ds1 is 19mo and still RF. he's just over 22lbs and 33inches tall. the seat goes to 35lbs, but i suspect he'll outgrow it in height first. i feel a little bad as his legs are so cramped right now, but it doesn't see ot bother him yet. i'm hoping to RF till at least 2yrs.
23 months, RF
we have a radian and a myride65
I have known about RF for many many years but I have never had any of them RF beyond about 15 months (when they outgrew their first seat).I don't know anyone in RL who would RF so late. I know a lot about RF seats, but when I research it closely I'm not convinced enough to go to the trouble (a lot of trouble it would be for me, too).
Just curious: How would it be trouble for you? Is it getting the kids in and out of the seats that is hard or having your driver seat set closer to the steering wheel to accommodate the rear facing seat?
I never got that far.
It would cost a lot, not just for the seat (I think they cost 200+ quid) and realistically, DH would have to take a day off work (so using up a day's vacation, too). To be sure that DC got picked up from school in time.
The nearest place that can fit them is about 2 hours drive away. So the extra costs of that (20p/mile in our old car, 40p/mile in our current vehicle, so 160 miles roundtrip, and an extra 32 quid in cost in old car. And there would be no guarantee once we got there that they would have a seat that fit. Certainly not with the other 2 children across the back (in the old car). Plus I have the impression that old car was completely unsuitable because it didn't have a tetherstrap or somesuch.
Now we have a bigger car, newer so might have the straps to fit a RF seat, but still 64 quid in travel costs just to go try one out, but would still have the stress and hassle (and extra risks) just to get there. And still might find it was unsuitable or not a good fit.
All for a family that only drives ... 4k miles per year?
I just couldn't justify it. The risk/cost tradeoff didn't justify it.
Might be different if the seat cost 70 quid and I could get one fitted within 20 miles of here.
If I seriously want to reduce risks of accident to DC there are a lot of other things I could arguably do... but don't choose to do either. Like never cycling with DC in a bike seat. Never letting them walk to school alone. Never leaving them alone in the house. I'm just not a zero/minimal risk type person, though.
My son is 20 months. We turned him FF at 15 months (he was plenty big enough by law at 12 months). He had always hated the car and now he does not care.
However i do not look at/think anyone who does ERF is weird nor would i comment on it.
He'll be three in a week and a half and he's RF in a MyRide65.
IRL I know of one other toddler that is RFing. She's at least 19 months because that's the minimum age for the class our DDs are in together. I secretly squeal with glee when I see her in her seat, but I'm too shy to comment on it. I keep waiting for the opportunity to park next to the mom to exchange the "so glad I'm not the only one" look.
DD is RF at 28months, 27lbs.
IRL we know at least two more RF 27-29 month olds, and no FF ones.
irl, i don't know any other rfing three year olds and get told to turn ds around quite frequently. i also get told that carseats don't expire and that I shouldn't have any trouble picking one up at a yard sale for $5, so...`
My ds is 3.5yrs next week, 25lbs and 35.5" tall. He rides rearfacing and he will until he outgrows the XTSL (so when he is 45lbs or gains 5" of torso height, which ever comes first)
I have known about RF for many many years but I have never had any of them RF beyond about 15 months (when they outgrew their first seat).I don't know anyone in RL who would RF so late. I know a lot about RF seats, but when I research it closely I'm not convinced enough to go to the trouble (a lot of trouble it would be for me, too).
Just curious: How would it be trouble for you? Is it getting the kids in and out of the seats that is hard or having your driver seat set closer to the steering wheel to accommodate the rear facing seat?
I never got that far.
It would cost a lot, not just for the seat (I think they cost 200+ quid) and realistically, DH would have to take a day off work (so using up a day's vacation, too). To be sure that DC got picked up from school in time.
The nearest place that can fit them is about 2 hours drive away. So the extra costs of that (20p/mile in our old car, 40p/mile in our current vehicle, so 160 miles roundtrip, and an extra 32 quid in cost in old car. And there would be no guarantee once we got there that they would have a seat that fit. Certainly not with the other 2 children across the back (in the old car). Plus I have the impression that old car was completely unsuitable because it didn't have a tetherstrap or somesuch.
Now we have a bigger car, newer so might have the straps to fit a RF seat, but still 64 quid in travel costs just to go try one out, but would still have the stress and hassle (and extra risks) just to get there. And still might find it was unsuitable or not a good fit.
All for a family that only drives ... 4k miles per year?
I just couldn't justify it. The risk/cost tradeoff didn't justify it.
Might be different if the seat cost 70 quid and I could get one fitted within 20 miles of here.
If I seriously want to reduce risks of accident to DC there are a lot of other things I could arguably do... but don't choose to do either. Like never cycling with DC in a bike seat. Never letting them walk to school alone. Never leaving them alone in the house. I'm just not a zero/minimal risk type person, though.
Or you could just check on here or car-seat.org and see what seats are compatible with your car (most seats fit in most cars), order them online, and READ THE MANUAL and install them all by yourself. Shipping is often free, they come to your house, and its free to install it yourself. If you do a little research first, you can find something you know will work, you just have to go stick it in the car. And I dont think they are 200 quid, thats $300+, there are a LOT of seats for far less that will work.
We RF'ed until DS was 13 months. At that point he was still in his infant seat. He's super tall and skinny. The reason we flipped is that he is so tall, and there is evidence to support both ideas of thought on this. Depending on the type of car accident you are in will depend on which way is safer. I just went with my gut on this one :)
The vast majority of fatal crashes are from the front or the side, and rearfacing protects best against this. Most crashes where you are rear-ended are very minor (slower speeds, someone not paying attention to the light going red or in traffic or something). Crash tests all show that rearfacing is 500% safer for kids under 2yrs old. I have never seen a crash test saying a forward facing 13month old is safer than a rearfacing 13month old, where did you see the "evidence to support both sides" that says rearfacing is less safe?
My DD is 3.5 and RFing in her BLVD.
We're planning on upgrading to the XTSL when she outgrows the rearfacing weight on her current seat to extend her RFing. But she's only 29lbs right now, so we probably have at least another six months?
DD1 is 4 y 4 mo and RF in a Complete Air. She does ride FF in a Nautilus in DH's car 1-2 times a week. She is about 39 in and 36lbs, and fits well. She does not complain about RF at all.
DD2 is 16 mo and only about 18lbs. Obviously she's RF as well.
24 mos - front facing
20 months, RF
I turned ds1 at 20 pounds he is on the small side so 20 pounds he was just about 2 i believe. but he had very bad carsickness and so would SCREAM the whole. way. anywhere.
I have known about RF for many many years but I have never had any of them RF beyond about 15 months (when they outgrew their first seat).I don't know anyone in RL who would RF so late. I know a lot about RF seats, but when I research it closely I'm not convinced enough to go to the trouble (a lot of trouble it would be for me, too).
Just curious: How would it be trouble for you? Is it getting the kids in and out of the seats that is hard or having your driver seat set closer to the steering wheel to accommodate the rear facing seat?
I never got that far.
It would cost a lot, not just for the seat (I think they cost 200+ quid) and realistically, DH would have to take a day off work (so using up a day's vacation, too). To be sure that DC got picked up from school in time.
The nearest place that can fit them is about 2 hours drive away. So the extra costs of that (20p/mile in our old car, 40p/mile in our current vehicle, so 160 miles roundtrip, and an extra 32 quid in cost in old car. And there would be no guarantee once we got there that they would have a seat that fit. Certainly not with the other 2 children across the back (in the old car). Plus I have the impression that old car was completely unsuitable because it didn't have a tetherstrap or somesuch.
Now we have a bigger car, newer so might have the straps to fit a RF seat, but still 64 quid in travel costs just to go try one out, but would still have the stress and hassle (and extra risks) just to get there. And still might find it was unsuitable or not a good fit.
All for a family that only drives ... 4k miles per year?
I just couldn't justify it. The risk/cost tradeoff didn't justify it.
Might be different if the seat cost 70 quid and I could get one fitted within 20 miles of here.
If I seriously want to reduce risks of accident to DC there are a lot of other things I could arguably do... but don't choose to do either. Like never cycling with DC in a bike seat. Never letting them walk to school alone. Never leaving them alone in the house. I'm just not a zero/minimal risk type person, though.
Or you could just check on here or car-seat.org and see what seats are compatible with your car (most seats fit in most cars), order them online, and READ THE MANUAL and install them all by yourself. Shipping is often free, they come to your house, and its free to install it yourself. If you do a little research first, you can find something you know will work, you just have to go stick it in the car. And I dont think they are 200 quid, thats $300+, there are a LOT of seats for far less that will work.
We RF'ed until DS was 13 months. At that point he was still in his infant seat. He's super tall and skinny. The reason we flipped is that he is so tall, and there is evidence to support both ideas of thought on this. Depending on the type of car accident you are in will depend on which way is safer. I just went with my gut on this one :)
The vast majority of fatal crashes are from the front or the side, and rearfacing protects best against this. Most crashes where you are rear-ended are very minor (slower speeds, someone not paying attention to the light going red or in traffic or something). Crash tests all show that rearfacing is 500% safer for kids under 2yrs old. I have never seen a crash test saying a forward facing 13month old is safer than a rearfacing 13month old, where did you see the "evidence to support both sides" that says rearfacing is less safe?
I was wondering this myself.
I'm glad I started this thread. It's interesting.
I am having flashbacks thinking about rearfacing my DD until 2 yrs old or older. She screamed bloody murder every time she was in the car form the day we brought her home from the hospital until the day we turned her around at 1 yr (she was 26 pounds and as tall as some 2 yos at a year). No wait, that's not true - she gave us a break for about a month at 9 months old, then started up again. We tried EVERYTHING anyone IRL or here on MDC suggested, and the only thing that stopped her was turning her around (looking back we think it was a combination of motion sickness and separation anxiety, which she had in SPADES on top of her very intense personality). It was pure torture for me to try to drive like that, and for my DS who had to trapped in his seat next to her listening to her scream every time we were in the car - he'd go into this catatonic gaze out the window and just totally check out. Oh how I wish she would have been happier in the car that first year. With DS, we didn't know anything about extended rear facing; he would have likely been happy to face backwards past a year.
And I know someone might say, 'would you rather have a screaming baby or a dead baby?', but that's not really helpful when you're just about in tears yourself every time you drive whether it's 2 minutes or 2 hours.
DD is 27 months and FF. We switched her at 26 months.
DS3 is 24 mo and RF in a True Fit
I am having flashbacks thinking about rearfacing my DD until 2 yrs old or older. She screamed bloody murder every time she was in the car form the day we brought her home from the hospital until the day we turned her around at 1 yr (she was 26 pounds and as tall as some 2 yos at a year). No wait, that's not true - she gave us a break for about a month at 9 months old, then started up again. We tried EVERYTHING anyone IRL or here on MDC suggested, and the only thing that stopped her was turning her around (looking back we think it was a combination of motion sickness and separation anxiety, which she had in SPADES on top of her very intense personality). It was pure torture for me to try to drive like that, and for my DS who had to trapped in his seat next to her listening to her scream every time we were in the car - he'd go into this catatonic gaze out the window and just totally check out. Oh how I wish she would have been happier in the car that first year. With DS, we didn't know anything about extended rear facing; he would have likely been happy to face backwards past a year.
And I know someone might say, 'would you rather have a screaming baby or a dead baby?', but that's not really helpful when you're just about in tears yourself every time you drive whether it's 2 minutes or 2 hours.
I think that's a special situation though, because when your child is screaming, it's dangerous every time you drive, regardless of which way the child is facing. I would think one's risk of getting into an accident is much higher when there is a screaming baby in the car. I'm fortunate that my kids grew out of the screaming at a few months old, but I have a close friend who turned her son shortly after a year because the screaming was so intense. She feels horribly guilty about it, but she nearly got into accidents several times because she was so distracted by the screaming.
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