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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be considering putting a 7kg child in a 9kg+ car seat

72 replies

strawberrycake · 20/02/2011 12:10

(Please note the 'considering', I haven't done it nor am I saying I will!)

Ds is 9.5 months and on the 98th centile for height. It's become pretty desperate with the car seat situation and we need a new one .Even though it claims to go up to 9kg he's sticking out the ends and it's not safe. Group 1 is 9kg+ and I'm wondering why. He's clearly tall enough/ big enough for them yet he's way off the weight limit as he's skinny.

So is 9kg a guide for the size of the child like they do with clothing, e.g. 3-6months 8kg, or is it something technical that requires a certain weight?

DH says group 1, I'm not sure.

OP posts:

pozzled · 20/02/2011 12:13

Yes, YABU. It isn't safe for him to be in a car seat when he's under the weight limit. Can't you get one of the combination ones that go from birth to 18kg? (Sorry, not sure what group that is).

Ineedacleaneriamalazyslattern · 20/02/2011 12:13

The weight is not a guide it is the absolute minimum weight a child should be before you put him in the next one.
These things are put in place for a reason and that reason is the safety of your baby.
YABVU to consider doing this.

Is his head sticking out over the top as well they are able to stay in a seat until their ears are level with the back of the seat.
If they are then you could get a seat that goes rear and forward facing so for the time being until he is the right weight he can still be rear facing. Children ideally should be rear facing for as long as possible anyway.

LiegeAndLief · 20/02/2011 12:14

I understood that if a child's head was sticking out over the top of the car seat it is not safe and you should go to the next size up. Otherwise keep them in it as long as possible.

If his legs are sticking out but his head is still in I think you should keep him in it - I asked (think it was Britax helpline) about this and they said in a crash there is a risk of neck damage in a forward facing 9kg+ seat, which is worse than potential broken leg.

LiegeAndLief · 20/02/2011 12:14

Oh sorry, slow typer and clearly wrong about the head sticking out bit!

pozzled · 20/02/2011 12:14

These are the ones I mean.

LadyintheRadiator · 20/02/2011 12:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

breatheslowly · 20/02/2011 12:15

I don't know, but I do know that our local council has a road safety officer who advises on this sort of thing - you could try that.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 20/02/2011 12:15

His current one is just a no-go, he cries in it it's so squashy. I was curious as developmentally he's ready, by age he's ready too. Just wondering WHY the weight limit rather than a heigh/ developmental/ age guide.

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 20/02/2011 12:15

I think the issue is height. If his neck and head are above the seat he is in, the regardless of weight, it isnt suitable for him as an impact would jerk his neck.

You need to put him in the next size seat so that his neck is protected.

hardhatdonned · 20/02/2011 12:16

The weight is a guide. If he's sitting up, can hold his own weight and his head is sticking out over the top of the seat then you are 100% NOT being unreasonable.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 20/02/2011 12:18

squeaky-that's why we urgently need a seat, even for short journeys I feel the risk of his head position isn't acceptable. It's no above, but above the firm bit of the top slightly. It could jerk nastily.

Developmently he's been sitting for 3 months, crawls, can stand and cruise on furniture. NO issues with supporting himself.

OP posts:

SecretNutellaFix · 20/02/2011 12:21

If they don't weigh 9kg, regardless of age, it's unlikely that their bones and muscles would be strong enough to withstand a crash, which is why the minimum weight for forward facing is 9kg.

I would probably consider the Maxi-Cosi Opal for the moment. It can take a rear facing child to 13kg, and forward facing to 18kg. And you don't have to take it out to forward face later on. Alternatively, contact the incar safety centre and have a look at their rear facers. I think the Britax Elite is a popular option, because the harness can take up to 25kg, I believe an dtherefore taller child who still needs a harness, so that this issue shouldn't crop up until he is definitely too big for the next stage as well.

duchesse · 20/02/2011 12:21

Britax do a group 0-1 car seat that can go rear-facing up to 9 kg off the top of my head and up to 18kg front-facing. Tiny DD3 was in hers rear-facing until 15 months. Worth investigating.

squeakytoy · 20/02/2011 12:22

www.which.co.uk/baby-and-child/baby-transport/guides/choosing-a-child-car-seat/car-seat-weight-groups/

hardhatdonned · 20/02/2011 12:23

have a read of this site about rear facing

duchesse · 20/02/2011 12:24

Just checked, DD's is a Britax First Class Plus. We're pleased with it.

Original poster

strawberrycake · 20/02/2011 12:24

Maxi-cosi opal looks great...but would spark a AIBU to use a 2nd hand seat discussion :(

Must admit price is a factor, hence looking at group 1

OP posts:

Original poster

strawberrycake · 20/02/2011 12:25

Researching first class plus, thanks, looks like an option

OP posts:

januaryjojo · 20/02/2011 12:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

januaryjojo · 20/02/2011 12:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SecretNutellaFix · 20/02/2011 12:32

In your situation strawberry, I would consider a group 1 rear facer.these guys have always been said to be great.

larakitten · 20/02/2011 12:36

At the risk of being flamed, I did it! My DD was teeny when she was born, and due to poor weight gain wasn't actually 9kg until her 2nd birthday. Precisely what was I meant to do?!?! She was 9 months old, sitting up strongly and had been since 6 months old, and the top of her head poked over the top of the infant carrier. So we bought the next stage up and just got on with it as we had no real alternative!
Should add that none of the group 1 rear facing actually fitted our cars.......

We ended up with the Britax Duoplus and the Maxicosi Priorifix. Great seats, safe and sturdy.

SecretNutellaFix · 20/02/2011 12:39

well, you were very lucky then that you didn't have a serious accident.

9kg is not a guideline when the child is beneath that weight. It is the minimum suitable weight to go forward.

LIZS · 20/02/2011 12:43

The weight guide is the minimum/maximum that style of seat has been tested and passed safety standards. A lighter baby forward facing is likely to be thrown forward in an emergency stop with some force, potentially come out of the harness or injure its neck - to put it bluntly (sorry). The age suggestion is arbitrary , an indicator of what typical age of baby/child who might be the right size and stage of development to suit it, but is not part of the safety issue.

Ineedacleaneriamalazyslattern · 20/02/2011 12:50

I also have the Britax first class Plus rear facing for ds and we are very happy with it.
Please do listen to those saying it is NOT a guideline it is the minimum safe weight for forward facing.
The age thing is a guide for what sort of age a child may be at that weight.
If you have achild that is not 9kg until they are 2 you get them another rear facing seat until 9kg.

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