Update on my Rear Facing Car Seat Group 1-2 (9 months to 6 years)

[The Nappy Lady]

Further to this thread from when I got the Britax Multi-Tech;

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,375554,375607#msg-375607

I promised an update on how C got on with staying rear facing.

So far totally fine, she's been in the seat for a couple of months at least now and seems very happy in it. Really behaves just the same way as always - and certainly no change from how she was during the couple of months she spent in my old forward facing seat that had been her big sisters before I invested in this upgrade.

I did wonder if switching for rear facing to forward facing and then back again would lead to issues but it hasn't at all (phew).

I guess the only downside of the seat, if I had to find one is that because it fits in so much more securely - using the usual 3 point harness, plus straps that go down around the front passenger seat AND a leg that goes down into the footwell it would take longer (and more effort) to move from one car to another. Hence I have kept hold of my old seat for any emergencies when I might need to put her in another car quickly (unlikely to happen but you never know). It isn't that you can't move it, it would just be more hassle. I think if we had a newer car with Isofix this wouldn't be an issue as you can get Isofix rear facing seats that I imagine click in and out more easily.

Hope this is helpful.

Molly

[RobMiller]

Some friends run a website with loads of information about rearfacing seats: www.rearfacing.co.uk and it didn't take long to persuade us that this was the right option for our two 1 year olds (the crash test videos are quite convincing...).

We've ended up with the Britax 2 way seats, which are good if you don't have isofix, but do also have the extra tethers that Molly mentions. They don't have the leg though which is important if your car is like ours and has storage compartments in the passenger footwell. The only downside is that for some bizarre reason Britax won't sell them to UK retailers, so we had to get them from the in-car safety centre in Milton Keynes who import them back from Scandinavia!

We went straight from the baby seats to these ones so J and T have only ever looked backwards, but they haven't grumbled yet. I would, however, recommend a mirror so you can see what they're up to!

[The Nappy Lady]

Hi Rob,

I think the selling situation has changed now as I also have a Britax (probably same one as you) and you can get them from a place in Petts Wood (Bromley Way). I give details in my other thread - link above.

It was brilliant as the man there has had TWO training courses on how to fit the seats, is knowledgeable about the different ones they stock - 3 different ones when I went, and generally offers a fantastic service.

Best to telephone first to check they have stock in, and then book an appointment as choosing and fitting can take up to an hour. He even said I could return if we buy a new car, or when turning the seat to forward facing at 3 years plus and he would fit it again for me, which I think is really brilliant. He really does seem to care about the process 100%.

Your friends website is what convinced me to go rear facing, please pass on my thanks to them if you ever get the chance. I really appreciate knowing about this issue and can't believe it isn't better publicised. I'm sure in a few years time it will be, but it should be happening NOW.

Molly

[RobMiller]

Hi Molly, I'll pass that on to my friends. They'll be pleased to see that you've found the site useful as they're really passionate about this issue.

We saw Les at Petts Wood too, and I agree his approach is very helpful and I was impressed at the lengths he'd gone to to get training in the rear facing seats. I think that yours is the Britax multi-tech though which wouldn't work in our car because of the leg having to sit on the (fairly useless) floor lockers. It was testament to Les's attitude that he sent us in the right direction even though he didn't get the sale. He also offered to help us fit them if we'd got them by mail order. Top chap!

[The Nappy Lady]

Ah Rob, I see - sorry, I misread your post and wanted to make sure others knew that you can get (some) rear facing seats without doing the mail order thing.

Great that you got that level of help and support even without buying from Les, he has gone up even more in my estimation now!

Molly

[darlin']

We too have our toddler in a rear-facing seat and I feel very passionate about the issue! (much to the annoyance of some friends I think! Oops) But once you have seen the statistics, information and crash-test videos it really becomes an obvious choice I think.

Rob can you please thank your friends from us too? The site is really informative and has good links to stockists in this country.

We have our toddler in a Brio Zento car seat which is a Swedish model but now widely stocked in UK online stores. Ours arrived in 48 hours!

She is very happy riding in it and can see out of the window perfectly well. Would agree about using a mirror to see them with though!

[chantelle]

we are happy with our rear-facing car seat too (it's a maxi cosi), BUT it's complicated to attach and weighs a ton and our nanny isn't happy about having to move it in and out of her car every week.

[alieh]

In part because of reading Molly's post on here, I looked into the toddler rear facing issue and was quickly convinced!

We bought our seat in Canada - I know it is probably not approved to take car seats back and forth between countries, but we need one in Canada and here and I am not buying two identical seats (we don't even drive here, so only use it very occasionally).

We bought the Graco MyRide which is approved for up to 45 pounds rear-facing. My son is big, but even if he stays on the 90th plus centile he will be able to be rear facing in this seat until age 3 based on weight.

The Graco is well priced - I think ?140. It is also very easy to take in and out of the car (and fit with a seatbelt, though it has isofix too) and fairly light. It is probably lighter and smaller than the forward facing Maxi Cosi Priori (?) we had before.

May be one to look into for anyone who does a lot of travelling to the US or Canada and could buy one there.