Extended Rear Facing Car Seats

An extended rear-facing (ERF) car seat is designed to allow a child to continue travelling rear-facing beyond the infant-carrier stage. Depending on the individual seat, rear-facing use may continue to approximately 4, 6 or 7 years, subject to the seat's approved height and weight limits.

Rear-facing seats support the child's head, neck and spine across the car seat shell during a frontal collision, helping to distribute crash forces over a larger area of the body. Extended rear-facing seats allow this seating position to be used for longer as the child grows.

For R129 height-based car seats, children must remain rear-facing until they are over 15 months old. Extended rear-facing seats allow children to continue rear-facing considerably beyond this minimum, subject to the approved limits of the individual car seat.

Yes, selected extended rear-facing car seats are designed to accommodate children rear-facing to approximately 6 or 7 years. Suitability depends on the child's height and weight as well as the individual seat's approved limits, so always check the manufacturer's specifications.

Some are, but not all. Extended rear-facing seats may use ISOFIX or an approved seat-belt installation depending on the model. Belt-installed ERF seats can also accommodate larger children because they are not necessarily restricted by the lower ISOFIX anchorage load limits. Always follow the installation method specified by the manufacturer.