Car seat confusion

They are weight and height based so when your baby has reached the limit which in most infant carriers is 13kg and 75/80cm (it’s usually on the sticker on the side) they can then move into a extended rear facing seat. It’s best to keep children rear facing until 5 years old when they are ready for a high backed booster. My daughter is currently going through the stage of getting upset in the car seat but I’m just persevering as her seat is 13kg and 75cm and she’s only 6.9kg and 67cm so she has a long time left till she’s outgrown it and for the money they cost I’m getting my use out of it

My baby was crying everytime she went in, we have upgraded now and shes happy in the car again, as above check your model/make and the guidelines for that seat

My grandson would get whiny in his old car seat. He’s too big for it now so we upgraded to a front facing one and he’s so much happier in the car now

@Kate Just checking that your grandson is older than 15months to now be front facing? I'd hate to not say something if you weren't aware they need to be rear facing until at least 15 months.

@Becka he is over the weight and height requirements for the rear facing car seat we had. I did know about the 15month age but when I spoke to our HV when she weighed and measured him she said he could go in a front facing car seat. It is not a must that he should be in a rear facing car seat and I went on the HVs advice. He is 10 months and is 12kg and 84cm, well over the weight and height limit for the rear facing seat we had

Legally, your child can travel in an ECE R44/04 approved car seat and forward face once they are 9 kg, which is around nine mo. Then the law is 15mo for other forward facing seats. But, they aren’t the safest seats. And one watch of a video with a crash test dummy, even in an approved FF seat, would likely have anyone questioning why you’d FF unless absolutely necessary. My son used to cry in his infant carrier and when we put him into his next seat, the crying stopped. I think the infant carrier was too reclined and just made him a bit more squashed up.

Not to scare anyone but forward facing before 5 could lead to internal decapitation in the event of an accident. Although legal from 9kg/15 months depending on the seat it’s not actually safe. In the event of an accident whilst forward facing the childs head is thrown forward and their body is pinned into the seat which can cause their head to decapitate internally. It’s much safer to rear face until atleast 5 years of age when the bone structure is more solid.

Also health visitors are not car seat trained and have no business advising on car seats. They literally know the law and the fact the HV has not advised on R44/R129 means they don’t even have a clue about the law. If your grandson is forward facing in an R129 seat it’s illegal as he has to be 15 months. So check the side of the seat to find out which certification the seat is

Just to add- when I say upgraded I mean to an extended rear facing also, same as above. We will rear face til at least 3/4 years old. The UK law is severely lacking

I didnt want to scare anyone by my comment, I just know how confusing the car seat world is! Just want us to all be informed and safe!

Thank you, all very helpful advice, and I am definitely keen to keep my child rear facing for the next few years. Not worth the risk! So my next question is… any suggestions on car seats, if you have bought one since your original baby one?

I have the axkid move. These are suggested by the car seat safety group but it depends on your babys height and weight centiles, may not need one that goes as high up https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vW2XdBTAsvasiAtN/?

I’ve got a big baby, he’s in a Britax max safe pro, as it will last a lot longer (36kg rather than 25kg) My eldest is in a joie 360 iSpin which is a good option for him- he’s small centile wise, but I’m not sure I’d buy it again if we went back in time! Both are very bulky seats though!!