Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

bylromarha

niklam wrote: »

Actually - if any child is in any car seat in the ront of the car then the air bag should be switched off.

I was told at halfords to leave it on with forward facing car seats, so have stuck by that for the past 4 years.

Different for different models it seems.

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

pinkpig08

I think if it is a rear facing car seat the airbag should be switched off, but if it is forward facing it shoud be switched on.

milliebear00001

bylromarha wrote: »

I was told at halfords to leave it on with forward facing car seats, so have stuck by that for the past 4 years.

Different for different models it seems.

http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing/airbags.htm

RoSPA's advice is that no child should sit in a front seat with an airbag - even children in boosters, and especially not young children who are in extreme danger from the force of the blast from the bag.

OP - don't put yur baby in the front seat if you can avoid it - it's much safer in the back. Also, check with your insurance company re. turning off an airbag - some won't honour your insurance if there's an accident and you've deliberately disabled it.

pinkpig08

milliebear00001 wrote: »

RoSPA's advice is that no child should sit in a front seat with an airbag - even children in boosters, and especially not young children who are in extreme danger from the force of the blast from the bag.

OP - don't put yur baby in the front seat if you can avoid it - it's much safer in the back. Also, check with your insurance company re. turning off an airbag - some won't honour your insurance if there's an accident and you've deliberately disabled it.

Ah I didn't realise that, especially about the insurance!

Sagaris

I would think the problem with the seat belts in the Fiesta is that the buckle end has a fairly long piece of webbing on it, which will mean the buckle will come to rest high up on the car seat frame and 'bend' which could break in a crash - called 'buckle crunch' and to be avoided at all costs.

The car seat that is usually recommended for seat belts like this is the Britax First Class, as it has 2 ways to route the seat belt, which eliminates the buckle crunch.

I've always been instructed that air bags are intended for adult passengers and can still harm children that are in a forward facing car seat, so should always be seated in the rear of the car. If you have no option but to put a forward facing car seat in the front passenger position, the seat should be pushed back as far as possible to avoid injury from the airbag in the event of a collision.

Edit: Another poster said about asking your local Road Safety Officr for advice - you can find out if they offer the service here: http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/advice/index.htm

elektra-2007

What car seat have they offered you? When I look for new ones I check out the independant tests on Which. www.which.co.uk Last time i looked which was about 18 months ago it was a britax evolva123 and maxi cosi xp that were the safest with the best results. It maybe worth having a look just sign up to the trial, and if the seat you have been offered is one of the safest id just buy it, you could look around for a cheaper deal you may find last years seat covers on the same seat for £30-40 cheaper.
You could go to the expense of getting a bigger seat belt so you get a cheaper carseat, id rather put the money towards a safer carseat. The next seat after this one will fit in any seat belt as they use them like an adult. My lad is 8 quite big for his age (10-11 clothes) I still make him sit in a carseat that goes upto age 12 with a headrest and wings as it was tested to be the safest type for his age group.

Jakesmummy

I've got an R reg fiesta and I got a £60 ish one from argos, was a few years ago now tho, when my son was 9mth ish. it is a stretch but it does click in,

karen24_2

please can I ask nobody to put a child in the front seat with an airbag. The airbag can cause serious injury to a child, that's forward facing and especially with carseats facing to the rear. Incidentally I had a similar problem in my old car with the Britax first class not fitting in the backseat rearward facing. In hindsight I can't see why I didn't just replace the seatbelt, I replaced the whole car! I was too paranoid about the airbag going off even if I disabled it, it would have been easier and cheaper to replace the seatbelt I guess.

pollyanna24

Wow! Well, thanks for everyone's responses.

The ones I can have are ringed in the Mothercare catalogue which I will bring to work with me tomorrow to start the search. Bf has said to look at the cheapest I can get them for before going to the hassle of trying to get the seatbelts changed.

Britax definitely sounds familar though. I'm going to have a look at their website like someone very kindly suggested.

And I won't put her in the front as that seems to be the general consensus.

daveyjp

Try toys r us - their selection of car seats is far better than anywhere else we tried. They do a lot of less well known makes which are just as good as the Britax of this world, but much cheaper.

We bought a non descript brand for £50. Googled the company and it's part of the same company as Quinny