Do we have to switch to forward facing?

[Gc85]

We'll be keeping LO rear facing for as long as possible, IMO when my LO turned 9 months (UK minimum) she still seemed really young to FF considering the possible stress on the neck and spine during an crash even though she was well above the weight limit to FF.

I've had whiplash as a passenger from a very minor impact and it was horrible for months after, I can't imagine what that kind of strain must do to a baby's neck

 

[aliss]

Haha, I came back here and was wondering why on earth robinator's simple question about state law/seat specifications had blown up??

My son outgrew his ERF at 23 months (Graco MyRide 65), I loved ERF but I can't just keep buying new seats constantly, that's a bit OTT.

 

[aliss]

You know, I don't necessarily disagree from a safety standpoint, but it's very easy for us North American girls to get up on our high horses about this, because ERF here is a good 2-4x cheaper and our cars are a lot bigger. It's not quite so for other girls here, half of whom don't even own cars but keep a spare seat around just because.

 

[AriannasMama]

You know, I don't necessarily disagree from a safety standpoint, but it's very easy for us North American girls to get up on our high horses about this, because ERF here is a good 2-4x cheaper and our cars are a lot bigger. It's not quite so for other girls here, half of whom don't even own cars but keep a spare seat around just because.

I totally get that but I've had some people argue with me that it can't be safer since erf isn't common around them.

Also, ot but your son must be a big boy to have outgrown the myride before 2! We had that seat before our accident in May, it was huge!

 

[robinator]

What does the seat say it can take, eg mine says 30lb or 30 inch with ever comes first, my LO has just gone past the 30inch but is only just getting towards 25lbs so we have to by a new one. If your LO is still within the specs for length facing rear facing which are how the seat was tested for safety then its fine to keep them in it, if you have gone past the length max a would not use it that way as you don't know how that will change its safety.

She's within the limits for the carseat, but the way her legs dangle made me think we should upgrade.

But with the crammed legs with the new carseat when it's rear facing, I thought maybe I should turn it around.

 

[lauraclili]

We have an erf seat besafe izi Combi x3 which is brilliant and lasts forever but it's huge and we have a huge car (Volvo v70). In the uk, erf is very rare. I'm the only person I know who does it and even my family have questioned why I'm doing it. Our cars are generally tiny and my car seat was 4 times that paid by my other mummy friends. :/ I was very lucky as I sold a load of stuff to be able to afford the car seat because it was important to me. I don't think any one can really call anyone irresponsible for having to prioritise their money elsewhere. (For the record, my car seat would have been $560 in US as a direct conversion for what I paid in the uk)

 

[ktod]

I think we should cut the uk people some slack. I had never heard of ERF until I read about it on here. I then researched it and made the decision I want to keep my child RF as long as possible. If I hadn't read it on here I would still not know about it. They barely sell ERF seats here, but that is changing and they are slowly becoming more available.

I made a thread this week about how stupidly expensive it is as well, which is only going to hinder its popularity in the uk. But to the uk ladies who haven't considered it, I do think it is worth looking into. Just because they manufacture seats that go FF at 9kg doesn't mean it is perfectly safe. At one time we owned cars with no seat belts in the back, as the world progresses more research is done and guidelines change, it would be illegal to have no seat belts now but it was once perfectly acceptable.

I'm not judging anyone who wants to FF at 9kg but I just hope people will at least listen to the reasoning before getting defensive about it. (That comment is not aimed at anyone, its just people do get defensive about their parenting choices when challenged)

 

[Randianne]

Does anyone know how the car seats with pads instead of chest buckles measure up to the ERF ones? The padded ones are supposed to be safer because it redistributes weight during a crash, but I haven't seen any designed for ERF. Has anyone ever seen a comparison?

ETA: These car seats:

https://www.wayfair.com/Kiddy-USA-Kiddy-World-Plus-Booster-Seat-51-100-WP-YID1008.html

 

[robinator]

Chicco makes a convertible seat now? I was just shopping for a new seat last month and I don't remember them having one.

I would not turn her forward facing until she is at least 20 pounds. My lo was in his infant seat until 16 mo. He was 24 lbs and 32 in. But he still had more than an inch of seat above his head because he's long legged.

We ended up getting a Radian R100 and it fits in my car better than the keyfit did. It even fits well in the back of my OHs truck which has no legroom! We have him in the middle because the other two kids need the shoulder belts.

Yes, it was given to us. I don't know the model off the top of my head; it's in the garage and I don't feel like getting off my ass atm, lol

 

[SerenityNow]

Chicco makes a convertible seat now? I was just shopping for a new seat last month and I don't remember them having one.

I would not turn her forward facing until she is at least 20 pounds. My lo was in his infant seat until 16 mo. He was 24 lbs and 32 in. But he still had more than an inch of seat above his head because he's long legged.

We ended up getting a Radian R100 and it fits in my car better than the keyfit did. It even fits well in the back of my OHs truck which has no legroom! We have him in the middle because the other two kids need the shoulder belts.

Yes, it was given to us. I don't know the model off the top of my head; it's in the garage and I don't feel like getting off my ass atm, lol

LOL no worries! It's just that after spending god knows how many hours trying to figure out which seat would work in our "older than LATCH" "3 kids in the back seat" car I was surprised that there's one out there I hadn't heard of.

 

[babyrough]

I had never even heard of erf seats before being on here. My LO is now nearly 8 months and 22lbs, he's recently gone into his forward facing seat. It's already so huge for my car (I have a 3 door Renault Clio) the passenger seat is literally right up near the dashboard for it too fit.
I don't think I'm being irresponsible, i can't afford a new car seat, and I've never heard of or seen anyone keeping a child rear facing past about 9 months, it's the norm here. I think the uk has some catching up to do!

 

[robinator]

Chicco makes a convertible seat now? I was just shopping for a new seat last month and I don't remember them having one.

I would not turn her forward facing until she is at least 20 pounds. My lo was in his infant seat until 16 mo. He was 24 lbs and 32 in. But he still had more than an inch of seat above his head because he's long legged.

We ended up getting a Radian R100 and it fits in my car better than the keyfit did. It even fits well in the back of my OHs truck which has no legroom! We have him in the middle because the other two kids need the shoulder belts.

Yes, it was given to us. I don't know the model off the top of my head; it's in the garage and I don't feel like getting off my ass atm, lol

LOL no worries! It's just that after spending god knows how many hours trying to figure out which seat would work in our "older than LATCH" "3 kids in the back seat" car I was surprised that there's one out there I hadn't heard of.

Sorry, it's Cosco

 

[lauraclili]

I think the uk has some catching up to do!

That's true - we have the laxest laws on carseats in Europe.

 

[AriannasMama]

Chicco is coming out with a convertible soon

 

[whit.]

If you're living in America there really isn't a reason NOT to ERF. 99% of car seats after an infant carrier rear face until 40lbs!

 

[robinator]

I will definitely keep her rear facing for now; I thought I was the only one with the jammed-up legs problem! I feel uncomfortable switching her to forward facing right now because she is so light; when it's time to put the bigger seat in she'll just have to deal for awhile longer. I'm sure I'm more concerned with her comfort than she is, lol.

 

[pinklightbulb]

This debate always makes me laugh. I'm in Australia where there are no -- yes, NO -- ERF seats on the market. At all. Nothing. So the child either fits in the seat as per the guidelines, or gets turned when they reach the weight limit. End of.

There is no argument as it's not possible to go ERF in this country without buying a seat from overseas. And this isn't possible either as it will not meet Australian safety guidelines-- and it has to, to be installed in a car in this country. It has to be certified as having passed Australia's car seat safety test, and if it hasn't, no matter how safe it is, you will be fined, and the fines here are pretty hefty for having a child unrestrained, or in a restraint that has not been certified as safe by our Government.

So since that isn't possible with overseas car seats, our kids get turned at maximum 18 kg, which is the limit on the biggest car seat here. The most common is 12 kg, however, so that's when most kids get turned.

Yes, Australia is behind in its car seat legislation and it needs ERF options. But to call all mums from here irresponsible for something that isn't our fault? Bit presumptuous. Not everywhere in the world will have the same options as your country.

 

[SerenityNow]

Chicco makes a convertible seat now? I was just shopping for a new seat last month and I don't remember them having one.

I would not turn her forward facing until she is at least 20 pounds. My lo was in his infant seat until 16 mo. He was 24 lbs and 32 in. But he still had more than an inch of seat above his head because he's long legged.

We ended up getting a Radian R100 and it fits in my car better than the keyfit did. It even fits well in the back of my OHs truck which has no legroom! We have him in the middle because the other two kids need the shoulder belts.

Yes, it was given to us. I don't know the model off the top of my head; it's in the garage and I don't feel like getting off my ass atm, lol

LOL no worries! It's just that after spending god knows how many hours trying to figure out which seat would work in our "older than LATCH" "3 kids in the back seat" car I was surprised that there's one out there I hadn't heard of.

Sorry, it's Cosco

Thank goodness! I'm happy with the seat we got, but that wouldn't stop me from obsessing over the possibility that an even more perfect seat is out there.

 

[aliss]

You know, I don't necessarily disagree from a safety standpoint, but it's very easy for us North American girls to get up on our high horses about this, because ERF here is a good 2-4x cheaper and our cars are a lot bigger. It's not quite so for other girls here, half of whom don't even own cars but keep a spare seat around just because.

I totally get that but I've had some people argue with me that it can't be safer since erf isn't common around them.

Also, ot but your son must be a big boy to have outgrown the myride before 2! We had that seat before our accident in May, it was huge!

Yeah it's ridiculous but it's genetic, my 10 week old is 16lbs and we'll need a 2nd ERF, this time I'm getting one with the 65lb limit (Radian, I think) so as to not waste my time, since Alex is still too young for a booster by the time Philippe needs his ERF.

I wish I had small or even average babies

 

[pinklightbulb]

Lucky for me I have tiny kids and Eamon could still be RF-- he isn't, at almost 3, but he could be as his car seat goes to 12kg RF and he's 12kg on the nose lol. Liam will be RF forever and ten days as he's only 12lb at 7 months (I know. Tiny.) So mine will be safe. But for kids that aren't little like mine in this country, it's not so nice that Australia doesn't recognize ERF at all.

Aliss, you would be screwed in this country. It really needs to change. Just like I have small babies, some have big babies, and it's sad that a 1st world country doesn't know what "safe" is in regards to car seats. Australia needs to lift its game