ExDP and car seats

[gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn]

I'm furious and not sure what rights if any I have to do anything. ExDP continually drives with DD on only a booster and occasionally (I believe) nothing. She's 4, she needs to be in a car seat. I feel like he's putting her at risk by doing this but feel I have no control. What can I do? Can I refuse to let him take her without one? But then when she's there i can't do anything. FWIW I'm very supportive of their relationship and have never refused contact, this is a genuine concern not a ploy to try to keep her from him although I suspect he'll play it that way. I've tried so hard to keep things amicable for DD.

Does he think she doesn't need one, or can he not afford to buy one?

If she is not sat on anything I think you have a right to do something about it (although not sure what, maybe report to police). But if she is the right height /weight for a booster cushion I don't think there is much you can do because at the moment they are still a legal way of children travelling in a car. Yes a high back booster seat would be more safe but then it is personal choice.

He does have one, he just takes it out for work and 'forgets' to put it back in

If she's over 15kg then it's not illegal for her to use the booster (depending on the booster as some are from a higher weight limit). It is illegal for her to not be in a car seat at all.

www.childcarseats.org.uk/types-of-seat/ - this website has all the info about car seat laws

I don't know what you can do though

It's a cheap plastic one. The kind you might be offered in a taxi.

I just can't believe he's being so lazy about her safety.

I'm finding the shared parenting thing so much harder as she gets older so talks more about what goes on when she's there.

If he drives in the car without one i would phone 101 and report him.
There is nothing wrong with a booster seat though.

Hi gininteacups,
Sorry that you're being put through all this by exP. I do believe he's not putting your DC's safety first & that's unacceptable.

There's a fab independent resource that I've used a few times as my DCs have been growing up, www.childseatsafety.co.uk

They're industry experts & were featured on Watchdog recently, there's loads of info on the site about legal requirements & appropriate seats for your children.

I hope that exP sees sense & puts his DC's safety first.