That car seat costs are not worthy of judgement.

[ThornAmongstRoses]

I just need a rant!

Is anyone else sick of being looked at like you’ve lost your mind when people find out how much you’ve spent on a car seat?

People spend God knows how much on a next-2-me cot, but you spend the same amount on a car seat to be faced with looks of horror and, “Are you mad?” comments.

It’s socially fine to spend £500 on a fancy pram but goodness me, if you spend £150 on a car seat you’re out of your mind.

I’m finding this attitude becoming more and more frequent and I can’t understand why it’s absolutely fine to spend so much money on items as mentioned above, but it seems acceptable to sneer at those who spend £200(ish) on a car seat that can actually save your baby’s life.

You’re almost shamed for it!!

BTW - this post is in no way related to people who can’t afford to spend this amount of money on a car seat, but purely about the double standards of society.

I just don’t get it.

One thing that so many people seem to either not know or forget is that car seats have a use-by date. They expire as their shell safety gets compromised as they age. The Britax two-way elite has a life expectancy of 7-10 years and I had to phone Britax to confirm when exactly mine was made and how long post production it had been sold.

I've seen so many people use their family's old car seats that are well out of date and probably have age-compromised shells.

I'm passionate about car seat safety for several reasons.

My own, awful crash where a drunk wrecked my car and causes huge damage and injury.

The crash my friend had where her two year old died from their injuries (internal decapitation due to her head being thrown forwards whilst in a forward facing car seat at force from a rear impact)

The crash where another's friends child suffered life-altering injuries from a seatbelt in a FF high backed booster. She was 3 at the time and had only recently been taken out of a rearfacing car seat.

So. Yes. I'm very passionate about this. UK regs needs to be much much better and people need to generally buy better. The way to make a change is to lead by example and spend on the ERF seats. More demand will then lead to more supply, and so on.

Making flimsy excuses why you didn't buy one when science clearly proves that they are 5x safer is just not right.

We've just spent just over £200 on a second car seat for our almost one year-old.
Definitely wanted extended rear-facing as they're safer. Also wanted a rotating one as my OH is an older dad with a knackered back!!!
Our opinion is it's worth spending more for these features, especially the safety ones.

Exactly! My advanced driving training helps me spot and avoid potential dangers more but I cannot always avoid some arsehole driving into me.

In having advanced driver training, you have greatly reduced the risk of your child being involved in an accident when you are driving. As I said, the stats show these “they came out of nowhere, nothing I could do”accidents are not the primary cause and parents everywhere would do well in taking that simple step to reduce risk too regardless of the car seat they choose.

But I should fess up that I actually believe ALL drivers should have regular driver assessments to keep us all safe.

@MintyMabel

Exactly! My advanced driving training helps me spot and avoid potential dangers more but I cannot always avoid some arsehole driving into me.

In having advanced driver training, you have greatly reduced the risk of your child being involved in an accident when you are driving. As I said, the stats show these “they came out of nowhere, nothing I could do”accidents are not the primary cause and parents everywhere would do well in taking that simple step to reduce risk too regardless of the car seat they choose.

But I should fess up that I actually believe ALL drivers should have regular driver assessments to keep us all safe.

I agree. Everyone should have to have regular driving tests. Plus I think that the driving test standard should be raised to incorporate all, if not most, of the advanced skills.

Driving is a privilege, not a right.

@purplebatbear you mentioned rear seat as the safest option for the child's car seat. I've heard the front seat with airbag turned off and resting against the dash is actually the safest as all safety tests from a car crash perspectives are focussed on the front passengers. It's the 'done thing' in Sweden to put car seat in the passenger seat as a priority. The dash is designed to take impact in a crash

[quote 1940s]@purplebatbear you mentioned rear seat as the safest option for the child's car seat. I've heard the front seat with airbag turned off and resting against the dash is actually the safest as all safety tests from a car crash perspectives are focussed on the front passengers. It's the 'done thing' in Sweden to put car seat in the passenger seat as a priority. The dash is designed to take impact in a crash [/quote]
Completely agree with you but I was told by the incarsafetycentre that the recommended place here is behind the passenger seat where possible.

@purplebatbear hmm not sure what to do for the best!

I always thought babies should be in the back so they are less of a distraction.

Although, you can easily argue a baby crying is distracting wherever you are sitting (I think the theory is you have to pull over if they are in the back, but in the front you are tempted to sooth them and not concentrate on the road)

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

I always thought babies should be in the back so they are less of a distraction.

Although, you can easily argue a baby crying is distracting wherever you are sitting (I think the theory is you have to pull over if they are in the back, but in the front you are tempted to sooth them and not concentrate on the road)

Ah I didn't think of that angle! I think it may restrict the view too in the front seat

I'm pretty sure it's safest in the back of the car.
We've just spent a bloody fortune on ERF seats x 3, but feel it's worth the money. In total it's about £600 but they should last...