Recommendations for car seats

[johT]

johT – Sorry I was a bit confused by your post? Maybe it's too early in the morning for me?! I thought once a baby was around 6 months or 9 kgs and could hold their head up, they usually switch to forward facing?

its safest to keep them rearward facing as long as possible....
the seats that convert are usually up to 18kg (my babylove one is)- my 4yo still fits in hers (18kg) - but we have just switched her to a booster seat with a lapsash belt.
why would you want to restain an older child (above 18kg) in the safest thing you can get (such as the maxi-rider instead of a booster) - but then put a 6month old forward facing? sorry doesn't make sense to me

yes you CAN turn them at roughly 6 months/9kg/good head control (check the seats instruction manual for recommendations) - BUT most of them recommend that you wait until your child is 12kg before you turn them if you get a seat that is reversible. it is SAFER to leave them rearward facing for as long as possible - most seats (babylove or safe'n'sound) let you keep them rearward facing until 12kg (check the manual). it is so much safer if you are involved in a crash. (and sidenote - great for if they fall asleep in the car - they flop about everywhere forward facing no matter what age!)
here in SA you got to the Redcross and they give you the current advice and can correctly install seats. other states i think one is called kidsafe??
i went recently and now my 4 yo has a H harness with her booster on their recommendation - alot safer...i had thought we couldn't use one with the lapsash belt but i was wrong:eek: oops.

now i am going to admit to being a hypocrite *blush* - my DD was turned at 10 kg/1 year, i would have liked to delay it until 12kg but the front seat was too close to the windscreen and i had to also consider the safety of my elder stepchildren.a compromise

i was also trying to say that if you got a convertabe seat - it should last until atleast 4 years old/18kg anyways - then you could use a booster with a H harness ....

[Fee]

Thanks Joh... I understand now.

I believe most of the SNS convertible seats are from newborn to 18 kgs but they say "Baby can stay in rearward-facing position up to 12kg". I guess after that they won't fit in the rearward position and you have to turn it around?

[johT]

yes correct
they might still fit size wise - but you do need to go by the weight, not 100% sure why...
i know its important not to exceed the weight limit forward facing (18kg) as it puts stress on the car seat straps???