Car seat positioning.... when?

[~*Niadalla*~]

Right, I am not sure if this is somewhere else, please point me in the right direction if it is...

DS is nearly 6 months, and it is nearly time to take back the capsule, or organise to hire it for a little longer.

Now to my questions...(lol).

When can he sit upright? I have heard the 6 months - 9 kgs rules.... but is it when they hit 6 months regardless of weight? When they reach 9kgs regardless of age? At least 6 months of age and at Least 9 kgs? When you think bubs is ready.. and has excellent head and upper body control? When they can sit on their own? A combination of everything?

I love the capsule for him lying backwards, but it's just a PITA having a car seat in the lay back positioning with all the belts to undo and do up..... I just find it annoying.
I want to just put his car seat in when he is able to sit upright so I don't have to clip/unclip the major belt. I dunno... I'm probably not making sense or sounding very lazy. lol

Just wanted to know....

[alioops]

I think it is at least 6 months, at most 9kg and most rear facing restraints also only go up to 70cm. HTH

[Olive]

our rearfacing goes up to 12 kg, we only just turned sophie around at christmas time at 9kg and 13 months, its safer for them to face backwards

[~*Niadalla*~]

kind of.....DS is far too long for the capsule already.... he is nearly 70cms, a very long bubba. his feet hang out the end and he rests them up against the back seat.... i worry its not very safe having him like this??

[Ellibam]

its perfectly safe foe them to hang out a bit when facing backwards!
backwards is the safest way i personally would wait until he is the 9 kg make(and i am cos i cant be bothered yet to go and get makons new seat)

[~*Niadalla*~]

even if they are pushing with their legs bent aginst the back seat? i worry that when he gets to that stage, which wont be long for my litte grey hound lol, that it could be very dangerous in an accident

[aussienic]

Is your car seat rear facing or just a forward facing one? If it is a rear facing one I would install it in the RF position..

Better to keep them RF for as long as possible..

[~*Niadalla*~]

Yeah its a rear facing one
I just hate how the anchor strap gets in the way..... We put the seat in the middle so that he is safest, as recommended by midwives etc.
It's all good. I'll just deal with it till it's time

Thanks everyone

[Ozziehoffy]

I can't recall properly... but I think the ambulance guy told me that length is important factor with capsules. He shouldn't be hanging his feet out from memory. I got them to fit our carseat when we took the capsule out. He is still facing the rear. I thought at first what a PITA with the straps as well, but in fact it's just as easy and quick once you know how to do it. The ambulance guy showed me as I told him it was a pain...lol. Now he's in and out in a breeze. I'd say make an appointment and get them to help you as they will show you how to do it the easiest way possible.

[Ozziehoffy]

I can't recall properly... but I think the ambulance guy told me that length is important factor with capsules. He shouldn't be hanging his feet out from memory. I got them to fit our carseat when we took the capsule out. He is still facing the rear. I thought at first what a PITA with the straps as well, but in fact it's just as easy and quick once you know how to do it. The ambulance guy showed me as I told him it was a pain...lol. Now he's in and out in a breeze. I'd say make an appointment and get them to help you as they will show you how to do it the easiest way possible.

Sorry that this posted twice!! Forgot to mention though that the anchor strap is actually very easy to deal with

[Ezz]

I understand your concern about his feet being squashed up against the back seat. Couldn't that break his legs in an accident? (I know, worse case scenario...)

[Beach Mama]

There is a very interesting thread and video about this HERE talking about leaving your child rear facing for as long as possible. Izzy is 7 1/2 mths and we will keep her rear facing for as long as possible.

Ezz - in the thread and video it discusses that they may get leg injuries, in a serious accident, however that is preferable to losing their lives as a result of not having a strong neck in a front on accident. Horrible to think about though isn't it.

[LuluHB]

I am planning to keep my DD rear facing until she's 12 months, which is when my next baby is due, and even then depending on how much she weighs she may still face backwards for a while. It would be a lot more convenient for her to face forward now because she's getting a bit grizzling in the car, but for safety I'd rather put up with the grizzles. The video Tan has attached makes for very interesting and scary viewing!

[alioops]

yeah, thanks Tan!

[Olive]

the anchor straps on most of the seats can be loosened!! check your manual!! makes life a lot easier

[Ozziehoffy]

That video is the reason we haven't turned Oskar around yet and have no intention of doing so until it is absolutely necessary. Saw it a while ago when it was originally posted here.... really gets you thinking!! Even the ambulance dude said it's best.

[Mez80]

I had the same queries and worries once DD feet started to stick out of the capsule and i could no longer carry her in it. We were lucky enough to choose the car seat we wanted to buy as it was a gift from DH's parents. We chose a rear ward facing seat as we didnt think dd was ready to sit facing forward. Like u, i found it an 'annoying position to put her in and out of and straps everywhere. 2 weeks after we installed the seat (DD was 7 months and weighed 8.5 kgs) we went to the drive ins. DH changed te seat position so she could watch the movie too...and we wee suprised at how well she sat in it. We also found out the seat could be tilted back a bit so she wasnt so upright..
DD loves to sit in her car seat and often falls asleep within minutes.

Best of luck