to ask about car seats and the new laws?

[QueenofKelsingra]

we will be TTC in the new year and I wanted to check where I stand!

I have a silver cross ventura group 0+ car seat from when DS1 was a baby (only a few years old so still ok to use). This is a seatbelt only seat (no isofix) and obviously not the new I-size thing (which I don't understand). The seat fitted DC1 until he was 16/17 months (on weight and head height) so over the recommended new rear-facing age.

Basically I'm asking is that am I still ok to use a seatbelt only infant carrier with the new regulations coming in?

Obviously safety is paramount but the seat fits well in our car, I am confident that I fit it correctly every time and it is part of a travel system and I'd rather not buy a whole new one! we will be looking to get an ERF seat when new DC outgrows the infant carrier.

Seat has been stored in the house so not been exposed to shed temperatures or anything to perish the plastic etc.

Thoughts? and explanations of the new rules in laymans terms would be appreciated!!

No, if your DC is wearing a coat under a 5 point harness you will never get the straps tight enough to be safe in the event of an accident. The fabric compresses under force. There are photos as an example.

DS just wears clothes in the car and a hat then has a fleecy blanket which lives on the car for cold days.

can I ask a stupid question parent of older DC here - don't these rear facing seats make car sickness worse? Two of my DDs would have been throwing up constantly if they'd had to face backwards. Also how do you keep an eye on them if you can't see them in your rear view mirror?

fellow queen - as mrscog says, they should be in normal clothes only. mine have a fleece 'car jumper' - thin but warm that we put on over their normal shirts (so still only vest + 2 layers in winter) for in the car, they they have their coats either on backwards if they want or over their laps as blankets.

leaping no idea about car sickness but you can get mirrors that you rig up to the headrest to keep an eye if you want to.

Never had an issue with car sickness RF and yes to the mirrors

I'm glad I've seen this thread. My DS has just hit 9kg and is ready for his next car seat but I really didn't feel comfortable about him being in a forwards facing one, I had no idea they did rear facing ones for 9kg+ plus. I feel very relieved

writer I didnt know about them until I joined MN and was doing some research ready for DDs next seat.

I am a big advocate of it, and am hoping it becomes more common (which will mean the seats get cheaper!!)

I think RF can make car sickness worse but not all DC get car sick - it seems much less common these days, I think because fewer people smoke in cars, it used to make me feel so sick when my parents smoked in the car.

Writer the upper limit of most baby seats is 13kg, 9kg is just the minimum to move them up, so you might be OK in his current seat for a while longer, DS fitted in his until 18m and he's tall.