When did you turn the car seat around??

Just wondering at what age did people turn the rear facing car seat to a forward facing car seat? DS meets the weight limits to turn the car seat around (he is 8.5kg and the car seat can be turned around at 8kg) but im not sure if this is enough reason to turn it around. He has great head control also so i was thinking that we would do it at 6 months? Is this too early? Can i turn it around now? DS has all of a sudden become very unhappy in the car and i think its because he is continually trying to sit up in his seat. I personally think that maybe i should put up with the unhappiness for now or am i being a bit overly cautious??

Thanks for your replies..

DD1 was at 11 months only cos DD2 was coming along and i need the carseat. So she got a new one and made is forward facing from the start

DD2 was turned at 13 months

After seeing the video that's linked around here somewhere... I'm going about things the other way.

I'm not looking at it as "when can I turn the seat around?" but more of a "when MUST I turn the seat around?" Sam will face rearward for as long as we can possibly keep him that way.

Sam gets unhappy in the car, too... but I'd rather him be a little unhappy and a lot safer!

BW

DD was about 10.5-11 months when we turned the seat around. We were going to wait until her 1st birthday but one day I noticed how bunched up her legs were and how uncomfortable she was, plus also she was getting to heavy for us to put in and take out of the backwards facing seat.

I agree with BW. I have no intentions of turning the seat around anytime soon.I also saw those threads & links to You Tube. I will only turn him once I HAVE to

Girls where are those threads and what do i type into You Tube for the video? I would like to read them.

If it's safer to leave them rear facing then for sure I will wait even longer.... DD has only just started not crying in the car anymore anyway YAY so I'm not in such a rush to change her around LOL

Yup I've seen that video too.

And I am SO not turning her seat around until she is at least 1.

She's happy where she is - and I'm happy that she's happy - cos I ain't switchin.

WOW. Was it the video about the little boy called Joel? His grandpa made the video. That's sad.
I'm definitely going to wait til DD is just too big to be facing rear. I'm in no hurry after seeing that video. i didnt realise how important rear facing was,

Thank you for this thread.

i just had a look at that video renstar and i agree i will try and keep lachlan rear facing as long as possible. How scary!

Now i need to change my thread to how do you keep your 5 month old happy in the car!!

DS is still rear facing at 10 months and not planning on turning him until 1 year.

I think it also depends on car seat and how reclined it is as his is slightly reclined and he does sometimes sit forward a bit but generally is fine. He is happy in the car and often falls asleep.

isabel we bought a mirror thing that was ment for us to see DS but never figured out right place to put it but its on back of chair and he looks at himself and also it has lights and music (you have a remote in fron of car to control it) he loves it. we havent used music amnd lights for a while as keep forgetting to change batteeries) but well worth an option

Also i have toys that clip on 1 on each strap around car seat.

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i just had a look at that video renstar and i agree i will try and keep lachlan rear facing as long as possible. How scary!

Now i need to change my thread to how do you keep your 5 month old happy in the car!!

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Hun, have you tried playing classical baby music to your baby? My DD is 3mths old and she's always screamed when I put her in the car but now she doesnt' mind it because she listens to her "baby einstein" CD's!!!! :D
She also had a little monkey mirror that she looks into and can see herself and I can see her too in it when i look from the rearview mirror iykwim?
I ALSO put a wrist rattle on her wrist ;)

We have that mirror feeb and our batteries have been dead since he was 8 weeks old :doh: Might invest in some batteries! The mirror was great till recently. Might have to look at some toys or something like that..

I like the idea of the baby einstein cd, Ren where did you buy it??

Im willing to try anything at the moment!!

DD3 I have only just turned.... she is 13 months

My DD is just over 11 months and still rear facing, I said I would turn her no earlier than 12 months, but she is happy and I am happy so no plans to change her in the near future, plus makes sleeping on long trips much more comfy ;).

Agree with BW.....DD#3 was over 13 months when we turned her round. I find it the same kinda thing with solids...some people are so eager to move onto the next stage of babys life/milestone, without really sitting back and looking at the bigger picture....

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plus makes sleeping on long trips much more comfy

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....i agree too Daintree Dream...
I tell all my friends with babies about that vid clip....

My first two were turned around at 10 & 11 months.

However now with the car set-up, I have had to turn Zanders carseat around in the smaller car as it just wasnt working with the other seats, anchors, school dropoffs etc. He is still reverse in the family car.

It also depends on your car seat too - the newer ones accommodate a later turnaround re the belt strap heights.

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I like the idea of the baby einstein cd, Ren where did you buy it??

Im willing to try anything at the moment!!

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Isabel - we got our's at a JB Hi-Fi store. If you can't find one in your local store ask them to see if they can get some in? Or google Baby Einstein you will find it online I'm sure. They have all different one's you can buy. We have 3! One for her bedroom and two for the car :D

REN I'll email you the links

Thanks for those links Georgi :D

Both children were around 12 months when turned around, now 3 and 7.

Basically I?m an only child and was the first one among my cousins etc to have children so all I had to look to were my 3 sister in laws who all have children.

I?ve put up with ridicule and snide remarks from mostly 2 of them for the last 9 years (how long DH and I have been together) but it?s mainly revolved around my parenting choices.

I remember the crap I copped from all 3 of them for having DS in a booster with harness until 6, and then he was too tall. And the fact my DD at 3 is in a booster and not sitting on the set? They have had a field day with that!

I can?t not believe people out there are more willing to go with the trend/?norm? then what is safest for their child.

I have and will continue to keep my children rearward, in boosters and so on until they absolutely can not fit anymore.

toomanyshoes - I hear you on the other kids bit too hun - recently we visited ppl who let their 5yo son sit in the front seat - he is probably a good head shorter than my 6yo - and they asked me why my son doesnt sit in the front (we were going somewhere and I said no room fo rme to take another kid) - they scoffed too at that - and that my DD (just turned 4) is in a booster and harness.

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Both children were around 12 months when turned around, now 3 and 7.

Basically I?m an only child and was the first one among my cousins etc to have children so all I had to look to were my 3 sister in laws who all have children.

I?ve put up with ridicule and snide remarks from mostly 2 of them for the last 9 years (how long DH and I have been together) but it?s mainly revolved around my parenting choices.

I remember the crap I copped from all 3 of them for having DS in a booster with harness until 6, and then he was too tall. And the fact my DD at 3 is in a booster and not sitting on the set? They have had a field day with that!

I can?t not believe people out there are more willing to go with the trend/?norm? then what is safest for their child.

I have and will continue to keep my children rearward, in boosters and so on until they absolutely can not fit anymore.

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At least you can rest easy at night knowing you are doing the BEST thing by your kids ;) good on you for doing what is best for your children and not worrying what others think. I applaud that!! :clap:

I am looking forward to keeping my DD and subsequent babies rear facing as long as possible too.

DD is still rear facing at 8 months and I won't be turning her until she's 12kg, when the car seat has to be turned. DH actually turned the car seat a while ago but then I had second thoughts and did some research and found some vids that changed my mind. A few of my friends turned their seats around at 6 months regardless of size!

Its so nice to find like minded ppl on here!!!!!