We had to get a new car seat for Jamie today (his so broad that when my sister picked him up out of it yesterday the car seat came with him). It is only a 0-4 one so he could have had it from birth but having him sitting up and facing forward made him realise he isn't going to be my baby for long :-( Seems silly to be thinking it when his not even four months, especially as i'm not even a baby person, but did make me a bit tearful.

aww eli went into his big boy seat too recently - it makes him look so grown up! lots of these little things like packing the crib away, cutting down on bf, having to lock the toilet seat (haha sigh) make me a bid nostalgic and sad! (and broody )

Arrh i thought the same when i put noah in his last month. i called it the big boy seat. i can see were ur coming from tho, but 4 months is still a new born chick even tho his slightly bigger.

char

XxCHARnNOAHxX wrote:

Arrh i thought the same when i put noah in his last month. i called it the big boy seat. i can see were ur coming from tho, but 4 months is still a new born chick even tho his slightly bigger.

char

Oh I know i'm being silly. Its more I was thinking that its going so quickly and it won't be long until his a big boy

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Have you put him facing forwards?

I was just going to ask the same question as Wriggs ^^^ as I always thought that the ones that aare from birth like that should be rear facing for a certain amount of time. I may be wrong though, so sorry if I am xx

no he should be facing towards the car seat, hun, its safer that way for a while then you can turn it when he gets a certain weight, or height,

but big boy, i had to put rich in one when he was aboout 4 months, he was very long and his feet were over the edge of the car baby seat so needed to change him so his legs didnt hurt

yeah i alwys thought they should be facing rear wards until they were about 9 months? alfie has been in his ages now and it is sad cos u know theyre growing up

No we checked at the shop and its weight. His 9.5kg so they said to put him forward. His at a point where his legs bunch up in the backward facing one

That is suprising they would reccommend putting a not yet 4 month old baby forward facing... I really think you should maybe check with your HV about this... When Andrew was in his rear facing car seat they told me that it doesnt matter too much if the legs are bent it is when their head hangs over the top of the seat is the deciding factor... In forward facing they can damage their neck or spine if they havent the muscle tone to support themselves sufficiently.

Andrew was always a big baby, was 98th height from very young and he was in rear facing until 8.5 months.

Thanks. Will check. The council does checks here so will see what they say. He is well over the top line so perhaps they were thinking of that. I was surprised but a couple checked so just assumed they knew. Will get hubby to chase it tomorrow. There is no way he'll make it to 9 months though as they all say to turn round at 13kg. He was just over 9.5 a week and a half ago and has put on 6kg since birth. Have a very tall hubby and think his heading the same way

The general guidelines are 9 months or 9kg - whatever comes 1st. So yes, going by that the shop are right (and you are entitled to go along with them) BUT alot of people/research recommend keeping them rear facing for as long as possible due to the strength of their neck muscles - which regardless of weight arent strong enough until 8/9mths.

Google it for yourself, there are loads of similar threads on numerous parenting websites. In the US they are changing guideline to 2 years for rear facing as it is so much safer.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7360303n&tag=related%3Bphotovideo

^^^ I admit thats extreme and dont mean to scare you, it is 100% up to you, but personally I would try and keep him rear facing for a while yet. x

I agree with wriggler.
We got really good advice from halfords and were told that headsupport was very important.
He also said that rear facing transport is safest for everyone ie on trains etc. Note (not if you're driving) lol

Thanks ladies. I'm happy to do what's safest. Quite wound up as we went to get advice and they've given us the wrong advice. Will turn it round until his 13kg although the book says he has to turn round then. Still even a the rate his growing that will be a few months. Will be a pain getting him in and out as its a 3 door car but would rather that than him being injured. Hubby is going to go and talk to halfords tomorrow as we made a point of saying his only 4 months and he obviously registered it as he said not to get a 9kg plus one as it wouldn't give him enough support (although we'd already planned to get him a from birth one). We even questioned it and they got someone to check. Have just looked at the book (which I should have done before but just thought as the people trained in fitting seats said it then it must be right) and that recommends putting them rear facing until 13kg. Thank goodness for this site!

Halfords were great with us. The bloke told us that they all went on special courses and were experts.

Let us know how you get on as it'd be intersting to know.

Lol but my 14 year old face forward from birth and my 20 year old (yes I'm that old) didn't actually have a car seat when she was new born!! Evolution eh??