Can't explain what it's about in a title!!!

[justforinfo]

Hello my fellow car seat nuts! And to those who have come across this thread!
As some of you may know I work for a large child seat retailer and am disgusted at the poor training and how little people seem to know or research about their car seats...

I am currently writing a business plan to start a company offering child seat training to independent retailers, give presentations on what to look for when buying and check seats are fitted correctly at childminders, nurseries, hospitals and service stations. As many will know 7/10 child seats are not fitted correctly and i'm determined to raise awareness of ERF.

I will also point out that I am not intending to charge for checking the fitting of seats and will only charge to cover my costs on the training courses, so a not for profit business! (I refuse to cash in on child safety) I am also currently seeking ways to gain official approval from recognised authorities for my training course, no cowboys/girls here!

So, i'd be so appreciative of you taking a few minutes to help me with a bit of research...

1. Would you have benefitted from having an expert give advice on seats during your ante-natal classes (aimed at group 0/ Group 0+)
   
   
2. Would you be more likely to use a childminder that had passed a recognised car seat fitting training course?
   
   
3. Do you have any idea where else I can go to ensure as many children as possible are travelling in a properly fitted seat?
   
   I hope nobody gets annoyed with me posting this in the car seat thread, I know its not directly related but am floundering a bit with trying to cram too much in and if people would pay attention to someone at a nursery offering fitting on car seats?!
   
   I have this page on good old facebook as "phase 1" (as im calling it) of the idea :)
   
   www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002013331513&ref=notif&notif_t=friend_confirmed#!/pages/Child-Car-Seat-Safety-Place/296887443655955
   
   Thank you!

[NickNacks]

Don't give us childminders more bloody red tape to go through!!!

[thisisyesterday]

1. i didn't have any ante-natal classes, but i would say, in general, that it would be no bad thing if people were given advice on it
   
   
2. i think that's impossible to say. If I had met 2 childminders who were absolutely lovely, and equal in every other way then maybe. It certainly would be important to me that anyone looking after my child was willing to use an ERF seat and either let me fit it or knew how to fit it themselves
   
   
3. you could contact local road-safety officers? they may be able to give advice on how to get out there or any other relevant stuff.
   if you mean places that you could go to physically show people and offer help them I guess you could advertise in GP surgeries, baby groups etc...

[justforinfo]

Well it's obviously not compulsory :)

My 2 y/o gd's childminder has been fitting her seat wrong for the last 15 months so I thought it would be a good thing to offer minders, for theirs and parents peace of mind, it was actually her mum that put the idea in my head for childminders... and it'd be crackers for childminders to have to have something like that but parents can walk into asda and pick any old seat up!!! The main aim of the game is to prevent seats being fitted wrong.

But I certainly wouldn't parade it around as a way for childminders to make themselves better than another or that they had to have it. I think they do a cracking job (and underappreciated alot of the time) and defo don't need more regualtions! Looking at the childminder Q it does come across as saying they'd be better for having it...but certainly not intended like that!! :-/

[justforinfo]

*thisisyesterday my local road safety officer doesn't even know what a top tether is! and didn't have a clue what I was on about when I asked her about ERF!

[NickNacks]

I get my seats fitted at the store in which I bought them (mothercare and halfords in my case) and I also only use my own seats as I am certian of their history and know that they fit in my car. Maybe more onus should be on the retailers who sell them?

[justforinfo]

There definately needs to be more onus on them, there are far too many fitters that don't know what they're doing, though there are some very good fitters too!

[StetsonsAreCool]

Have just liked your page. I think you've got a good idea in principle. I have to close my ears when I go into car seat shops now and hear the bad advice being given (8mo FF anyone?)

Anyway, to answer your questions

1: Yes, I would have liked someone knowledgable to bounce my thoughts off beforehand. Didn't trust the sales people at all and it doesn't appear that my local council has a road safety dept with even a passing interest in car seats.

2: Actually, yes, I think I would if there were any CMs round here with spaces. It's not an issue with nursery, but if DD is going in somebody elses car (family included), I want to know that they have the same commitment to car seat safety as I do, and the same understanding of the workings of the seat.

3: I really have No Idea, sorry But I think it's vital to get the sellers on board. I feel like I know more about car seats than most some of the shop staff I speak to, but then I know I take DD's safety way more seriously than somebody trying to flog a product (sad, but true in my experience)

I hope it goes somewhere for you

[aswellasyou]

1. Yes. Although the message on saftey has gotten through to me because I spend too much time on here, a lot of the other Mums I know through baby groups have turned their babies around as soon as they hit 9kg. I do lecture them about it but they don't listen. Some voice of authority may be more persuasive. I've never seen the fitting of other people's seats up close, but I imagine lots of the same people just buy/borrow the seat, fit it themselves and maybe get it wrong. I'm guilty of that myself with the first seat I used.
   
   
2. Definitely. It concerns me that so many CMs use old seats that are past their 'best before' date. I would assume the CM was serious about keeping my child as safe as possible.
   
   
3. You could do free checks in the car park of big parks, nature centres, etc. during school holidays.
   
   Good luck with it all.

[justforinfo]

Thanks all, I was at a services the other day and in the space of 10 minutes spotted 3 child seats fitted incorrectly... unfortunately dh wouldn't let me wait for the people to offer to do it right for them! >.< I hadn't thought about nature centres or GP's so thank you for those tips!

[aswellasyou]

Oh and you could do them at breastfeeding/baby massage/baby yoga groups, soft play centres and stay and play groups.

[justforinfo]

ahhh that's fantastic *aswellasyou Thanks!! Very glad I posted :D

[StetsonsAreCool]

Justfor, I was buying a new pushchair the other day, and explaining to the sales assistant about her ERF. They sell the Recaro one there. Anyhoo, she told me the rules (law?) are changing to make babies stay rear facing until 18 months. Or not turn them ff until 18 months, which is the same thing I guess.

Have you heard that too? Or is she making it up mistaken?

Obviously I'd love for it to be true!

[RandomMess]

Have you approached the NCT at all? They banned the sale of car seats at their nearly new sales so obviously are on board with car seat safety?

[justforinfo]

I've not heard anything at all about the law changing to keep kids RF longer, so I believe she is mistaken, however I will call around tomorrow to find out for sure. There definately seems to be alot of rumours flying around at the moment about car seat laws changing so there may well be something in it! the company I work for currently got mystery shopped by which? and only 1 store out of 7 visited advised to keep the child RF as long as possible, with that being one of the things looked for I would expect some sort of official campaign to take off/law to change. - Will post on here when I find out!

RandomMess I feel stupid asking....but what is NCT????

[justforinfo]

Ahhhh RandomMess I have googled and what an awesome charity! E-mail sent!

[RandomMess]

Great, hope they can make use of you!