When Did You turn bubs carseat around?

Yep - my little man has the distinct disadvantage of having parents who have seen the consequences of inappropriate child restraint. He is not exactly huge (and only just at the 8kg anyway) but he will be facing backwards until well after 12 months. There are too many idiot drivers in Sydney that risk me being rear ended. I can't place my child at an increased risk of injury through somebody else's fault when I can prevent some of the risks by keeping him facing the back. He has a mirror to see us and is mostly fine that way. JMO.

Mako - Sage is waaaay too little. You have permission to forehead slap your husband :D (alternatively - make him watch the video)

12 months and not turned yet (10kgs) although will have to soon as he is getting a little cramped/squashed rear facing. I would keep him rear facing forever if possible as it's so much safer (but of course will need to switch him one day soon). Also, when they fall asleep in a forward facing seat their head seems to flop around, much better supported rear facing for sleeping.

Hey there,
I was interested to read this thread, as I'm hoping to keep my DD RF til 12 months.

We got one of the big mirrors (like a teddy with a mirror for tum) so I could see her from the front while driving (precious first time mum, but loving the mirror).

I'm hoping that will help keep her happy, because she can see us too (unlike the smaller mirror thingies).

Hope this helps someone! :)

Well Logan - 5 months is still facing the rear however I turned Sophie now 19 moths when she was about 8 months.
Some may say it's too early but you should generally know when to turn your child around as they will let you know.
Sophie used to try and turn her head around to see us and would always be quite cranky when we put her in her seat, she would always lean forward as if she were about to leap out of the seat!
I guess try to keep in the rearward facing position for as long as you can because it is by far the most safest but if your child is insisting on turning around then make sure that your little one can strongly and firmly hold their head upright.

Hope this helps!

The guys who fitted our carseat recommend turning at 12 months or 12 kilos. DS is almost 12 months, and 10 kilos and TBH, I haven't really thought about turning him around yet. He's safe and happy where he is, so I think I'll just leave well enough alone for a bit longer. Mind you, I don't think a baby being unhappy is a good reason to turn them around. Better a crying baby than an injured one. JMO.

I turned DD when she grew out of her travel system stage 1 (group 0) carseat. She had one which could front or rear face but was only safe up to 9kg, so once she hit that i got her a new one which can only front face (stage 2-3, group 1-2) and so she was turned then too. She was always tall - her feet touched the seat back from 4 weeks in the RF position and by the time i turned her (about 10months) he legs were fully flexed in the RF position.

im thinking i'll turn him around 12 months

just wanted to mention that you can get U-shaped neck pillows (like travel pillows) for infants/babies...so If you do turn them and they are still quite small, you put it on with the gap at the back...so like a horseshoe around their neck, and it helps support their heads a bit :)
You can get them at KMart and things and they are only about $10 :)

LS, that is good to know, but it is still illegal and against the safety guidlelines of car seats sold in Australia, to turn them around before they are 8kgs, and I think they also need to be 6 months of age too. Between 8kgs and 12 kgs it is optional but highly recommended to keep them rf, then from 12 kgs they need to be turned around as the seats here aren't safe rf beyond that. In Sweden they make bigger rf seats and keep their kids rf until 4 yo!

MR - oh yes!! No I wasnt suggesting that pillow for pre-*kg (mines 9kg)....Just I think someone mentioned that they had to turn it earlier than they would have liked due to having nother capsule/seat in teh car, etc. Just for peole that did decide to turn them before they are 12-18mths...

I'd hate to have 3 under 3 in Sweden!! lol Id have to drive atruck!

Thanks LS - that was me that said I wasn't happy with my little girl being turned yet but the arrival of her new sister soon hasn't given me a choice. Fortunately she is technically heavy enough (just over 9kgs), is 12 months in a couple of weeks and has great neck control. Would just much rather still be seeing the back of her little head rather than her face. I almost feel as if I'm sacrificing the safety of one of my children for that of the other.

I agree with Sez - just because a baby is happier facing forwards (which my DD certainly is) isn't a good enough reason to turn them. I imagine there will be a ton of decisions I'll have to make in the future for my DDs' welfare that won't be popular with them - all part of being a responsible mummy IMO.