Re: Using an overseas baby car seat to prolong rear facing for my DD in the car
as everyone else has said, carseats need to meet Aus standards to be used in Australia.
the limit for most seats for rear-facing is 12kg, and that's when my boys were turned. Can't remember the exact ages, but it was older than 2 1/2 and less than 3 when they got to that milestone.
So long as their shoulders aren't above the height of the top slot for the harness straps, then they're not too big to be rearfacing. they bend their legs up and around as necessary, and Ben always said he was comfy (if you can believe what a 2yr old says) chances of having broken legs in a crash due to being rearfacing would be pretty minimal I would think, the forces would be going in different directions I think.
We use a safe-n-sound seat, not sure if it's roomier than the turn-a-tot or not.
yes, it would be great if standards were revised to allow for rearfacing for longer. rear-facing is definitely the safest as far as neck/head injuries - for adults as well as babies/children. (just slightly impractical to drive a car while rear-facing *giggle*) I'm all for protecting my kids for as long as possible.
hth
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