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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to buy a cheap carseat?

98 replies

bollywoodfan · 11/01/2013 19:01

My DH is of the opinion that more expensive =better, esp when it comes to buying carseats. In DH's car we have got very expensive isofix seats. I need one for my car now and I would probably only be doing local driving.I have seen some carseats for about £30 which are suitable for 9months - 11 years. That just seems so cheap! Is it U to buy this or would I be compromising on safety?

OP posts:
justforinfo · 12/01/2013 15:00

^^In car safety center is the only place in the UK you can buy them from, you would be best calling them on 01908 220909 :)

IneedAsockamnesty · 12/01/2013 15:41

I ment legs not bar

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 12/01/2013 16:44

I live nowhere near the In Car Safety place but I was able to order it and have it sent out.

I did a lot of research into which seat would go into my old style micra and the 2way came up top. £220 is the best price you will get it for.

ProtegeMoi · 12/01/2013 22:17

Vinegar The cheap seats pass the test because they DONT TEST FOR SIDE IMPACT AT ALL! The law says they don't have to.

When the cheap seat was put through a side impact test the dummy was thrown into the wondow, that child would be dead.

ProtegeMoi · 12/01/2013 22:25

Watch this crash test to see why rear facing is so important.

A baby put through that force would break their neck.

ProtegeMoi · 12/01/2013 22:31

Again, poor child who broke his neck after a crash in a forward facing seat aged 18 months.

A rear facing seat and this would not have happened.

YesIamYourSisterInLaw · 13/01/2013 08:48

Bumping up to raise ERF awareness

VinegarDrinker · 13/01/2013 10:50

ProtegeMoi have you read my posts? My son travels in a car about once a month, always under 30 mph, for a maximum of about 15 minutes. Even if either car could fit an ERF seat there is no way in hell I am paying at least £500 (£250 x 2 as neither grandma can safely fit a FF seat so couldn't possibly expect them to safely fit a RF one every time) for RF.

I'm very happy with my decision, thanks.

I'm also happy with my decision to cycle with him daily in London traffic, which I'm sure many MNers would disapprove of Smile

ProtegeMoi · 13/01/2013 13:42

Well your choice clearly.

I think £500 is nothing to pay for a device that could save your child's life but each to their own.

I also think many parents whose children have been severley injured or killed wish they had paid the £500 to prevent it.

BertieBotts · 13/01/2013 13:47

The minimum testing requirements in the UK is a frontal crash at 30mph. So if you're only making short local journeys, then any seat sold in the UK is fine. However if you ever travel at higher speeds I'd really recommend looking more carefully at the different options to see what other tests that seat has undergone. Most expensive does not necessarily mean safest but the cheapest seats will have been produced in the cheapest way and so will only have the minimum requirements.

It's like anything really - go for somewhere in the middle and you'll be fine :)

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 13/01/2013 13:47

IT doesnt even have to be as much as £500. The two way is £220. Or four pounds a week for your dcs first year will save enough for an erf seat by the time they need it.

VinegarDrinker · 13/01/2013 13:50

Have you got any evidence that a child could die in a low speed collision because of being FF? Or are you just speculating?

£500 may be nothing to you, but I can't remember the last time I bought anything anywhere near that value. Even when I had a car, £500 was more than it cost.

BertieBotts · 13/01/2013 13:50

I found a very good Britax High Backed Booster for DS for £30, it was on offer as they'd changed the seat fabric - as if anyone cares about having the "latest colours"!

For the toddler seat I'd shop around as it's the most cumbersome seat to use so you want to find one which works for you and is safe, so looking at buckle crunch etc especially if you use more than one car.

BertieBotts · 13/01/2013 13:51

Vinegar ALL car seats in the UK are tested to withstand a 30MPH front impact crash, don't worry. Some people clearly don't understand what it's like to feel that £50 is a lot of money let alone £500.

VinegarDrinker · 13/01/2013 13:51

Sorry x posted, that was at ProtegeMoi

GoldPlated as I said in my post, I would need 2 of them. Hence £500.

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 13/01/2013 13:51

The child may not die, however they could suffer something called internal decapitation if rear ended by a vehicle travelling fast. I will look for some links.

VinegarDrinker · 13/01/2013 13:54

Did you miss the low speed bit, GoldPlated? Have you driven in inner London? You're lucky to make it to 10 mph!

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 13/01/2013 13:54

this link discusses what happens when a car crashes at 30mph. 300lb force by a baby's body - rear facing them spreads that force through the whole body, rather than it all concentrating on the head and neck.

VinegarDrinker · 13/01/2013 13:58

I really do appreciate that RF is safer in some situations, and if we a) had a car and B) did motorway driving I am sure we would be happier to prioritise it in our finances.

BUT it just simply doesn't make sense for us to spend that amount. Plus I would not trust either grandma to fit those seats safely. RF is not the right choice for everyone, that is all I'm saying.

IneedAsockamnesty · 13/01/2013 14:01

Gold plated and protege she has clearly stated that she des not have the space in the car that her children travel in nor do the people who take her dd have the ability to fit a rf one, and that they do not travel above 30mph or on roads where others drive fast. Or even go in cars more often than 12 times a year or for loner than 15 mins a journey.

Her and the dad do not drive or own cars.

Whilst I personally would not buy and use a none rf car seat, in the uk at least for now the inexpensive ff ones are perfectly legal and pass the minimum requirements in this country. For a person in vinegars suituation a cheap ff correctly fitted seat is perfectly acceptable

mrsL1984 · 13/01/2013 14:08

My sister bought a car seat to o in my car as I'm emergency pick up for nephew she got it from Argos eBay sight and its just as god as the britax from toys r us for her first son! My cousin bought hers fom kiddie care n liked it that much she gt another for her mums car

RooneyMara · 13/01/2013 14:08

Sorry to hijack but can anyone recommend RF seats - we have a Kiddy comfort pro and a Concord Ultimax for the first bit (after we've grown out of the pebble) which I think is RF till about 18 months.?

I'd like to get something ERF really but don't know which ones are or where to start looking.

ProtegeMoi · 13/01/2013 14:11

The UK test is 30mph in a FRONT crash, what about side crashes?
30mph is a lot if your hit side on.

Yes £50 is a lot for some people but if you can't afford a car seat you can't afford to drive. People find money to buy the car, pay the insurance, get repairs done, put petrol in. A car seat should also be a priority.

Sock - She said they couldn't fit a FF facing seat either so would you say it's ok to not use one? They need to learn or have someone fit it for them!

A legal seat is different to a save seat lets face it, some of them only JUST scrape the test and thre UK test is appauling compared to the Swedish test.

ProtegeMoi · 13/01/2013 14:12

Rooney
I would highly recomend the Britax 2 way Elite if it will fit your car.

GoldPlatedNineDoors · 13/01/2013 14:15

My dd only goes in a car once every ten days or so, as we walk her to CMs who doesnt have a car, and we live in a veey built up area so I rarely use my car for anything but getting to and from.work. However, it only takes one crash one one trip on one day to possibly cause injury.

Maybe Im being led by my experience of being hit while in stationary traffic by a car travelling at over 30mph. It could happen again, or something similar, and I want my DD Erf of it ever does.