Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 7 & 8 year olds need car seats

214 replies

justalittlelemondrizzle · 02/05/2016 23:58

My 7 & 8yo dds use booster seats in the car. Ive been shocked recently with people not bothering to use them. Dds were taken out last week by a friend. I asked if I should get the dd's seats and they said its fine as their 6yo doesn't need one anymore so my dds will be fine as theyre taller than her. Luckily dd's insisted they wanted their seats so I avoided a potentially awkward convo. I'm not one to preach to people about their parenting.
Another friend gave my eldest a lift home the other day, when she was dropped off, I went to the car and she wasn't sat on a booster and neither was her dd or 6yo son!
I took dds friend out today and she got in the back in the middle seat with no seat, I had a spare seat in the front for her and she moved but said she hadnt sat in one of these for ages.
These are all different children btw and none of them are taller than my eldest who is 125cm.
Is this the norm? Are people just not that fussed or am I OTT?

OP posts:
Nannawifeofbaldr · 03/05/2016 08:07

Lemmondrizzle

You need to change your approach to this:

"avoided a potential awkward conversation"

The visiting child had to be "coaxed".

This is your child's safety, so that negates any social embarrassment.

My children (who are both over 140cm) don't go in anyone's car without a seat.

If someone offers them a lift, I always say "do you have enough seats or would you like to borrow one" and I check the car before they get in.

Re visiting children "the car won't go anywhere until you are sitting on a car seat with your belt on".

They are your children just be firm.

BombadierFritz · 03/05/2016 08:08

I wont drive other peoples kids without them in a seat, i dont listen to the opinions of 6 year olds about road safety

OddBoots · 03/05/2016 08:09

I'm trying to work out what to do for the best, I have an 8yo niece of average size that I rarely give a lift to so I have a backless booster in the boot of the car in case she needs it, I'm wondering if I ought to be carrying around a booster with a back.

Frusso · 03/05/2016 08:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OnwardsAndUpwardsYo · 03/05/2016 08:17

No car seat? That's madness and I certainly wouldn't find a conversation with a friend/school mum about it awkward. I use high back boosters and that is that, no awkwardness needed and I don't care who thinks I'm being overly cautious.

We're rear facing until at least 4, then high backs here with harnesses for at least another year. Then high backs with the adult belt at around 5/6.

I don't understand parents who don't research the life out of car seats before buying. They are SO important.

treaclesoda · 03/05/2016 08:20

My almost 10 year old sits on a backless booster. She is too tall for a hbb as even on the highest setting the seatbelt would be too low. She is over 135cm so legally she doesn't have to sit in anything at all.

Are you saying its actually safer to sit in no seat at all than to sit on a booster with no back?

treaclesoda · 03/05/2016 08:21

That was a genuine question btw, not a sarcastic Hmm question. It reads badly, sorry.

MLGs · 03/05/2016 08:24

My DD is 7 and is well over 125. I don't think she'd be comfortable in a high backed booster now.

I hadn't realised how dangerous it was not to have a high backed booster when she was smaller until recently. I will obviously make sure DS goes into a high backed booster when he is out of toddler seat and will not doubt be accused of favouritism...

BombadierFritz · 03/05/2016 08:25

Good question treaclesoda. I just wondered why the hbb didnt fit any more? My dd has one and it is fine for her neck. Do they come in different sizes perhaps?

SaveSomeSpendSome · 03/05/2016 08:26

Treacle

Its probably the same. Sitting on a backless booster gives the same protection as not having one

KeyserSophie · 03/05/2016 08:28

So for those whose children are above 135cm (i.e. can legally use an adult belt), if you, say, dropped your DC at a party, and then when you got home another mum texted to say she'd drop your DC home after the party to save you a journey, would you let her if she didnt have a spare high backed booster or would you drive to pick your DC up?

To show my hand, I would use a high backed booster in my own car and in other people's cars if I knew about it in advance but for situations like this, I would just let them use the seatbelt

treaclesoda · 03/05/2016 08:29

Bombardier when it's on its highest height setting, when you thread the seatbelt through the guide, it ends up below her shoulders instead of level with them. I've tried 3 different hbbs and it's the same on each of them.

OnwardsAndUpwardsYo · 03/05/2016 08:57

Keyser I would collect myself. I would never, ever forgive myself if anything happened.

BombadierFritz · 03/05/2016 08:57

(Sorry to derail)
Thats intetesting. I thought they were attached to the head rest part so the seatbelt feeder bit sort of stayed in proportion to the head iyswim? Its a shame it doesnt seem to suit your dds proportions.

OnwardsAndUpwardsYo · 03/05/2016 08:57

Keyser sorry, misread. My children are not yet above that height.

Looly71 · 03/05/2016 09:01

You should tell people who let their children sit in the front that if he airbag deploys their child could have their face smashed to bits as it would hit them full force.

BombadierFritz · 03/05/2016 09:01

It would be interesting to know the seats that people use in Germany as I often read about seats not fitting but in Germany ('big framed' kids too ) they manage til 150cm. Genuine not snarky. I wonder if they have different seats

KathyBeale · 03/05/2016 09:03

My son is 5ft (150 ish cm) and still sits on a booster cushion. He's 9. Is it better for him to be on the seat then? My little one is 6 and 120cm tall. He also sits on a backless one but should he be on a HBB? His was too small. Are they adjustable?

treaclesoda · 03/05/2016 09:04

Bombardier sorry, I wasn't clear. It does move up and down with the head rest, but on the highest setting it is still too low.

BombadierFritz · 03/05/2016 09:05

sophie once mine are over 135cm I dont bother about the booster in a situation like you describe. Its my own 'lax parenting'

Schwabischeweihnachtskanne · 03/05/2016 09:07

Bomb we're in Germany and my 145 cm tall 35 kg 8 year old sits on a booster - as you say they need them til 150 cm. His friends automatically hop into the 5 yo ' s high back and fit fine mostly but ds1 doesn't fit comfortably in a high back booster any more.

My nearly 11 yo is the same size and still uses a booster cushion - since turning 10 some of her friends have stopped (but some are taller than me now!)

BombadierFritz · 03/05/2016 09:07

treaclesoda hope you dont mind - its not meant in a 'i disbelieve you' way. More that I am wondering if a lot of seats are not really suitable for the newer guidelines on height/weight (and if we are getting a bit mis-sold)

BombadierFritz · 03/05/2016 09:09

Ah, so schwab do people in germany face the same kind of issues with older kids not fitting in hbb? Are backless boosters used instead then? Sorry i thought they were banned. So complicated!

Mov1ngOn · 03/05/2016 09:12

Kathy. Yes the 6 year old should be in a hbb. My 7 year old is and until this thread was amazed anyone was putting small children in just a booster regularly.

I guess that's why they've had to bring the new regulations in so up to 125cm is hbb but my tall 7 year old will stay in hers for some time!

treaclesoda · 03/05/2016 09:15

Bombardier that is possibly the case. She is very slim and light, so I would prefer to have her in a hbb, but she is also very tall which is the problem. She is well over the 135cm legal requirement, it is only me being a bit of a worrier that makes me want her in a hbb.