Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

comping_cat

It annoys me to see people in their cars with children, either not wearing a seatbelt or very obviously too small too be sat without some sort of booster seat, do people not think of what would happen to a childs neck if they were in an accident or had to break suddenly, and the seat belt is in that area!!!! Im really pleased that the government are bringing in this law. Im a childminder so have lots of seats, and although my children are both 4ft6in, so tall enough, they still sit on boosters as without the seatbelts are around their necks, not shoulders and i wouldnt want to take that risk!!!!

enor

maow425 wrote:

I have 2 children at the mo with another on the way can i fit a baby seat in the middle of the back seat using the lap strap.

Is there anywhere that i can have the lap strap changed to a 3 point belt?

gav425

We looked into this a while ago as we had to fit three children in second stage car seats across the back of a VW Polo. We told by two shops that the way the seat arches in the middle of the car meant that our car seat could not be used safely there. It may be worth checking this out on your car first but britax do second stage car seats that fit onto a lap belt (I don't know about new born car seats though)

Janepig

enor wrote:

We looked into this a while ago as we had to fit three children in second stage car seats across the back of a VW Polo. We told by two shops that the way the seat arches in the middle of the car meant that our car seat could not be used safely there. It may be worth checking this out on your car first but britax do second stage car seats that fit onto a lap belt (I don't know about new born car seats though)

It does say on the website I looked at and also on the TV earlier in the week that if you cannot physically fit three carseats/booster seats across your back seat then the children must use the restraints available (ie, seatbelts). I don't think the government can force you to buy a new car - yet!!!

Jxx

nej

What about adults under 4'5"? Or kids over 12 for that matter? Not quite sure I see what the difference is.

I'm not sure how tall my 9-yr old is, but I think she's perfectly safe sitting on the seat with the adult seatbelt on. I don't think she'd be pleased about sitting on an uncomfortable booster seat on a long journey compared to the nice comfy leather car seat!

I'd better go measure her!

Miss_Cinnabon

We heard this last year through some of the baby mags and at that time we had a honda civic which with 3 kids in the back did not make a lot of room! lo was in first stage carsest, one was in a booster and the other cramped in the middle with just a seatbelt as no room for other seat!!

So this year we got a toyota previa and love the space and all boys now have a seperate seat with the 2 eldest in boosters.

clairec79

The new shape Fiesta (the 5 door version) can fit 3 seats across the back (myself and a friend have it - one baby seat and two boosters)

tazandtommy

Sorry to go off the subject, but does anyone know if you are aloud rear facing baby seats in the front. I'm due in Oct and it would be a lot easier If the baby was in the front with me. I have a oldish Fista (P Reg) I dont have a air bag in the front passanger seat.
Thanx

scl_2

Yes you are allowed rear facing baby seats in the front passenger seat

seven-day-weekend

What happens if you have to pick other children up? e.g.from school?

And is this a European or UK law?

alice's_mum

And is this a European or UK law?

As I understand this is a NEW UK law, but most of Europe, well France Spain Belgium already have something similar, they also say you can't have kids in the front seat on any sort of child seat, as I understand it.