to ask about car seats and the new laws?

[QueenofKelsingra]

we will be TTC in the new year and I wanted to check where I stand!

I have a silver cross ventura group 0+ car seat from when DS1 was a baby (only a few years old so still ok to use). This is a seatbelt only seat (no isofix) and obviously not the new I-size thing (which I don't understand). The seat fitted DC1 until he was 16/17 months (on weight and head height) so over the recommended new rear-facing age.

Basically I'm asking is that am I still ok to use a seatbelt only infant carrier with the new regulations coming in?

Obviously safety is paramount but the seat fits well in our car, I am confident that I fit it correctly every time and it is part of a travel system and I'd rather not buy a whole new one! we will be looking to get an ERF seat when new DC outgrows the infant carrier.

Seat has been stored in the house so not been exposed to shed temperatures or anything to perish the plastic etc.

Thoughts? and explanations of the new rules in laymans terms would be appreciated!!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Of course you can use a belted infant carrier. They are not banned. I used a belted Recaro infant seat for ds, and used it for dd before him (dd is in a belted ERF seat).

A correctly fitted non isofix seat is equally as safe as a correctly fitted isofix seat.

Also, the rear face to 15 months is advice (shame, really, I would like it to be law), and you could always move them into an erf seat once they are heavy enough even if that is before 15m.

[Whatsthewhatsthebody]

None of mine would have been able to rest face to 15 months as they were too tall.

Unless I am missing something wouldn't most toddlers at that age not be able to stretch their legs.

I must be missing something here.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

whats there are seats that Rear Face to about 4yo. My DD (91st centile for height) is still in hers at 3. She either hangs her legs off either side, crosses them or (her favourite) rests them up the seat back. The seat she is in also moves out further to leave a sort of footwell between it and the cars actual seat so she could put her legs down into that if she wanted. She seems very comfy though.

[QueenofKelsingra]

thanks I'vebeenhacked that's helpful.

whatsthe mine tended to sit almost cross legged, or with their feet resting on the seat back. it never bothered them

I believe the ERF seats are set back a bit to allow more legroom for the older kids.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

This is dd in her erf seat (next to her newborn brother!)

[honeysucklejasmine]

what they work by having frankly massive seats, which are quite far out from the car seat back. I am pretty sure that they aren't going to fit in the majority of small cars, unless the driver is only 4 foot tall. worrying because you want the best for your child but might not be able to have such a big car to enable it.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Not necessarily. As in my photo above, the passenger seat is in a normal position and my (non driver) 6'2" DH fits comfortably in it.

[QueenofKelsingra]

she looks comfy enough i'vebeen !!

honey yes they do look massive, we luckily have a large car and are able to take out the seat in front of where the ERF would go (7 seater with removable seats) if needed. I'm sure they wont fit in a fiesta for example!

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Honey a ERF seat takes the same space as a FF seat does. You are meant to have a fair bit of space in front of a ff one.

[NeedsAsockamnesty]

Fiesta yes they do my nanny drives one of those and at least 4 makes of ERF fit in

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Yep, agree. Prior to the car ours is in now (Focus), it was in an old style Micra (three door too which was a PITA!)

[QueenofKelsingra]

I stand corrected! good to know as that gives me more flexibility with car seat arrangements!! :)

[honeysucklejasmine]

Thank you ladies, I am reassured!

[BertieBotts]

Yep, the new laws don't yet apply to consumers, manufacturers can choose to use the new or old regulations when making car seats. The law change will be in about 3-4 years' time, so might apply by the time you're looking at booster seats.

[BertieBotts]

And the new regulation ones will only fit in isofix fitted cars anyway, so I don't know how they're going to play that - presumably they'll have to have some kind of exception if your car doesn't have isofix.

[Booboostoo]

whats my DD stayed RF till 3yo and she is in the top percentile for height. She just crossed her legs or popped them on the seat.

[NorahBone]

I'm pretty sure the new laws will be for manufacturers, so you can legally use whatever you have, but if you bought a new one they will be slightly different

[NorahBone]

Xpost with people who know what they're talking about

[Mrscog]

Yes the onus is on manufacturers to implement, so over time, group 0 seats will disappear. Unless your baby is a giant, a 0+ should last until at least 12 months anyway - my DS was 75th centile for height and weight and was in a maxi cosi pebble until 20 months.

Remember as well - no coats/snowsuits in car seats. I think at this time of year these make people think a seat is being outgrown, but they should never be worn in a carseat anyway!

[ShootTheMoon]

OP you've had se good advice here.

But you do need to check this manufacture date which should be printed on the hard plastic under the cover somewhere on the chair - that will tell you how long the chair can be used before there is a risk of the plastic perishing. Sometimes it is sooner than you think, if the seat was warehoused for a while.

[QueenofKelsingra]

shootthemoon thanks, I have checked, assuming I don't take to long to get pregnant the seat should be fine! :)

mrscog scares me how many people seem not to know about the coat thing. I took pictures of mine with how loose the straps are after taking their coats off (obvs didn't drive with them in coats, just strapped them in that way for the picture) and posted it on my FB - I was staggered how many of my friends didn't seem to know or were surprised by the difference.

[QueenOfThorns]

Could you please explain the coat thing? Is it just that you need to retighten the straps afterwards, or is there more to it?