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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wish that a few more MN's had seen my thread today......

306 replies

Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 19:47

Here and then taking advantage of the AIBU threads to see if I can drum up a bit more support for this subject?

I probably am, but hey.....

OP posts:
Original poster
Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 20:06

I'm not giving up ...and thank you, one person, if you were from here.

OP posts:
SaintGeorge · 15/05/2008 20:08

Probably

Anyhow, I have taken a look at your other thread and the petition and I am a bit confused.

From your petition:
".....that rear facing stage 1 car seats are five times safer for the child in an accident. Despite this, these car seats are not available on the UK market and UK parents are not informed of their existence....."

Stage 1 refers to car seats for babies up to 13kg (29lbs), roughly from birth to 12-15 months. The majority of the seats marketed in the UK for this age group are rear-facing.

RubySlippers · 15/05/2008 20:12

rear facing car seats are available from birth until around 12 months as St G says

there was a thread a while ago about having rear facing for older children

suzi2 · 15/05/2008 20:14

I haven't read the other thread but I would assume they're talking about group 1 seats which are from 9-15kg. Supposedly from 9 months - 4 years approx.

Original poster
Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 20:15

Can't take the credit for the petition SaintGeorge as I'm just an interested Mum who will be trailing to Milton Keynes next week to buy one. The seats I'm aware of go up to 25kg (551bs?) and as far as I'm aware are also classed as stage 1 I think. I'm really no expert (yet)...just pro-choice.

OP posts:
Lulumama · 15/05/2008 20:16

DD was in a rear facing car seat for 16 months.. it was a group 0+ one . not sure how it would work for older children and tall ones?

FAQ · 15/05/2008 20:16

Group 0 and 0+ are the ones for up to around 12-15 months aren't they?

Group 1 for 9 months -4yrs..... and most of these are forward facing I think.

SaintGeorge · 15/05/2008 20:17

Quite possibly suzi2, but the petition Pixiepants has posted a link to says stage1.

A vital point when you want people to put their names to it before sending it to the Prime Minister

FAQ · 15/05/2008 20:17

that's true SG - should say stage2.....

silverfrog · 15/05/2008 20:18

group 1 seats are 9-18kg.

group 0 (or 0+) are the rear facing baby ones that are in current use in the UK.

rear facing group 1 seats are rare, but are available in the UK - volvo dealers have them (that's where we got ours from) and dd1 only moved out of hers when she was approaching 3 (she's on the large side,though - dd2 wil probably still be in it when she's about 8 at the rate she's growing!)

Original poster
Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 20:18

Oh, interest! The big question for me is why they're not available in the UK, but recommended in many European countries...does anyone know why not?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 20:19

Sorry...I meant MORE available!

OP posts:
silverfrog · 15/05/2008 20:20

ah, x-posts...

silverfrog · 15/05/2008 20:21

I have no idea, Pixiepants. I wish they were more widespread, would have loved to have a choice of seat for dd1 (and now, dd2) but the only one we knew abou was the volvo one.

pinkyminky · 15/05/2008 20:23

Where do the older child's legs go? Or am I being thick?

FAQ · 15/05/2008 20:24

how do they work for very tall children??

silverfrog · 15/05/2008 20:28

Our seat is a Britax seat, and sits on the Isofix Britax base (same base as used for their infant seat), but sits up higher.

so, imagiine a 2normal" group 1 seat, turned arouned, and set onto a base about 8 inches off the car seat.

Not a very good description, but dd1 is a tall girl (91st centile) and she was fine until about 3 ish. Would have loved to have a choice, as then could maybe have kept her in one until now, when we have bought her a group 2 seat. Would have loved a seat that was rear facing until 25kg!

Original poster
Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 20:30

I'll get the petition instigator to check out the Stage 1/Group 1? thing StGeorge.

No, you're not being thick Pinkyminky...There's much more leg room because of the way the seats are fitted, although long legs might have to be crossed or bent at the knee towards the end of the seat's useage...From what I gather anyway. Users have found they're LO's to be quite comfortable in them.

OP posts:
pinkyminky · 15/05/2008 20:37

Hmm interesting.

Original poster
Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 21:14

The numbers are slowly creeping up so hope no-one minds me bumping A spokesperson from Brittax told me today that the reason they don't manufacture for the UK is that UK parents/carers don't want this product. Personally I didn't know it/they existed 3 weeks ago Did you?

OP posts:
suzi2 · 15/05/2008 21:22

I knew they existed as I've had chats with the rearfacing.co.uk lady (can't think of her name) a few times in the last few months. DD is still in her group 0+ and rear facing at 15 months. She's short so she won't need another seat for a while yet - hopefully the Which? report will be able to give the results of the one they tested in next months report. hopefully it'll be a good result. Then hopefully I can get it somewhere locally! The problem with the Milton Keynes place is it's very far from me and I couldn't be 100% sure about fitting it myself. My local road safety officer likely wouldn't have a clue either.

I've been told by Maxi Cosi and Britax that there is no demand for these seats in the UK. So I told them that's probably because nobody knows they exist or if they do they're marketed for special needs.

MrsAki · 15/05/2008 21:24

Hi all,

I am the creator of the mentioned petition.
An infant seat is a stage 0 seat, and will take a child from 0-9 kg. A 0+ seat is an infant seat that will take your child from 0-13 kg. This category always come as rear facing seats as they are safer for infants.
A stage 1 seat is a seat for children 9-18 kg. Stage 2 goes to 25 kg and then there are booster seats.

In many other countries all stage 1 seats (9-18 kg) are rear facing and it is 5 times safer for a child to be rear facing for as long as possible as their bodies are very fragile. The sceleton mainly consists of cartilage as the child is still growing and in an accident, if the child is forward facing, the very heavy head will be thrown forward from the seat and in worst case scenarios you will end up with brain damage or a broken neck.

MrsAki · 15/05/2008 21:30

Ps. to Suzi. My name is Helena

Original poster
Pixiepants · 15/05/2008 21:35

Hopefully if we manage to raise enough awareness Suzi2, they will be available locally in time for you.

I'm trying to get our road safety officer involved as it would be great if they were trained to fit them for those who have to rely on mail order for the time being.

Sounds like you're doing loads already but I guess boringthepantsofffriendsandfamily spreading the word and asking people to phone/ write to the manufacturers and retailers is the way forward.

BTW Britax Customer Services 01264 386 034 Option 4..but less staff on a friday I think

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 15/05/2008 21:38

In Norway even children aged 3 are in such seats as pixiepants refer to.

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