weight/age range for rear facing carseat.

[Bern]

Is it illegal regardless of weight for a 4 month old baby to be put forward facing?

If so can you provide me with links to prove it?

My SIL is insistant that it is fine for her to put not quite 4 month old forward because he is 8 kg and that the weight range on her seat is 8kg? Im not sure on what brand they have but i thought it was capsules that have an 9kg weight range. And i also thought the new laws brought in made weight range void?

[feeb]

Here is from a NSW govt web site (Transport roads and maritime services)

Summary of changes

The new national child restraint laws state:

Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.

[Bern]

i sent her a link to department of queensland, but she still insists that it is ok.

[feeb]

Ahh ok I looked up NSW as saw you were in Sydney!!

I had a friend comment on my fb when I posted that I was sad that DS2 had to be turned at 17 months as he was 12kg and said she turned her DD at 10 weeks as she didnt like facing backwards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was fuming but you know what its their child and their risk all you can do is guide and show them the laws and or reccomendations and hope they do the right thing by their child.

If she has FB suggest she look at Rear facing downunder

[Bern]

yes that is what i am doing ( via facebook ) but was hoping others would have some links i couldlink her to about the dangers and laws etc.

[RainbowBrite]

Sounds like she doesn't understand the real dangers of turning a baby to early, there are some good videos on you tube that show what happens to a bub turned to early maybe you could send her links to those.
If her seat has a turn limit of only 8kg then she needs to buy/hire a seat that rear faces until 12kg as it is illegal to turn bub before 6 mths and very dangerous.


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[Beach Mama]

Here is another link. Wow. I hope she's prepared for the worst to happen she has even a slight accident, doesn't even need to be a high speed impact to cause devastating damage to a baby. Sounds like she's made up her mind - if she's educated and still makes the decisions then I guess all you can do is really hope and pray she doesn't have an accident.

[HotI]

If it is illegal in her State you can always call the police and report it.

Rather than do it through FB, where it can turn into a power struggle rather than dealing with the actual issue, give her a call or drop in and talk about it.

[Calluna]

on youtube look up "the importance of rear facing"
I really hippie you can convince her otherwise. Babies should be rear facing as long as possible.

[Rumpleteaser]

It also has alot to do with head control of the baby. A 4mth old who is 8 kg still does not have the strength to hold it's head up for long periods of time. If the baby was an a car accident the baby's head would be swung on its neck like one of those bobble headed dolls.

[Babyluv]

Sounds like she is unaware of the danger her child is in by being fwd facing so early. Definitely show her the youtube videos and explain to her the reasons behind why rear facing is so important. I'll be keeping dd rear facing for as long as possible!

[Trillian]

People do these things thinking that they will NEVER be in an accident so it wont matter, baby will be fine. But if they get pulled over for a breatho etc they could still risk a fine if the police happen to notice a very young baby that is not restrained properly. Not only that, if they were ever in an accident, then they could void their insurance cover for the baby as well as the company could argue that they were not restrained properly, so they aren't covered under insurance. My SIL did the same thing - reckoned he would like it better if he was forward faced along with her own paranoia about not being able to see him so she turned him - didn't matter what anyone said about it because her mind was set. This may be the case with your situation too, but at least you know you tried and it is on their heads if anything ever happened.

[SunnyRain]

You don't even need to be in an accident. I've watched my 3 year old son when dh had to stop suddenly. Ds's head jerked forward so sharply I was scared he'd have whiplash. He's 3!

I'd hate to think of that happening to a baby.

--'--,--'--<@
Jude 07/10/08 | Lilac 16/06/11

[Cass72]

It's not just the legality or safety that she should consider. I mean - when they're facing forwards in their seat, they are sitting upright and well, that can't be that comfortable for a not quite 4 month old could it?

I didn't turn my bub around until he was 7 months as I waited until he reach the recommended weight requirement to turn him around. Likewise if you have a bub who is bigger (than average) I would wait until they reached the recommended age befure turning them around.

If she's worried about not seeing bubs, she can buy a fisher price mirror that goes onto the back of the seat. It keeps him entertained, plus you can then use your rearvision mirror to see what he's up to.