Extended Rear Facing Car Seats: Why Keeping Your Child Rear Facing Longer is Safer

It is generally common knowledge that babies need to travel rear facing in an appropriate car seat up to the legally required 15 months (R129 regulations). However, there are many mainstream car seat options which will keep your toddler rear facing up to 105cm which is approximately 4 years old but did you know there is an increasing number of Extended Rear Facing (ERF) seats which will keep your older child rear facing up to 125cm which is approximately 6-7 years old?

Why rear facing?

So why do many parents choose to rear face their child up to 6-7 years old? Keeping your child in a rear facing position helps to protect their head, neck and spine in a frontal collision which is typically the most serious type of crash.

Nobody wants to think about their child being harmed in a car crash but the reality is that it is a possibility every time you travel in a car. Even the safest of drivers can’t mitigate all the other variables on a journey eg. weather conditions or another driver being distracted, particularly by their mobile phone, so your choice of car seat is vitally important.

Babies and children have larger heads in proportion to their overall body when compared to an adult which therefore increases the chances of them being seriously injured or killed in an accident if they are forward faced before they are truly ready.  If a child is rear facing in a frontal collision, the initial force of the impact causes the child to travel upwards in the seat with their head, neck and spine in alignment and protected from injury.

One of the most common questions people ask about rear facing older children is ‘Where do their legs go?’
Children are naturally flexible and can comfortably sit in a cross legged position for extended periods of time-think of how they sit on the floor to play or on the carpet at school. Our adult perception is that it will be uncomfortable but the reality is that it’s a position children actively choose.

Another concern is that they won’t be able to see anything but they will have a good view out of the rear and side windows and you can keep an eye on them with a mirror fixed to the vehicle’s headrest.

There are many options of car seat available so it is a really good idea to visit a bricks and mortar shop. There you will be able to speak to trained car seat specialists, try car seats in your car and try your child in them. The car seat fitters will be able to suggest the most appropriate seat for your individual circumstances, taking into consideration factors such as the size of your car, your child’s growth centiles, whether you have other children (or plan to in the future), as well as cost.

Not all car seats are created equal!

Do some research about ERF seats to discover the benefits for yourself-brands to look for include BeSafe, Axkid and Avionaut. These brands all offer seats which have passed the ‘Swedish Plus Test’ which is the most stringent car seat safety test and can only be applied to rear facing seats.

You are very welcome to make an appointment with us at the Car Seat Safety Centre at Naturally Baby. We do welcome walk ins but making an appointment ensures you have a no obligation hour long session with one of our trained car seat fitters. Many of our customers will tie it in with a visit to our lovely sensory rooms and a shoe fitting so you can tick lots of items off your ‘To Do’ list!