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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to not use this carseat

92 replies

namechange88 · 25/08/2012 09:55

I know the carseat thing has been done loads, but I have a dilemma.

I'm a childminder. One of my mindees is 5 months, and I guess is a little big for his age, but nothing out of the ordinary. Yesterday when his mum dropped him off she had a stage 2 forward facing carseat with her. She was very proud of it and told me how it was in the sale so they decided to get it a little early "as he's about the size of a 9 month old anyway" - He isn't, but IMO thats not the point.

I also had a 3 year old with me yesterday and had planned a trip to a farm, about 45 minutes drive. I couldn't bring myself to use the seat, so used a spare infant seat that I had. Usually I think, your child, your choice, but this was in my car, while he was in my care. I'm not sure what to do next time. I only have him once a week.

OP posts:
Rubirosa · 25/08/2012 11:28

LST - group 0-1 seats are rear facing birth to 13kg, and can forward face from 9kg. If your baby is still under 13kg I would think about turning the seat back round.

LST · 25/08/2012 11:29

He isn't under 13kg. He was 13.5kg last time he was weighed at the HV. Which was about 6 weeks ago.

Rubirosa · 25/08/2012 11:32

Well, at least you know a bit more about car seats for the future. I'm glad your DS is ok.

Original poster
namechange88 · 25/08/2012 11:34

Well if (heaven forbid) I had an accident, he was 100 times safer in the infant seat than he would have been in the FF seat. She knows I have the seat and was happy for me to use it before when she forgot her seat, so I don't think that would really hold up. I understand what you are saying though :)

OP posts:
BlueEyedPeas · 25/08/2012 11:40

DD1 was 9kg at 13 weeks Shock but I still put her in a rear facing until 9 months.

IAmNotACaterpillar · 25/08/2012 11:46

To be honest, when I childminded I used my own car seats that were fitted for my car. I had a mixture to suit all the ages/weights of children I minded. I got parents to sign permission slips that they were happy with this and Ofsted were happy with this. I preferred to use my own seats that I was familiar with, and that I knew were safe for my car. As the driver I was the one responsible, and I knew the age/condition of the seats (all bought new by me) so I knew they hadnt been in an accident.

NotInGuatemalaNowDrRopata · 25/08/2012 12:00

Getting a signature would indeed be a good idea, caterpillar

Socknickingpixie · 25/08/2012 12:53

yanbu.

if i was silly enough to put a child of that age in a ff seat and my childminder knew more about it than i did i would have been extreamly greatfull for the info and refuseal.

fwiw the law says its the driver of the car who is responsable,also logic dictates that with a issue of safety it is the person who is responsable for the wellbeing 'at the time' who is responsable so if you knowingly use a car seat that is not suitable or safe for the child in your care then you are being negligent. you do not need a parents consent to refuse to endanger there child nor do you need consent to follow the law.

try this "i am unable to transport a child in a car i am driving unless he/she is in a age and weight appropreate child seat,i can use mine or not transport him/her what would you prefer"

Ithinkitsjustme · 25/08/2012 13:04

Firstly, it is just as dangerous to put a child in a car seat that is too small than in a car seat that is too big. So while, I wouldn't put a 5 month old in a forward facing seat regardless of their weight, neither would I put an 18 month old in a rear facing INFANT seat regardless of their weight as their height is also a contributing factor. Their head must NOT reach the top of the car seat.
Secondly, while I agree that the OP was right NOT to use the car seat supplied by the parent I think she should have ideally said something at the time and really should get signed consent to her using her own carseats. As has already been pointed out, IF the child had been injured in an accident, you could have been left open to prosecution, even though the child would have been much safer than in the other one. You sound like a great childminder though, and i don't mean to critisise you, just point out that you need to cover your back.

ihearttc · 25/08/2012 13:22

Like a PP said-Mothercare do not sell BabyStart car seats...they never have done as far as I know (I worked there for 10 years). They sell mostly Britax and Maxi Cosi ones in store and some of their own branded ones which are made by Dorel (which also makes Maxi Cosi ones). And I can't obviously speak for other employees but in our store we all had to do Britax Car Seat training before we were even allowed to advise on car seats and I would have never sold a FF car seat to a 5 month old regardless of weight.

Just feel that I needed to make that clear before other people think that they do sell BabyStart ones...they are very basic car seats which are often sold in Argos or Supermarket baby events etc.

poorbuthappy · 25/08/2012 13:28

9kg at 13 weeks?? Is that right? Confused

TraineeBabyCatcher · 25/08/2012 13:46

It astounds me the amount of people who use seats incorrectly, or just dont bother. It really irks me. I know many people who insist their kids are in seats and then dont strap them up properly who just renders the seat useless.

I cannot abide by people who knowingly and intentionally dont use seats. I understand there are emergencies but 99% of people i see doing it do it regularly, many dont even own seats.

Re, OP You did completely the right thing in not using the seat.

bonzo77 · 25/08/2012 13:52

YANBU.

useful link here

people make the mistake of moving the children up to the next size as the first opportunity, instead of keeping them back in the previous stage car seat for as long it is safe. The website above is pretty clear that age is irrelevant. It's weight that counts. The other factor is height. In the unlikely event that your child is 9kg and her head already comes over the top of the infant carrier, then you do have to move them before they get to 13kg.

Rubirosa · 25/08/2012 14:07

I had to move my ds forward facing before 13kg as his head reached the top of the infant seat - he was 18 months and about 11kg.

Socknickingpixie · 25/08/2012 15:05

can i just point out that its nit if her/his head just sticks up over the top of the seat its if most of there head up to ears sticks over

Socknickingpixie · 25/08/2012 15:06

not not not, not nit now thats given me a horrid vision

Rubirosa · 25/08/2012 15:17

Actually I think with the group 0 infant seats it's when the top of their head reaches the top - with the group 1 ff seats it's eyeline reaches the top.

Ithinkitsjustme · 25/08/2012 15:28

In a first stage only car seat, it is definitely when the top of their head reaches the top of the seat, not sure about the ones that go to age 4 (ish).

Belmo · 25/08/2012 15:34

I had to turn my dd forward facing at 10 months - she was 13.5kg, well off the top of the centile graphs. I feel a bit shit about it but can't afford an ERF one, and I figure she is safer in a cheap ff carseat than an outgrown infant carrier. Wish they made rear facing seats cheaper though - these threads stress me out but my dd really is massive and I just can't afford one.

Socknickingpixie · 25/08/2012 15:37

not according to the link you posted.

they very clearly say do not switch from a rf baby seat to a ff toddler seat untill the top of the ears extend past the seat back

Socknickingpixie · 25/08/2012 15:40

arrrrrrrrrr not the link you posted but the maxi whatsitsname link.

i also belive halfords also give this advice as do several other manufactures.

well the ones who promote rf untill 12 months anyways Grin

OnlyWantsOne · 25/08/2012 15:41

YANBU

AT ALL

you could print off a copy of legal stuff and supply her with ht

Perhaps with An "update" of your policy re child seats

Socknickingpixie · 25/08/2012 15:44

belmo

i may be remembering this wrong as i am old and sleep deprived but i think the uk is one of the few places where ff is the norm. have you looked at other countries sites for ones that ship to uk? obviously pick one that has good standerds.

thing is tho if you cant afford one its not worth beating yourself up over you have a car seat if its fitted correctly and checked regularly if your not a racing driver then thats all you can do.

Original poster
namechange88 · 25/08/2012 19:33

Hi all, thanks for all the replies. I've got 2 seats (infant and group 1-2-3), so I'm covered for all the children that I mind. Going to keep them permanently in my car and get parents to sign a consent sheet, and inform ofstead too. I only haven't thought of doing this before as a problem such as this has never arisen.

OP posts:
TheCunnyFunt · 25/08/2012 20:32

B/SIL put their massive DS in a ff seat at 15 weeks :(

I asked my HV about this but she didn't seem concerned at all when I said he was massive Hmm