Occasional journey with 4 year old.

[PastaBow]

I'm the emergency contact for a friend. Her DD's nursery shuts late so if she hasn't made it home due to train problems my DH or another friend has watched my children whilst I collect her using my DD's toddler seat or just walking as nursery is very close by.

My friend's DD is starting school in September which is further away and shuts much earlier. Realistically I will need to collect her in the car with my DD and baby DS.

What do I need to carry her in the car? Is a normal booster seat ok? Should that go in the back of the car or can it go in the front?

I always feel a bit clueless with any child older than mine. Google seems to suggest a booster seat is ok but I'm not really sure!

TIA.

[OorWullie]

My four year old has a high back booster, for safety they can/should be in one until about 12.

Technically they can go in a normal booster but those don't offer any protection at all in the event of a crash.

Shouldn't her mum be providing this since it's for her DD and you're doing the favour? High back boosters can be expensive.

[OorWullie]

Oh, and personally I would keep it in the back if possible.

The safest place is actually in the middle seat in case of a side collision.

[WafflesandWhippedCream]

A booster seat is fine for occasional journeys, and it can go in the front if no space in the back. The child must weigh over 15kg, (which my DD didn't at 4.)

Maybe your friend would provide you with a seat if she isn't happy with a normal booster seat. I don't think you should have to buy one especially, since you are doing her a favour.

[JellyTipisthebest]

I would get this one britax adventure it is really narrow and you can use it as a spare for your kids and there friends when they are bigger

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

I think you should ask your friend what kind of booster seat she'd like to provide for her child. The high back ones are expensive and not a legal requirement, tho as a pp said they provide much better protection than the seat ones. All the seat ones do is get the child in the right position for the seat belt to work properly, but the seats can slip on a side collision.

I have both but would only use the seat one to go up to school or shops (30 mph limit and 3 minute journey).

[PastaBow]

Thanks for the advice. Jelly the Britax one looks ideal. I'll have a measure up. I did think it would still be the case they are best in the back.

I wanted to sort it now as I know my friend will raise it and buy one for me as we've talked before about car seats when I've helped out up until now. I would just prefer she didn't buy one as I know money is really tight for her.

She does lots of kind things for me so I'd like to save her sorting this out. I will just tell her it will come in handy when my niece stays occasionally / as a spare when DD is bigger which is all true.

[AliceMum09]

Another vote for the Britax Adventure. You can always buy it for £30 somewhere, usually Kiddicare or Mothercare. I have two, they fit nicely in most cars because they are quite narrow at the the point where the Adventure touches your car' seat (as opposed to the cheap Graco high backed booster that is really wide and will wobble about if your car's seats are 'shaped' and not completely flat). And they are not too heavy or bulky to carry around or store.

[OorWullie]

I had the Britax adventure, it's usually available for about £30-£40 and my DS was comfortable in it.

The only reason I'm not using it again is because of the Which review and the state it was in after a side impact collision when (thankfully) my child wasn't in it.

In a 30mph limit area for very short journeys it would be fine, though I still think your friend should be providing something for her own child.

[OorWullie]

sorry, just noticed you've said why you're happy to provide it.

[AliceMum09]

I think car seats are not supposed to survive a crash intact. They break so that your child doesn't!

Which? don't give the Adventure a very good frontal impact score, for some reason, but the side impact rating is fine. It's still better than the 'Don't Buy' Graco basic booster that gives next to no side impact protection, even when the removable back is attached.