Car seat confusion

[mummy2_1]

My little one is 9months and a big 9months she is comfortably in 12-18 months clothes. I have read on the gov.org website, that the next stage carseat of 9months to 4 yrs can be seated forward facing OR rear facing. So by law does she need to be forward OR rearward facing at this age. I had thought the law had changed and she needed to be seated rearward but the document on the website is confusing. The carseat I have is my big boys old one he is now 3 and has a bigger next stage carseat. I'm going to use his old one temporarily while I get her new one. But the one we have can only be fitted with the seat belt while forward facing. If I was to have it in rear facing I'd have to disconnect the car seatbelt each time I got her out and put her in?! Any one know if I can use this stage carseat for forward facing legally???

 

[Spudtastic]

Sorry no help on the car seat laws but I really recommend extended rear facing. It's so much safer for the kids. I kept dd1 rear facing until 2 years (some go longer).

 

[freckleonear]

What car seat is it? When you say you would have to undo the seatbelt every time to get her in and out is that because the belt is in the way? Usually you can lift baby over it or tuck the belt down temporarily while you put her in.

As it's an old carseat rather than an iSize one, you can legally put her forward facing, assuming she weighs at least 9 kg. However, it is much much safer to keep her rear facing if at all possible.

 

[minties]

I would keep her rear facing, 9 months is still so young. Despite any annoying seatbelt stuff.

 

[greats]

I'm not sure what your laws are, but laws in most countries are very behind in the times when it comes to car seat safety... Definitely rear face for as long as possible until your little one reaches the maximum height and weight of the rear facing capabilities of the seat. Xo

 

[mummy2_1]

Thanks for advise think I'm gonna keep her rear facing for time being. Possibly could move the seatbelt down as I out her in. I've not tried it yet.

 

[Rainbow82]

As long as she is older than nine months and heavier than I think 9kg you can forward face legally, when it comes to car seats there are two laws running concurrently depending on what type of seat you have. Eventually it will change and everyone will need an Isize seat. I think originally it was scheduled to be next year but I don't think it will happen that quickly as there are still a lot of cars in the road without isofix. If you are only going to be using the seat temporarily I would personally put up with using the seatbelt and look at buying a rear facing car seat for her if it possible to fit one in your car and in your budget as the neck really can't stand the impact of a collision in a forward facing position at that age. We have a Joie ianchor which is one of the smaller and cheaper Isize seats because the base has the option to be belted in.

 

[mummy2_1]

Thank you. I'm using the seat as rear facing at the moment. It's not an isofix. It was my sons and he's now nearly 4. It will do til I get her new one. The moving belt is a pain but worth the hassle to keep her extra safe. I appreciate the comments. They swayed me to stay rear facing as she's still my tiny baby even though she weighs over 9kg