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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

settle a argument please,i think im right

119 replies

tor8181 · 25/05/2019 20:07

hi settle a disagreement please that my sister and me are having, i think im right

an incident happened to my nieces friends mother last week(shes 6),she took her (small)5 y old to the supermarket(5mins away) without a seat and a passing police car stopped her and gave a fine

my sister thinks we are now going to get stopped as my 8 yold isnt in a seat my argument is hes way to big and its not needed

hes not 9 till end of july hes very very big for just 8 hes 125-130 pounds and 5ft 1 or 2 already(medium bottoms, large tops size 6 shoe)hes not fat just pure solid everywhere he even needs adult gloves

hes never been in a car seat ever as one was never needed as we used to bus every where(he was either in my arms or walked on) or walk and we got a taxi on the odd occasion,then he used to be in a seat belt,we even left the hospital as a newborn in a taxi and he came home in my arms(i know laws have changed in nearly 9 years)

hes been massive since birth(8lb 10 26 inches)and was always in clothes years bigger than his age,6-9 m at birth and it went up and up from there

we got a full time car(his dad passed) just over 2 years ago(son was a few months off 7) and when i googled it he was taller and weighed more than the limit so i never bought one,we have been everywhere in it since then,holidays 2-3 hours away every 6-8 weeks(we love our caravan holidays),day trips out, daily outings shoppingswimming cinema etc and hes never had a problem as he sits in the back with me with the best on properly and his feet touch the floor and the belt rests on his collar bone

my nephew is 6 months older than him, hes small for his age(well way smaller than mine anyway) 4ft 2 or 3 and 60-65 pounds hes been in a car seat from birth and still in a full seat(booster with a back)with plenty of room either side of the seat,his feet still dont touch the floor

my sister thinks that as mine is under 12 he should be in a seat anyway as thats the law but my argument is hes not 8y old sized and we are unusual circumstances as hes classed as a small adult due to size and has been for years,he looks 12 or 13 and if a police man spotted him he would think that as his head comes up way past the window and on the head rest

when we tried my nephew seat without the back his bum and lower body was wider than the seat and it pinched into his skin

i showed her the info on google and shes adamant he still need it as it says under 12 but im right aint i? as hes so big and it pointless as on a seat his head wasnt far off the ceiling

settle a argument please

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 25/05/2019 20:08

You're wrong. The law applies to you just like everyone else.

Streamside · 25/05/2019 20:10

He can still die in a car accident in the same way as any other child. There's not much more to it than that really.

YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 25/05/2019 20:10

If he is over 135cm tall, he does not need to be in a car seat

Andonandonan · 25/05/2019 20:11

As long as he’s over 135cm you don’t need a car seat.

LazyFace · 25/05/2019 20:11

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 25/05/2019 20:11

Check the law on size and weight of the child.

eyeswideshit · 25/05/2019 20:12

It's 12 OR over 135cm tall, whichever come first. So you're fine.

chickhonhoneybabe · 25/05/2019 20:12

If he’s over 135cm no he doesn’t need a car seat, so yes you’re right.

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

LindsayDenton · 25/05/2019 20:12

As others have said, if he’s over 135cm then a car seat isn’t needed.

eyeswideshit · 25/05/2019 20:12

It's 12 OR over 135cm tall, whichever come first. So you're fine.

DorotheaHomeAlone · 25/05/2019 20:14

He’s tall enough to skip the car seat. None of the other details are relevant. He doesn’t legally require a seat.

Passthecherrycoke · 25/05/2019 20:14

If he’s 5ft 1or 2 then no, he’s well over 135cm and doesn’t need one

OwlBeThere · 25/05/2019 20:15

The law says you must use s car seat until you are 12 or 135cm tall which ever comes first. If your son really is 5ft1 or 2 (you don’t seem to know exactly so I suggest measuring him properly) then he doesn’t need s seat.
However I can’t believe you took a newborn home in your arms the law 9 years ago still said a newborn should be in a car seat. You’re lucky he’s ok.

MrsHormonal2019 · 25/05/2019 20:16

If he needed a car seat so would I. He is taller and weighs more than me lol

TapasForTwo · 25/05/2019 20:17

Car seat law

WhoKnewBeefStew · 25/05/2019 20:18

Regardless of weight or age, if he’s over 135cm he doesn’t need a car seat

Drogosnextwife · 25/05/2019 20:18

How tall is he?
I'm surprised he was in 6-9 month clothes if he was 8lbs at birth. Mine was 8 1/2 and in new born and the next was 10lbs. They were both very tall. Anyway, not the point. My oldest hasn't been in a seat since about 8 and we have never been stopped. Just measure him.

CaptainMarvellous · 25/05/2019 20:18

135cm is 4ft 5. My 12 yo DS is 6ft 2. He hasn't sat on a booster seat for as long as I can remember.

chickhonhoneybabe · 25/05/2019 20:18

Re the law 9 years ago for newborns, the law was to use a car seat like it is now. I’m surprised the midwife who discharged you let you leave as they check to see if you have a car seat, even 9 years ago...

Passthecherrycoke · 25/05/2019 20:21

OP said she didn’t have a car until 2 years ago and brought him home from hospital in a taxi.... it was a verryyyy lonnnggg OP though so I can see why it might not be clear 🙈

dementedpixie · 25/05/2019 20:22

Taxis are exempt from car seat laws although I would still have used a car seat at that age

Amanduh · 25/05/2019 20:22

The caw seat law for taxis was the same though, you don’t need one now or then, and OP brought him home in a taxi. Midwives never checked our car seat either!

CherieBabySpliffUp · 25/05/2019 20:25

Have you changed some details in case it's outing OP? It was very much the case 9 years ago that you needed a car seat for a baby Hmm

ceirrno · 25/05/2019 20:28

I don't agree with it, but the op is completely correct- a car seat is not required by law in a taxi.

JaniceBattersby · 25/05/2019 20:29

You don’t need a car seat in a taxi.