Do we have to switch to forward facing?

[aliss]

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

Oh, well it wouldn't be a problem in Australia because I wouldn't drive anywhere, I'd just lay on the beach alllllllll day J/K, you wish right?

 

[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!

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

Radian xlt goes to 45lbs rf. The foonf by clek goes to 50lbs rf but is like $400!

To op, squished legs are fine, it may look uncomfortable to us, but just remember our lo's are a bit more flexible lol. Arianna usually crosses her legs.

 

[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

Radian xlt goes to 45lbs rf. The foonf by clek goes to 50lbs rf but is like $400!

To op, squished legs are fine, it may look uncomfortable to us, but just remember our lo's are a bit more flexible lol. Arianna usually crosses her legs.

Really? Hmm. I heard there was one that went to 65lbs? I must be crazy. Yeah, I think I will go for the Radian but if he's anything like his brother, he will just outgrow it by 2 anyways.

Funny enough, I actually got stopped by a police officer who told me to turn him forward (I think he was 22 months) because it was illegal for me to have him rear facing still past 1. I emailed them to complain got no response... lol, what a dumbass. My OH was going to go in and bitch at him (my OH is a police officer as well and with a hot temper) but we didn't.

Nobody knows the laws now

 

[NellyLou]

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

Diono radians are on sale through snuggle bugs right now! 5lbs to 120lbs! I ordered it on Monday and received it today

 

[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

Oh, well it wouldn't be a problem in Australia because I wouldn't drive anywhere, I'd just lay on the beach alllllllll day J/K, you wish right?

Well, if you want to do it in the pissing rain like today, even though it is 19c here, you can lay about on the beach all you want I'm like 10 min from the beach but I'm at the literal asshole of Australia (Tasmania) where the weather is never nice enough to be at the beach except for like 1 month of summer

And for AriannasMama: Genuine question. I want to know how I can be responsible in your eyes given the laws in my country? No snark, just curious. If there is no option, what can I do?

 

[highhopes19]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

Would be more irresponsible if you ignored guideliens for each carseat, kept child in seat they were to heavy for or was to tall for.... Or even didnt have lo in a carseat at all now that's irresponsible.

 

[AriannasMama]

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

Oh, well it wouldn't be a problem in Australia because I wouldn't drive anywhere, I'd just lay on the beach alllllllll day J/K, you wish right?

Well, if you want to do it in the pissing rain like today, even though it is 19c here, you can lay about on the beach all you want I'm like 10 min from the beach but I'm at the literal asshole of Australia (Tasmania) where the weather is never nice enough to be at the beach except for like 1 month of summer

And for AriannasMama: Genuine question. I want to know how I can be responsible in your eyes given the laws in my country? No snark, just curious. If there is no option, what can I do?

If there's nothing you can do, then there's nothing you can do. Its too bad that its not possible to erf in Australia. it should be the norm everywhere.

 

[overcomer79]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

Would be more irresponsible if you ignored guideliens for each carseat, kept child in seat they were to heavy for or was to tall for.... Or even didnt have lo in a carseat at all now that's irresponsible.

I read your thread earlier and I'm sorry you had to read this...

 

[readynwilling]

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

Diono radians are on sale through snuggle bugs right now! 5lbs to 120lbs! I ordered it on Monday and received it today

I ordered one on Monday and got it today!!! I can't wait to install it. DD IS 22 months, and 23lbs. Her current seat RF's till 35 and the new Radian till 45 .

But there is a huge different not only in laws but in cultures. I believe walking to the shops is common in the UK. Well it's 20km for me to go to the mall. So we drive in general A LOT more then UK moms so its not unreasonable to figure we have more options/rules.

 

[DaisyBee]

Ariannasmama - your carseat is one that I had to return as we couldn't get it to fit well in our minivan. Britax was more money, but it fit better rear facing in our vehicle. We still didn't like that one rear facing. Im thinking we need to keep looking for a better option for jordan, there has to be erf seats that don't push the front seats up to the dash!

I just want to add too that they didn't recommend rear facing til 2 in the us until a few years ago. Yes there were studies, etc before then, but if you asked your dr they told you rear facing til 1 as that what the law was. Megan was just about 1 years when they changed us recommendations. But law still says 12 months. So there are tons of people in the us who didn't rear face after 12 months a few years ago. And even now, I see A LOT of people turning kids around as soon as they turn 1.

Eta - also wanted to mention I was a daycare provider before my kids were born. To transport kids I had to have carseat safety training courses. Erf was never mentioned. That wasn't that long ago... It takes time for changes to happen.

 

[AriannasMama]

Sweden has rear faced since the 60s.....js

I should rephrase that if you are in the us and aren't erf unless your baby is too big you are irresponsible.

 

[Lauki]

At 18.5 months Sophie still fits in her infant carseat. Yes her legs dangle and she's froggy legged, but she's fine. She's not too tall (just coming up to it now) and the weight limit is 25lbs, whereas she is only 22lbs8oz.

We do have a forward facing seat in our car now as she is getting too tall now. But I wouldn't switch just because her legs are hanging over. If she's still happy sitting in it, then I certainly wouldn't swap her until she's at least reached the lower weight limit to go into a forward facing seat .

 

[Dk1234]

My son is 24 pounds at 6 months I got a erf seat but it only goes to 40 lbs. we will def not be making it til 3 or 4 probably not even 2.

 

[Lauki]

Ooh and with too tall I mean that her head is coming up to the top now!

 

[Wildfire81]

I thought you're suppose to turn them around when they reach 9kg? We don't drive but when we go in friends and mil's car he's still in his baby car seat and is rear facing but he looks so uncomfy so we're getting him a forward facing one x

It's age 1 minimum here in Canada and the US... 9kg is a minimum in the UK.

It's age 1 AND 20 lbs in most states in the US. That being said, we have a small car and my son's convertible rf seat fit just fine. I didn't think there was an issue with legs dangling over an infant seat as long as she was in the weight range? I don't think mine has a height spec on it but even if it did, I don't think she is over that.

With regards to it fitting in the car backwards, I think it depends on how tall you or whoever is in the passenger seat is (depending on what side you have lo on). DH and I would have our knees in the dashboard with a rear facing convertable behind us in my car lol, it's practically that way with the infant one rear facing and I actually told DH that I think we need to get me an SUV because my car was definatly not made for someone with two kids in the back seat lol

This is so true. We had a coupe before, and when we had to get a bigger seat it would not even fit in the car! Now we just sold that car and drive a Cadillac. It is a huge car in comparison, and the newer ones are so cool. It thankfully has a latch system and harness for when he gets over 40 lbs and has to be front facing.

 

[dizz]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

Would be more irresponsible if you ignored guideliens for each carseat, kept child in seat they were to heavy for or was to tall for.... Or even didnt have lo in a carseat at all now that's irresponsible.

Other examples of corking (and PROPER) irresponsibility seen lately round here:

Rear facing baby carriers in the front seat of cars with airbags
Babies on laps in the front seat of cars
As above - but advanced stupidity of the passenger not belted in
The eternal classic of a toddler aged child climbing on the back parcel shelf of the car totally unrestrained... added points for stupidity if the car has 9 million "baby on board" signs in the back window
Mum climbing over the passenger seat into the back seats to sort out a sibling argument while the car is in the outside lane of the motorway doing 80mph (tell a lie that that one wasn't local - it was up near my parents' house)

Yeah... THOSE are irresponsibility. Just so we keep things in context here.

(All seen within the last few months by myself)

 

[Siyren]

just wanted to post a pic of an ERF-ing older child for those that have concerns. lyssa is 3, and is perfectly happy in her britax elite. (and would certainly let us know if she wasnt) we have a tiny rover but this seat fits great, it's pretty universal-
thought this would help those that want to rear face but think nothing would fit in their car. milton keynes in car safety centre were amazing with helping us.

https://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2732/img2013010600065.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us


to those that have no other option but FF- how could you be irresponsible?- you're making the best choices you can for your LO with the options you have available to you. that's the definition of a good mother x

 

[Siyren]

excuse our messy car btw- OH is into fishing.
this was taken as she turned 3 years 3 months. - and the harness is level with her shoulders- so not sure why it looks so high? x

 

[ktod]

She should stay rear facing as long as possible. Its irresponsible to turn her forward facing before 2 IMO. If my 27 month old can rear face comfortably so can a younger baby.

Edit. You SHOULD keep them rear facing to 3.5-4 medically speaking. The cervical region of the spine isn't fully ossified until that age, forward facing too early could cause SEVERE injury, including internal decapitation.

Would be more irresponsible if you ignored guideliens for each carseat, kept child in seat they were to heavy for or was to tall for.... Or even didnt have lo in a carseat at all now that's irresponsible.

Other examples of corking (and PROPER) irresponsibility seen lately round here:

Rear facing baby carriers in the front seat of cars with airbags
Babies on laps in the front seat of cars
As above - but advanced stupidity of the passenger not belted in
The eternal classic of a toddler aged child climbing on the back parcel shelf of the car totally unrestrained... added points for stupidity if the car has 9 million "baby on board" signs in the back window
Mum climbing over the passenger seat into the back seats to sort out a sibling argument while the car is in the outside lane of the motorway doing 80mph (tell a lie that that one wasn't local - it was up near my parents' house)

Yeah... THOSE are irresponsibility. Just so we keep things in context here.

(All seen within the last few months by myself)

Dizz if you've seen me driving around with LO in the front seat in the infant carrier I can assure you I've switched the airbag off but I get what you are trying to say

 

[Lollipopbop]

It's not a big problem for us as we walk everywhere and don't own a car but we obviously need a car seat for when we go in friends/relatives cars. I've just been following carseat guidelines and mine says to turn at 9kg but we're giving the baby seat to my pregnant sister anyway and getting a bigger car seat. He's always been RF cos he's only 7 months so I haven't thought about it much...

Could anyone tell me if you can have this car seat RF - https://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wc...displayA_65_10751_-1_14571_148007_10001_14568