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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be cross with Mothercare?

226 replies

famishedpotato · 14/11/2018 13:41

I bought a 0+ Joie Gemm carseat online from Mothercare ahead of DD's birth in August. Well, at 15weeks old she doesn't bloody fit in it!

She's only 6kg, but the straps are too tight to close round her because she's very long. Contacted Joie to ask if it's safe to remove infant insert before the proscribed 10kg if she just doesn't bloody fit, they say no... Sometimes babies just don't fit, try a different seat.

Contacted Mothercare to ask for a refund and they've said sure... If I take it in to store. They've just closed my nearest store though, so the next nearest store is over an hours drive away... And I don't have a sodding car seat!

AIBU to say they ought to sort this out without putting all the hassle and expense on to me? I'm a new mum, and it's their megacorp that sold me a crappy product!

OP posts:
Eemamc · 15/11/2018 12:35

I’ve just seen the OP thinks the straps are one length. I have this car seat, and it categorically does have adjusting straps. I’m concerned that up until this point the baby didn’t have the straps tightened around them! I love this car seat, still using it for my one year old in my car until she grows out of it. We liked it so much that we bought the Joie 360 as an upgrade...currently in my DHs car. Bought both from Mothercare. I have had a positive experience from both companies. I feel like the OP may have tarred both of their names unfairly here.

Ibizama · 15/11/2018 12:52

To the OP,
You are really rude and obnoxious HTH

AvoidingDM · 15/11/2018 13:10

The Op just gives the biggest reason ever why safety equipment like car seats should only be sold from proper shops rather that websites.

I too am concerned that the straps have never been tightened on the baby esp as a tiny newborn baby.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 15/11/2018 13:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

TrudeauGirl · 15/11/2018 13:21

I'm sorry but they offered you a refund and were good about it.

You're being one of THOSE customers, that make retail workers/companies grit their teeth. They have done everything they could to make this right, and you are still not satisfied.

I think yabu this time I'm afraid, it's not their fault the nearest store to you is further away than you'd like.

AvoidingDM · 15/11/2018 13:23

I wouldn't say thick just ignorant.
Needs to learn to use her ears and listen to people but she knows best and will never listen nor learn.

Miecro · 15/11/2018 13:28

My baby was born very small. 5lbs at 38 weeks gestation. The car seat we bought was from 6lbs up. We had to buy a new car seat just for the first few weeks until he put on weight. That's just life. It's rubbish and unfortunate and bloody expensive, but considering my baby was very unwell when he was born and could've died on day 3 (he's fine now and at home, nearly 4 weeks old!) I'm just glad I had a baby to even put in the car seat.

I hope you manage to gain a little perspective OP. It's a shame the seat doesn't fit your baby. Trust me when I say this though, there will be many, many more occasions like this. If you react like this every time you're in for a long road ahead!

TrudeauGirl · 15/11/2018 13:31

considering my baby was very unwell when he was born and could've died on day 3 (he's fine now and at home, nearly 4 weeks old!)

I'm glad he's doing well now

Miecro · 15/11/2018 13:34

Thanks @TrudeauGirl - I can't stop staring at him! I'm in the thick of baby blues so still trying to get my head round things.

I don't mean to try and guilt trip the OP and I can't say I haven't been upset about something trivial before, but on this occasion, with a beautiful new baby, I couldn't bring myself to be more than a little annoyed that a car seat was outgrown (though looks like she maybe just needed to re read the manual!).

Also I have the joie I level I size and it's bloody brilliant!!!

LettuceP · 15/11/2018 13:42

My tall 7 month old fits in this car seat with LOADS of room left. OP does not know how to use the car seat!

Notquiteagandt · 15/11/2018 13:45

Just a thought. You know a car seat is too small when the head reaches the top. The legs can dangle down? (Can see how maybe someone would think that once legs reach end its too small)

Also for the straps not being adjustible. They are. They have to be. As they will be well they should be adjusted each time you use them to check they are pulled tight surely?

Even if yoy dont end up getting a refund from mothercare be worth going just to get the carseat fitted if nothing else. Sounds like you could do with a hand. They are confusing things after all.

Notquiteagandt · 15/11/2018 13:46

Also please tell me she doesnt have loads layers and a coat on? That will effect the fit also as carseats arent designed for layers to be worn.

BumsexAtTheBingo · 15/11/2018 13:53

Yabu. You need a new car seat so take your child to the most convenient place and you can check they fit.
Then when you have the new seat you can take the old one back. Even if they did let you post it it would cost a fortune!

HettyB · 15/11/2018 13:55

If you fun the straps remain the same length when moved up, are you actually loosening them when you undo the buckle? Or are you simply clipping and unclipping the buckle? There should be a button at the front of the car seat which, when pressed, allows you to pull the straps so they lengthen again. From the sounds of it this may be your problem.

Otherwise, are you pulling her down when in the seat so her nappy touches the crotch pad (not pushing her right back to the back of the car seat) and there’s a slight bend in the base of her back?

(And does anyone else want to go round to the OP’s house and work out how to use her car seat, because there is no way a 15 week old doesn’t still fit in her newborn car seat? My 3 YEAR old still fits in the straps of our newborn car seat - though is too tall for the shell at the top, obviously)

BikeRunSki · 15/11/2018 13:56

Did he just say “adjustable straps’’?

Bigonesmallone3 · 15/11/2018 14:00

From the lack of OPs presence maybe she's worked it out 🤷‍♀️

AvoidingDM · 15/11/2018 14:03

Yabu. You need a new car seat so take your child to the most convenient place and you can check they fit. Then when you have the new seat you can take the old one back

No point in doing that. Op doesn't know how to operate the seat. So no guarantee she will know how to operate another seat. MC are highly likely to fit child into seat show how to operate it and refuse to give refund as the seat neither broken, damaged or re-sellable. Nor does it not fit the child.

JustAskingForAFriend · 15/11/2018 14:06

I suggest she goes to mother care and they show her how to use it.
Although she probably has and I'm sure mothercare will say ' she was right.. MN were wrong' as she won't admit it.

AllyD · 15/11/2018 14:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StillMissV · 15/11/2018 14:13

@AllyD think you need to make your own post about that?

Iaimtomisbehave1 · 15/11/2018 14:14

@AllyD

Make your own thread. You won't get noticed here and you're also hijacking someone else's question.

Itsnotmesothere · 15/11/2018 14:41

The infant insert? As soon as my DS was too fat for it, it was taken out! He would never have fitted in his seat with infant insert at 10kg. He was a short but big baby. Should be fairly easy to change straps on a Joie too.

Iaimtomisbehave1 · 15/11/2018 15:34

I messaged the OP trying to explain how to work the seat. This is the response

"You're wrong. The straps are one length - you can move where they come through the seat, and you can loosen or tighten them around the baby, but there are no adjustors, so the straps have less and less excess as you move them further apart."

Along with some further rude comments. Really don't think she gets how it works; as other people with her car seat on here have also tried to explain that they do move. Just waiting for her to take it into Mothercare and be shown by them that she's not doing it right.

TrudeauGirl · 15/11/2018 15:37

Just waiting for her to take it into Mothercare and be shown by them that she's not doing it right.

I doubt she'll listen to them either to be honest.

Santasstuffedsack · 15/11/2018 15:41

Misbehave1 - well done for trying. And of course all the other posters that have tried Flowers