Why our kids should face backwards in carseats

[DreamBelieveAchieve]

Thought i would share!

Rearwards facing carseats (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8)

[Oya]

:yes::yes::yes:

Even if they don't like it, it has to stay rearward. It's just not worth the risk when this is children/babies lives.

[JLeesmum]

look at frame 2.05. i cant imagine many kids being comfy like that. imagine having your legs hanging in the air for a few hours

[TripleTime]

Thats the same link i just posted in another thread.

Ash, i dont care if they are uncomfy, safety comes first. I know of 2yr olds that are RF.

[NonnyMouse]

I will be taking present legislation into consideration, which for QLD states that you can use a forward facing child restaint with built in harness from 6mths to 4yrs, and from 8kg to 18kg. Link here. (http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Safety/Road/Motor_vehicle/Child_restraints/Rs_mv_choosing_a_restraint)

I wouldn't ask an older child or adult friend to sit facing rearwards with scrunched up legs (even though it is undeniably safer) so I won't expect my child to do the same once they have reached an appropriate weight, height, and age to go forward facing. It might seem OK for short trips, but I'm not comfortable putting little bodies at a weird angle and restricting blood flow to their legs, because I believe it can cause problems later down the track.

Of course life is more important than comfort, but personally I weigh up the likelihood of me being in a serious accident versus the likelihood that my child could end up with long term postural or circulation issues due to sitting scrunched up in a car seat, before deciding whether to leave him rearfacing once he reaches the appropriate height, age and weight.

[JLeesmum]

im with you there annonnymouse..
i live in a town of 4000 people, it takes me 2 mins to drive down the shops and ill be lucky if i pass 5 cars on the way. so i dont see its really worth it (for me).

fair enough if your constantly driving in the middle of the city..

the world is getting too complicated *sigh*
sometimes i wish we didnt have cars and all the luxurys we have these days. (ever seen the movie 'the gods must be crazy'?)

blah..blahh..
sorry

[MummyNanny]

Smashlee, I find your comment about driving frightening

Please read http://www.getfarming.com.au/pages/farming/articles_view.php?fId=4020080715154831

[faroutbrusselsprout]

Of course life is more important than comfort, but personally I weigh up the likelihood of me being in a serious accident versus the likelihood that my child could end up with long term postural or circulation issues due to sitting scrunched up in a car seat, before deciding whether to leave him rearfacing once he reaches the appropriate height, age and weight.


I'm very interested in this issue as we are approaching 9kg (my rear facing seat limit) fast and DS is only 5 months.

Do you have any links or more information on the postural/circulation issues?

[traseal]

I am happy to keep my son rear facing for as long as the seats standard allow. If they are to tall or heavy by the seats safety standards is that not illegal?? I would think a few of them kids in that video were over the length for rear facing??? I may be wrong but would be interested to know

[NonnyMouse]

I'm very interested in this issue as we are approaching 9kg (my rear facing seat limit) fast and DS is only 5 months.

Do you have any links or more information on the postural/circulation issues?

Not off the top of my head but I'll certainly be doing some research on it. DS's feet turn purple with just being inthe baby carrier for too long (blood seems to pool up in his lower legs and feet) so I'm sure that if they were raised above his heart like some of the kids in that clip were, the opposite would happen and they'd get reduced blood supply.

What brought it to mind was hearing that with babies you're "supposed" to have them flat in the pram (bassinet style) if they're going to be in it a while because apparently it's not good for them to be lying in the curved position for too long. And yet somehow the curved position in a car seat is OK? It seems a bit contradictory, but there's obviously SOME issues about posture problems at that tender age. And also from my own experience of frequent tendon/joint issues that I suspect are hereditary, and combined with DP being 6'8"... I'm sure DS will be too long for his seat long before the average kid.

[traseal]

AND accidents can happen anywhere at anytime....no matter how safe you are or how often you drive, EVERYTIME on the road is a risk!! Even if your a safe driver doesnt mean everyone else is. I learnt this when i was in a serious accident when i was 18, i was in hospital for 4 weeks and my friend in the car actually died twice (she is ok now thank heavens) but they really can happen at any time.

[JLeesmum]

6"8?? whoa i thought i was tall! my mates' that height.. hence the name shorty..lol

[NonnyMouse]

6"8?? whoa i thought i was tall! my mates' that height.. hence the name shorty..lol

LOL... yep. We get a lot of stares when we're out together, cause I'm only 5'3". :laughing:

But of course that means it's highly likely DS will be very long and he's already going to be very skinny, so I'm sure his height will be the deciding factor in how long we are happy to keep himrearfacing.

[RHJ]

look at frame 2.05. i cant imagine many kids being comfy like that. imagine having your legs hanging in the air for a few hours
The little girl looks very comfortable to me! She has obviously chosen to stretch her legs, and she could easily bend them down like the other children. Remember adults are not as flexible as children. I don't know many adults that like to sleep with their legs curled up under themselves at night, but have seen MANY children do it, even up to the age of 3 and beyond.


Not off the top of my head but I'll certainly be doing some research on it. DS's feet turn purple with just being inthe baby carrier for too long (blood seems to pool up in his lower legs and feet) so I'm sure that if they were raised above his heart like some of the kids in that clip were, the opposite would happen and they'd get reduced blood supply.

What brought it to mind was hearing that with babies you're "supposed" to have them flat in the pram (bassinet style) if they're going to be in it a while because apparently it's not good for them to be lying in the curved position for too long. And yet somehow the curved position in a car seat is OK? It seems a bit contradictory, but there's obviously SOME issues about posture problems at that tender age. And also from my own experience of frequent tendon/joint issues that I suspect are hereditary, and combined with DP being 6'8"... I'm sure DS will be too long for his seat long before the average kid. it is no better for a young baby to be sitting upright either. It isn't flat, so i believe your worries about the position probably don't matter. They have always suggested that for long car trips with a young baby, you stop regularly and take them out of the car seat so that they can stretch. Turning them around to the forward facing position, they would need to be in the reclined position anyway, so they would not be flat. The seat really doesn't change when you turn it around, it is mearly the child is slightly more upright when forward facing.


I am happy to keep my son rear facing for as long as the seats standard allow. If they are to tall or heavy by the seats safety standards is that not illegal?? I would think a few of them kids in that video were over the length for rear facing??? I may be wrong but would be interested to know
A lot of those seats would be from the states, not australia. They have a lot different seats to ours, and cater much better for larger children. Australian seats are built to australian standards only pretty much. A lot of the Australian seats dont even have length requirements on them.

[NonnyMouse]

it is no better for a young baby to be sitting upright either. It isn't flat, so i believe your worries about the position probably don't matter. They have always suggested that for long car trips with a young baby, you stop regularly and take them out of the car seat so that they can stretch. Turning them around to the forward facing position, they would need to be in the reclined position anyway, so they would not be flat. The seat really doesn't change when you turn it around, it is mearly the child is slightly more upright when forward facing.

Oh, my comment wasn't to say that the reclined vs flat position worried me with carseats, it was just something I heard about that made me think that if there are position issues in another type of baby equipment like prams, then it might also be reasonable to assume that something like sitting for periods with feet high and legs cramped in a car seat might also be a worry.