Car seats

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

Just sent DD1 (7) off to her friend's house. The friend's mum picked her up and has a spare car seat so I didn't lend her ours. But they just left and I just remembered DH is collecting DD on his way home from work later, and won't have a car seat for her.

WWYD? Rush over there (it's not close, btw, and I'd have to get the other three young ones in the car and drag them on the car journey too) with her car seat; or accept that it's not going to be that dangerous for a slightly taller than average 7yo to sit in an adult car seat in very, very safe car (in that it's brand new - DH works for a dealership - and hi spec as well)?

I'm a fool!

Mine are younger, but I didn't realise a 7 year old would have to go in a car seat! How long does this last???!

I wouldn't give it a second thought. She'll be fine without a booster.

I think something like 11 or 14 or something - she's in a highbacked booster atm; and I guess we'll take the back off soon anyway. It's to make them high enough that the seatbelt falls in the right place.

Could you get in touch with friend and ask if you can borrow her spare car seat to take DD home in?

How tall is she - I'm not sure what the height limit is for not needing a seat - is it 135cm?

The safeness of your car doesn't matter so much - it's the other drivers you need to worry about.

Not needing some sort of car seat that is.

They have to be 11 or over 135 cms before they can legally go without a booster seat.

If travelling with spare booster is too much hassle then ask DH to pop to a local Argos or supermarket and pick up a booster seat, they start at about £10. this way you have a spare.

Deb's idea also a good one.

I thought that for one-off type journeys you could get away without the seat (legal exemption).
Truth be told, if it were me, I'd either stick her on a cushion/some towels for the journey home, or just not worry about it. But that's assuming it's a fairly small distance (under 2 miles).

The nearest Argos or anywhere else that sells boosters is 18 miles roundtrip for us.