I switch mine into grandparents cars 3 times a week and it takes under a minute.

Be aware that you may have short seatbelts. It can still be fitted correctly by threading the belt before plugging in. Rather than plugging in belt and then pulling round back of seat. I'm very happy with it

It took me ages to choose the right seat, I agree it's certainly easier buying a car!

somethingcorporate

My 5 year old is still rear-facing and only now does she complain of being uncomfortable after a long journey. She's averaged sized for her age.