Long journey with kids in car help...

Becles

Lyndsay_21 wrote:

i just hope she doesn't pee in the car when she's asleep.!

I used to put mine in training pants on journeys, just in case!

Any advice on the dog situation

Do you know why your daughter is terrified of dogs? Has she had a bad experience with one?

As the dogs are good tempered, you know there is no risk to her in normal circumstances. You need to avoid her becoming panicked in front of the dog as this may cause a problem.

Get her used to the idea of the dogs being there before you go. Perhaps you could take her to the pet shop to buy a packet of dog treats to take with you? Once you are there, encourage her to stroke the dogs and feed them the treats. Maybe she could go on walks too. Once she realises they are not going to harm her, she should be ok. If the dogs like chasing toys like balls, that normally keeps children amused. Mine play for ages throwing toys for our dogs or playing tug of war with them.

Hope it all goes ok for you and you have a smashing time

Scarlet_Fever

Hunnymonster wrote:

Now he's "two and a calf" (his words not mine, but he is two-and-a-halfish) he prefers to sit in the front (suitably restrained and back from the airbag)

the safest place for your child is in the seat behind the passenger.

If you have an airbag in the front (i believe - but could be wrong) that it is illegal, it could also (i believe - but could be wrong) kill your child if the air bag goes
off... (sorry if that sounds alarmist - dont mean to)

i know that seat belts are designed for people over 5ft, and therefore anyone under that height should have a booster seat.

sorry for the rant - i also go off when people speed outside schools, park outside schools (cos their little darling have no legs and can't possibly walk 50 yards, prob worried that someone will run them over), and people who park in disabled areas.....

born_blonde

If you have time, make / buy a story book about dogs and then read it together. Making is better because you can put what words you like in thento help let the children know what dogs are like and how to treat them. What does a wagging tail mean and listen for a growlllllllll!

Hunnymonster

Buffyslay wrote:

If you have an airbag in the front (i believe - but could be wrong) that it is illegal, it could also (i believe - but could be wrong) kill your child if the air bag goes off... (sorry if that sounds alarmist - dont mean to)

Not illegal - checked with the local Police - the primary cause of death of children in any seat in the vehicle is primarily because they're incorrectly restrained (where restrained at all).

In fact one of the Traffic Safety Officers I spoke to suggested that one could reasonably argue that being hit in the face by an airbag that would be in deflation mode by the time it got to the child would prevent much more serious internal & whiplash injury.

Although a significant number occur when an airbag deploys against the back of a rear-facing seat which is why any seat occupied by a child in a rear-facing seat should always have the airbag deactivated.

Woby_Tide

Buffyslay wrote:

the safest place for your child is in the seat behind the passenger.

If you have an airbag in the front (i believe - but could be wrong) that it is illegal, it could also (i believe - but could be wrong) kill your child if the air bag goes
off... (sorry if that sounds alarmist - dont mean to)

i know that seat belts are designed for people over 5ft, and therefore anyone under that height should have a booster seat.

It's not illegal if you have an airbag, just not advised(also not sure how you can judge what is classed as far enough back until your airbag actually goes off I guess?)

also re: the seatbelts, correct about anyone under 5ft needing a booster seat, if the child is under 3 they need be in a 'proper' child restraint/carseat by law

(took so long posting I've been crossposted!)

Hunnymonster

Woby_Tide wrote:

It's not illegal if you have an airbag, just not advised(also not sure how you can judge what is classed as far enough back until your airbag actually goes off I guess?)

Talk to the manufacturers/dealers repair shop for your car, and people who have seen the aftermath of a deployment (traffic cops, ambulance crews, firepersons). They all tell the truth and don't sanitise it at all.

quietheart

I'm really interested in this one, can anyone tell me why the safest place is behind the passenger seat? Where's the next safest, behind the driver? I normally have my 2 + 4 yr olds in seats in the back but as they are winding each other up and keeping each other awake I intended on having 4 yr old in booster in the front for our long drive to France. If this is unsafe I won't do it but I couldn't find any clear info when I've searched. Any ideas would be most welcome!

Hunnymonster

Rovers, I'd encourage you to talk to Road Safety/Traffic Safety Officers at your local police station - it's free (or perhaps the price of a phone call or two) and totally unbiased.

Woby_Tide

allegedly(according to Britax website) the very safest place for a child seat is in the middle of the back seat(but only if you have a full seatbelt i.e. diagonal and lap), that way it's furthest from any potential impact. But with two that's not feasible.

Scarlet_Fever

Hunnymonster wrote:

Not illegal - checked with the local Police - the primary cause of death of children in any seat in the vehicle is primarily because they're incorrectly restrained (where restrained at all).

In fact one of the Traffic Safety Officers I spoke to suggested that one could reasonably argue that being hit in the face by an airbag that would be in deflation mode by the time it got to the child would prevent much more serious internal & whiplash injury.

Although a significant number occur when an airbag deploys against the back of a rear-facing seat which is why any seat occupied by a child in a rear-facing seat should always have the airbag deactivated.

i am glad i put in a lot of - 'i believe....' statements in there....,