more help with car seats plz...

[Taylahsmum]

hi,

Our 5 month old, 5.3kg bubba, is rearward facing. But she is getting a bit restless in her seat now, and trying to pull herself more upright.

When could/should we turn her around ? Our seat label says 8kg, but i know other parents have turned their bubs around earlier than recommended...

Any views and opinions would be really helpful.

Thanks heaps in advance...

[Cheeky Little Monkey]

My DD is 24 weeks and 8.3 kgs (little chubba she is) and is restless at times and wants to sit up in the rear facing position.
I think they should be left rear facing as long as possible.
There is a reason for the recommendation of being in that position for up to 12 kgs.....Safety.
Maybe get something to try and amuse her while she is in the seat?

[cwsmum]

There is a reason for the recommendation of being in that position for up to 12 kgs.....Safety.

Does your seat stay rear facing til bub is 12kg? What kind of seat is it? My DS didn't hit 12kg til he was over 12mths old...

My DD is almost 6mths, and weighs 8kg. I don't plan on turning her seat around for a while yet...but she's still quite happy in the rear facing position. DS was turned as soon as he hit 7kg, which is the recommendation on the seat we have, and there was also a length recommendation which he reached at around the same time as the weight anyway. He was between 4 - 5 mths old.

I don't think I would be turning the seat around if bub is only 5.3kg, I'd be waiting til she is 7kg at least. There is heaps of toys available for entertaining bubs, ones specifically designed for when the seat is rear facing...I think it was 'Tiny Love' brand the ones I saw.

[sharvs]

I think 5.3kgs is a bit too little to turn it just yet.

I saw some great toys at T0ys R Us. One was a big mirror that you attach to the back seat so bubs can look into it. Maybe you could also try hanging some small toys off the straps so she can reach for them

[FourAngelKisses]

I turned my boys around early, but they were big boys. I think it was around 10wks (they were 8.4kg by then though and had great head support). Both of them had been trying to do situps in their sits since 7-8wks and it was driving them and me crazy. As they had been sitting upright in the pram since 6wks, I decided that the opnly thing that was going to keep them happy was to turn them around.

I do agree though, 5.3kg seems pretty early.

[CJJHRA]

I turned all of my kids around from about 4-5 months old. They really good head control. The seats though were in the slightly reclined position, and they all had the head rest inserts. Dont know what weights my kids were, but they were way under the recommended weights.

We always drive slow with kids in the car, we dont go far, but yes, I know thats no excuse there are many morons on the road out there.

[JnA]

I am a RAR (road accident rescuer) and have seen impacts with babies both in the rear facign and forward facing position. The recommendation of 8kgs (at least) is because the baby's weight is what holds them further back in their seat in the event of an accident, also the restraints are more effective (yes more) with a heavier child in forward facing seats.

The only time I would recommend turing the seat forward facing earlier than 8kgs is if the child's feet are touching the back of the seat. In this case, in the event of an accident, the child can stiffen their legs at the end of the sudden deceleration and casue damage to ankles, knees, hips and legs.
Otherwise I would stick to the recommended weigth for turning and use a mirror, or mobile to distract a restless child in a rearfacing seat.

[Taylahsmum]

Thanks for all the replies and opinions. We thought she was too little to turn around but wanted extra opinions. We have a range of car toys for her to play with. We will just have to beef her up quicker ;)

thanks again

[nkenward]

Hi there,

Our seat recommended 8kg, and I think we turned it when he reached just over
7kg. But not only was he straining to sit up, he was grunting and crying etc.

He is happier, but he definitely doesn't sleep as long in the car. So if your baby sleeps well in the car - I wouldn't recommend turning it just yet. Bubs really needs great head control and body control.

[MamaSage]

As someone else said, we turned the seat when Bridie's feet touched the back seat. But she was not 8 kilos... she didn't hit 8 kilos until she was 13 months, lol! So she would have been rear facing for ages!

[Tam-I-Am]

From memory, we turned DD's seat around when she was about 9 months old. She had been doing sit-ups for a while and was becomming restless and frustrated. She was nearly 10kg heavy at that age, and had excellent head control (as one would expect!), so we had no difficulties at all with it - she loves being able to see us and where she's going now!

[jessgray]

we turned DS around a bit before 8kgs. he was too big for rearwards facing lol. but about 2 weeks after we turned him around he was 8kgs :).

[Me]

Isn't the recommendation 8kgs or 6mths? I'll have to check the books on our 2 - we were looking forward to turning bubs around when she hits 6mths - but there is no way she'll be 8kgs by then - judging by her previous weight gains she won't be 8kgs til at least 9mths and already can't stand facing backwards!

[jessgray]

Isn't the recommendation 8kgs or 6mths? I'll have to check the books on our 2 - we were looking forward to turning bubs around when she hits 6mths - but there is no way she'll be 8kgs by then - judging by her previous weight gains she won't be 8kgs til at least 9mths and already can't stand facing backwards!
its 8kgs or 70cm in height for fisher price ones i think the height is right. i could be wrong.i forgot where i put the book :laughing: