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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be really shocked that someone who I always see as highly intelligent etc

153 replies

icarriedawatermelon2 · 31/01/2011 20:59

can so so so so ignorant when it comes to car seats and safety?

At work today. Chatting over lunch about keeping my youngest son rear facing. Much respected work mate, who is so bright and intelligent literally mocks me for being OTT and revealing that he drives with his 7 year old on sofa cushion if he forgets her booster seat (no high back, just basic booster) and wouldn't in a million years keep a toddler rear facing as they are too demanding and need to see where they are going!

Then the whole room joins in with "Oh in my day we didn't have seats etc etc"

"x£ on a car seat you must be mad etc"

Left work feeling a bit crap to be honest :(

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 31/01/2011 21:49

Do you need isofix to have RF toddler seats?

As an aside, I'm not sure what the stats are on isofix, but we have only 2 points in our car, and 3 kids. Difficult to choose who should go in the isofix really! So decided against it, since we already had seats from our old car which had no isofix.

Really, it is safer to be rich! You can afford organic food too.

FabbyChic · 31/01/2011 21:49

I was under the impression you was not allowed a child under 7 in the front. Maybe I passed my test too long ago will go off and check.

porcamiseria · 31/01/2011 21:49

can you even get rear facing toddler seat in the UK? think you need a CHILL PILL

activate · 31/01/2011 21:51

you know what you are?

you're not unreasonable

what you are is so caught up in the moment that you fail to see that there is a bigger picture out there

MN seems to do this to people - so many strident, opinonated, obsessed people reinforcing other people's little factoids that everything blows out of proportion

so just breathe

it doesn't matter how he feels about car seats - and in a few years it won't matter how strongly you felt about them

and anyway you can always look forward to the end of the mayan calendar next year Wink

Gleekfreak · 31/01/2011 21:53

Don't need Isofix-do them with and without just like forward seats. Rear facing seats available in many places, and becoming more widely used. My DS (2) loves his and is higher up and can see out the side of the car and out the back. Is a big lad, but no probes with fitting his legs in-though back of car seat covered in mud from his shoes :o

Original poster
icarriedawatermelon2 · 31/01/2011 21:53

RealityIsKnockedUp smug? unhinged?
Why? Because I care about my child's safety?

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 31/01/2011 21:53

Got it thank you, sorry, really thought children under a certain age could not travel in the front.

Personally do not believe babies should be allowed to travel in the front ever but there you go.

Gleekfreak · 31/01/2011 21:55

Oops, probs- bloody spell corrector :o

silverfrog · 31/01/2011 21:56

yes you can get RF toddler seats in the UK.

Merry: money can't buy everyhtng - mst cars only have 2 isofix points.

sometimes even the 7 seaters only have 2 isofix points. madness, really.

and no, you don't have ot have isofix to have a RF toddler seat - just like other car seats, some are seatbelt fixed, some are isofixed.

thisisyesterday · 31/01/2011 21:56
Hmm yes you can get rear-facing seats over here.

well... at least i think i am in the UK... and i am pretty sure the pics on my profile are of my children, in my car.

it isn't an issue getting them in and out,. it's no different to having a FF seat...

thisisyesterday · 31/01/2011 21:57

oh and no, you don't need Isofix. both of ours are belted

MerryMarigold · 31/01/2011 22:01

silverfrog, we have a 7 seater with only 2 isofix points. very odd. (we spent all our money on it, so we can't afford organic food!). Thanks for isofix clarification...

BuzzLightBeer · 31/01/2011 22:03

not because you care about your childs safety, because you are judging everyone else.

silverfrog · 31/01/2011 22:05

I wnet to the Ford mumsnet day, and asked the Ford people who know everyhitng there is ot know about Ford cars why they only fit 2 isofix poits in a car designed to carry up to 5 children.

the answer?

the galaxynow has 3 isofix points.

well, that helps those of us with 4 children, doesn't it?

(completely agree - ridiculous to have to choose hwo has isofix seats and who doesn't, although a non-isofix seat fitted correctly is not any safer than an isofix seat iirc (talking about boosters here, not infants))

I had a car salesmen change his pitch form "has isofix - really afe, the best you can get for your child (I was pregnant at the time) to "oh you don't really need it" Hmm Hmm when I revealed I needed more than 2 isofix points...

beijingaling · 31/01/2011 22:06

You know in Australia it's now illegal to trVel in a car if a child under 7 is not in a child seat/rear facing baby capsule? Also a couple have recently been convicted of gbh (or equivalent) for not properly restraining their child. They crashed and the child is now paralyzed from neck down.

Op YANBU but precious to let it bother you.

StrawberryMess · 31/01/2011 22:07

have you actually looked at the one piece of research on whether booster seats make a difference? That was a rhetorical question btw. For children over 3, the evidence is that they don't

My children still have them, but I think your displaying your ignorance nearly as much as your colleague.

Quite right on rear-facing being better tho.

And my 5yo doesn't have a high-back. Is your PFB still a toddler by any chance?

Original poster
icarriedawatermelon2 · 31/01/2011 22:08

Buzzlightbeer I was the one being judged for spending "too much" and keeping my child rear facing. Read my post again. I do judge his views (and yours I assume) that not using a booster seat for his (short) child is dangerous and I do judge his views that rear facing seats are "OTT" as misinformed.

OP posts:
BuzzLightBeer · 31/01/2011 22:10

you know what they say about assuming? Hmm You can't complain about someone judging you when you are calling them ignorant and judging them, can you?

Original poster
icarriedawatermelon2 · 31/01/2011 22:11

StrawberryMess Totally disagree, and read lots to back that up. You can't be serious? A 3 year old sitting without any seat, with a 3 point belt???? Maddness!

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 31/01/2011 22:12

strawberrymess, i'd be interested in seeing that evidence if you could link it please?

my 6 year old is in a highback booster, and would still be harnessed if i could have fitted a harnessed one in the car alongside the others.

DirtyMartini · 31/01/2011 22:12

Not going to get caught up in this but broadly speaking I think anyone who mocks other people because they are doing too much to keep their children safe in the car is kind of a cock.

But more importantly, at the extreme cuteness of thisisyesterday's dc

Original poster
icarriedawatermelon2 · 31/01/2011 22:13

BuzzLightBeer I don't understand?

OP posts:
Original poster
icarriedawatermelon2 · 31/01/2011 22:15

DirtyMartini thanks, I will hang on to that!

OP posts:
GMajor7 · 31/01/2011 22:17

Erm, I have a front facing seat.

Am I a bad mother? Sad

StuffingGoldBrass · 31/01/2011 22:18

If you really want to improve road safety for all the ickle children everywhere, here's one way to do it.
Get rid of your fucking car. Unless you live in the middle of nowhere or have a family member with mobility issues or have them yourself, you don't need a car. Fewer cars on the road means less pollution and fewer accidents.