To be concerned about this? WWYD?

[DontputyourfingerinthejellyNel]

My DS is 7. He has a best friend at school who has a birthday coming up. He has been very kindly asked if he would like to go for a birthday trip out with his friend to a very large theme park.

My concerns are that his friend has a large family, and they have in the past taken my DS home for tea and taken him out in the car during that time - none of the kids in carseats. I doubt DS's high backed booster will figure in their plans tbh. They also left their DS and my DS and other kids locked in the car in an indoor carpark while they popped into a shop to collect some dinner (when they were 5).

WWYD?

Could you go with them taking your son in your car?

Could you offer to go with? Either to lend a hand or because your DS suddenly hates the idea of a day away from his Mum .

Why don't you say to them 'DS would love to come, but you won't have enough room in the car for all the booster seats. I'll drive him there and meet you.'

Presumably you can lend them the car seat for the duration of the trip though?

Although the being left in the car thing is a whole other matter of course... tricky.

Love your name BTW. My favourite is the SpagYeti :o

Offer to drive your son to the theme park?

When can children stop using car seats? 7 seems quite old to me.

at the risk of a flaming >> does he actually need a booster seat?

It goes on height I believe. I think you need to be over 135cm to stop using a car seat.

Ikea! It's 12 when they can stop using a booster seat and use a high back booster for as long as possible. 7 is way too young for no car seat.

12 really? I thought it was age 8, or a certain height, whichever was sooner (don't actually have a car so not up on all the rules, though we have boosters for when they go in someone else's car)

op can you get a booster seat rather than a high backed one - i am sure you will use it again ? school/cub trips? for example

Are kids really being dropped off at secondary school with carseats?

Could you not just get a cheap small booster seat and send it along with him?

It's height as allinson said. Age 12 is bollocks. Most 12 year old boss are taller than me. Should I use a booster seat then?

Ds1's best mate who is 140 cm at age 8 just looks unsafe in the booster seat because he's clearly too big for it.

But to the original question, suggesting you meet them there would be a good plan.

High backed booster seats do take up a lot of space. We have a booster cushion for when dc are in other people's cars. Would this be an option for you?

Do you need to worry about him being locked and left in the car on this trip? Doesn't seem likely they're going to do this on a trip to a theme park and, at 7, he probably is now old enough to wait in a car with a friend for a few minutes (and get himself out if needs be).

By law it's whichever is first: age 12 or 135 cms (a height most DCs reach by age 9ish).

Boys not boss

Actually you are both right. ~It is height or age 12 - whichever the child attains first. And adult seatbelts don't work well on people less than 135cm in height whatever their age.

I wouldn't expect a high back car seat at age 7 in anyones car apart form my own. I do keep a booster seat to offer other people if they haven't got one.

I gathered from the OP that if the family is lax with things like car seats then they will be lax generally.

Personally I would never let my 7 year old go to a large theme park with anyone else as I just wouldn't trust them to keep an eye on my child the whole time. Which is what I would do. A large theme park would be a scary place for a lost 7 year old.

Agree totally with NewName. I am taking DD1 to a theme park as a birthday treat soon - but will leave DD2 with grandparents and am going with one other parent and one other child. I would not personally take more kids than I could hold hands with to a theme park unless they were about 14 and could cope with getting lost. I wouldn't allow DD1 to go to a theme park with another family unless I trusted them 101%.

I agree with Newname and easy. Can you go along too?

I would think a theme park is a good place to get lost, it's enclosed and there are loudspeakers for announcements. The only place I could think would be better would be an airport.

At 7 I think a child is old enough to know to stay with the group, it's not like he's a toddler.

Thanks for all of the great responses. I think my main concern is more as NewName points out - that they have been lax in the past so I do worry. But DS knows about this offer and will be upset and want reasons if I say no. They wouldn't believe he is clingy because he really isn't. But he was deeply concerned about the carseat issue because he's been told he still needs one.

I think I will possibly worry about him all day if he does go. I can buy and lend a booster but it's a bit awkward if none of the other kids have one!

Will have a think.

Just because it's illegal not to wear a car seat doesn't mean it's unsafe.

well grin and bear it and provide a booster, if they dont have one that there is their look out, and to their shame if you like.