Another silly question

[Harmony83]

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to ask yet another silly question. At what age did you put your infant in the car seat facing forward, does it depend on age, weight or head control???
Thanks guys

[drewid]

THe car seat you bought should have a label on it somewhere indicating at what stage the car seat should be turned around. From my previous research it would seem that it is weight based, and it is generally around 8-9kg that you turn it to face forward. For my bub, we turned him around at about 4 months! He loved it, can see more and we can see him!

Its not really based on age or head control, more on the safety of the car seat itself. Its not designed to face forward for lighter/smaller babies.

Hope this helps.

:)

Just editing to add that we also turned Andrew around at 4 months cos not only did he hit the 8kg mark, but he was veeerry uncomfortable at that point sitting backwards, was not at all happy to be reclined so far and it was squishy for him. Sitting upright more facing forwards has made him heaps happier when travelling.

Just a note on the head control thing too - it was definitely a factor in turning him around - but he had great head control from early on. I would imagine that once bubs DO hit that 8/9kg mark that most would have good head control by then. But I dont' think that having good head control would necessarily aid them in an accident - after all, grown ups get their heads smacked around in sudden brakings as well! Having control over your head doesn't prevent adults from getting injured!

[mumof2girls]

Sorry but I am inclined to differ, I think when the baby can hold their own head up properly with control otherwise if you are driving and have to brake suddenly - your baby has no control over what is happening and they lurch forward and can snap their neck when they hit the back of the car seat when they are pushed forcibly backwards from the braking. This is my opinion anyway :)

[shanz]

Hi,
just on the safety side of things for older seats it is usually rearward facing up to 9 kilos or 700mm long.And for most newer ones it is actually 12 kilos.This is all to do with safety.I haven't had to go through it yet but my sister and her hubby changed their seat around as soon as bub reached the minimum requirements as it is a pain to put them in and out as they get bigger.but a recent study showed that the longer rearward facing the better,even if it is boring as if in the unfortunate event you have an accident when the bub is backwards the force/impact is evenly distributed throughout the spine,lessening the likely hood of permanent damage whereas if they are forward facing all of the force/impact of the crash will be on just their little neck,hence more and worse injuries.in america they have seats designed to keep bub rearward facing til 12 months as by this age it is safer.Anyway sorry to go on but that was a recent article i read. :)

[ThomasMum]

For bringing up this topic, as we have been thinking whether Thomas is ready or not getting his seat turned around. Our car has many airbags, does that help also? By the way Thomas is almost 5.5 months old, with a strong head control and is a chubby lil thang!

Hey Nicole79, your reply makes sense!

So please keep the answer rollings girls! Pros OR cons.

By the way Harmony83, there is no such silly question :D Otherwise I'd be the queen of silly as I always ask lotsa questions! He he

ML

[draught]

Hi ThomasMum. You might want to give Kidsafe a call about the airbag question - there is one in every state and they are the experts on fitting car seats and other safety issues, etc. I know that there is some issue about using certain kinds of seats with airbags - or not using them in fact - but I can't remember what the issue is, so a quick call to them will make sure you are doing the safest thing possible for your chubby little one!

[mattias'mom]

I was told by the CHN not to put our son front facing until he was 12 months no matter how much he weighs. Also I have also read that airbags are NOT safe for children. They are designed for adults therefore would hit children at an entirely different area than adults.

[ThomasMum]

Thanks Theresa, we'll give them a buzz. Joshua is also going to ask around about this as well.

This is what NRMA said abt airbags & infants:

'...Is it safe to use a child restraint in a car fitted with airbags?

Airbags save lives.

In NSW, it's illegal to use a child restraint in a front passenger seat if there's a passenger-side airbag.

To avoid unnecessary injury:

never use a rearward facing infant restraint in the front passenger seat

fit all child restraints in the back seat.

if you don't have a rear seat and have to use a forward facing child seat or booster in the front passenger seat:
position the adult seat as far back on the seat slide as you can

make sure the restraint's top tether (if provided) is attached firmly

discourage the child from leaning forward...' extract from http://www.mynrma.com.au/question_answer_child.asp

Thanks also Mattia's Mum, I think in Australia as per NRMA 'Change from a baby restraint to a child seat when your child reaches 8 kg or 70 cm in length', but we'll def ask around for more info.

Thank you kindly, and Theresa we'll let you know the answer from Kidsafe!

[Kamaikia]

i turned my son around at about 4 months also. He was over the required weight and he was getting bored not being able to see anything. As for keeping a baby facing the back until 12kg - there is no was my very tall 9 month old could sit comfortably facing the back. Most car seats i have come across have said up to 8 kg then turn them towards the front - i think a parent will know when there baby is strong enough but i think leaving it until age 1 or 12kg is a bit strange.

[Briannabear]

Hi there!
We changed to a forward facing seat just before our DD turned 6 months old. She was at the point where she would scream when we were in the car - she just hated lying down! She has had excellent head and neck control for many months prior to that. She is quite petite so she was under the 8kg requirement for the seat though. We checked with Qld Ambulance etc and they gave her the ok to change over seats. If we waited until she weighed 8kg we'd still be waiting now! I think it would be a nightmare to still have her in a rear facing seat, she sits on her own and is crawling - she'd go mental! We'd never drive anywhere!! She is still under 8kg and shes 7 months old! :)
I think it comes down to the individual child.

[LoniVV]

Dear All,

We have taken the advice from Qld Ambulance and my 8 month old son who weighs just over 7kg, who has good head control and not quite 70cm still faces backwards.

The assessor said that if he is too light (in weight) then in an accident he will be flung around more than a heavier baby.

So once he reaches 8 kg or 9 months whichever comes first we will have him re-assessed since I would rather him complain than cause him major trauma should we be unlucky enough to have an accident.

He now tries to look around to see us so hopefully he can be turned around soon.

Leonie

[Kassiasmum]

We turned dd around at about 6 months, she absolutely hated the rearfacing, would scream for th whole journey. She was already crawling and had excellent head control. My dd is very petite and we would still be waiting to turn her around as she is not 8kg yet and is 17months old. I did read in another thread on here that the weight is now 12kg and has something to do with the fusion of the bones in the neck of baby. I'm sure if you did a search of the threads you would find it.

Tracey