What age did you turn the car seat?

[~clover~]

I know the age limit is around 6 months, but I have chosen not to turn DD just yet.
Do they have to be turned by 8kgs, or can they be bigger. I don't think she weighs 8 yet, but I just want to see if there's a limit...
She's 6.5 months now.
TIA

[Miss.B]

Hi hun, I turned DS around at about 9 months, he was over 8 kg and his legs were touching the back of the seat so I had to turn him around.......

[Jellyfish]

Most car seats are 9 or 12kg limit for rearfacing. Mine was 12kg and I just turned it recently at around 25months as she reached the 12kg limit, wish I could have kept her longer.

[MummyOfTerrors]

it depends what your car seat is rated to some these days are 12kg rearward others are rated 8-9kg turn
i turned mine both after 8months as they were trying to break there necks to see us

[Olive]

just because their feet touch the back of the seat..doesnt mean you have to turn them around!

[~clover~]

i turned mine both after 8months as they were trying to break there necks to see us

DD is doing that now Staring back at me while I drive.
I'll have a look & see what the weight range is for rear facing.

Cheers

[~breeze~]

DS was around 12 months I think (minimum) I could have kept him longer, I cant remember the reason why I turned him so soon, it was too long ago LOL

[Miss.B]

Well a friend of mine told me that if their legs are getting squashed turn them around.....oops already done! Thanks Olive, will remember that next time!

[starangelk]

Our car seat is rearfacing to 12kgs and DD is almost 11 months and still rear facing. We aren't in a hurry to turn her......

[LizLemon]

We turned DS at about 14 months from memory, as our seat (Meridian AHR) had a rear facing limit of 12kgs. I would've loved to keep him there longer, and I was amazed at the number of negative comments I got for keeping him there so long...

[black_rose]

Dd1 was 18 months before she was turner she was just too little before that, dd2 was 12 months and Ds has just been turned at 8 months he is much heavier, longer and was screaming facing backwards.

[MummyOfTerrors]

i wish mine stayed rearfacing longer as weve got a 12kg rearfacing
but as i said they just wanted to see us
im hoping this bubs having a sibling on either side will stay rearfacing for alot longer

[Baby14]

Our weight restriction was 12kgs so we turned DS around at 14months. We had a mirror attached to the rear seat headrest that meant we could see DS & he could see us so we never had a problem with him rear facing.

[MummyNaomi]

DS was about 15 months, our car seat was 9kg, wish in hindsight we'd bought a 12kg one, he hasn't reached that yet at 2 years so we could have had him rear facing for much longer, its so much safer

Clover - If DD is straining to look around - how about one of the mirrors you can attach for them to see?

[melbel]

Mr C is 15 months and around 10.5 kilos.....we still have him rearfacing and won't turn him until we absolutely have to...there are some really good YOu tube vidoes on rear facing versus forward facing that might help you make your decision.....

YouTube - Front facing or Rear facing? Car seat safety TRUE STORY crash test videos

YouTube - The Importance of Rear-Facing

YouTube - Rear Facing vs. Forward Facing Car Seat Safety

In A lot of the european countries they have seats that rearface until 4 years of age...the kids just fold their legs like when they are sitting on the floor....comfortable for them and so much safer for their developing spine. I only found this out the other day but did you know that when a baby is born their spine is made of cartilage not bone and it is not until about four years of age that it is fully formed into bone? same with their feet, thats why they have all that fat on their feet, protecing them as the bones develop...fascinating really......


ETA: MummyNaomi we have a mirror with lights and sounds on it..works really well for us!!

[~clover~]

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll start getting comments soon. All my older ones were around 6 months. I just knew what the recommendations were & didn't think much more into it.
I've had my mum say something along the lines of her being bored backwards & wanting to see us when she's upset, but she'll watch me if she wants too.

I've thought about the mirrors, but I'm tall enough that my seat sits back far enough that she can just look up at me IYKWIM. I will have to get something like that though

I've had more of a think about it over the past few weeks, after hearing other countries don't turn til 4 years & realising just how much sense it makes. I just wish I'd though all this through when the others were little.

[feeb]

DS1 was 17 months needed seat for DS2.
DS2 is 15 months and rear facing still.

[Taurean]

Our car seat is rear facing until 12kg or it can turned if the baby gets too big. We turned DD just before her first birthday. She looked a bit squished and she was grumpy rear facing by then. Not a great reason to turn her but we felt the change was necessary and positive. I can't remember what weight she was then but she's 11.5kg now at 19 months.