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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:
differentID · 17/05/2008 08:09

IME many people will choose convenience over what is best and safest, choosing to remain ignorant and then say "I didn't know" when things happen. An old saying my father used to use with me- "there are two paths in life: one is easy and the other is not. The path which is not easy is the one that ultimately leads to what is right or best. Which will you choose?" Unfortunately, British culture is now instant gratification with fewer people prepared to wait for anything.
I shall pop in later ladies, after another day of work. Enjoy!

Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 08:19

You're not wrong hunker. When I've spoken to the manufacturers simply asking that if there was a rise in demand, would they produce the product for the UK market, the response is almost defensive..."The products available meet the current safety guidelines etc"....I'm only asking for a choice ffs

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 17/05/2008 09:08

I didn't know these seats existed and I do a lot of research into this sort of thing - I read Which reports to see which car seats test safely and am prepared to spend a bit more to get the safest one.

So I guess I'm one of those who would say they didn't know - but I genuinely had no idea this sort of seat existed.

The boys went forward-facing at 9m - would I do it differently now, knowing this? Probably. If I have another baby, will I investigate getting one of these seats? Not sure. I might keep them in a rear-facing infant carrier longer, but having one of these plus two other car seats (the high-back boosters, they'd be) in the back of an average-sized hatchback - how possible is this?

chonky · 17/05/2008 09:18

Quite possible hunker. The seat's aren't any wider than the standard forward facing seats, so wouldn't take up any more room IYSWIM. I think it would be more the age old problem of is my hatchback big enough for three kids.

chonky · 17/05/2008 09:19

In fact, it may even solve thr problem, as the widest part of the seat i.e. the head and neck support, is not lying on the back of the rear car seat, hence more space.

hunkermunker · 17/05/2008 09:20

Cool, that's good to know.

I don't get the defensiveness, really.

But I do think it's like the bf/ff debate - well, mine were ffed/went forward facing at 9m and it never did them any harm...!

hunkermunker · 17/05/2008 09:21

It might, Chonky - had wondered that. It's the shouldery bit of the seat that is widest, I think - will have to check DS2's seat.

chonky · 17/05/2008 09:25

If you're seriously considering it in the future the best people to speak to are the In Car Safety Centre in Milton Keynes. They've been importing these seats from Scandinavia for years, and are pretty evangelical about the benefits .

hunkermunker · 17/05/2008 09:26

I'm not pregnant...yet

But will consider if I ever have another in future - thank you very much.

Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 09:34

I think MrsAki efforts, as well as that fab BBC news report, have resulted in a feature in 'Which' next month, but I'm not certain.
Others (who hopefully will be along today) might have more info on fitting a rearfacing plus 2 boosters in a hatchback..but I think it could be a possibility.

Many like yourself, would 'consider' this option if it was on the shelves in Mothercare/Halfords etc, and of course there will always be many many others who bury their heads in the sand...that's their call. (Obviously).

But like MrsAki, after finding out about them, I wasn't comfortable just thinking "Well, my DD will be 5 times safer if we were unfortunate enough to be in an accident", and do think more can be done to let other people know, which is why I'm bumping this thread at every opportunity. (Whilst the real Pixiepants watches 'Lazy-chuffin-town'

OP posts:
Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 09:35

x post

OP posts:
swallowsandamazons · 17/05/2008 09:36

Reading all the links from this thread has made me even more glad that we have a rear facing seat, just reading that fact about the babies neck being able to stretch 2 inches but the cord only 1/4 is enough information of me. Get Volvo involved they would love to help.

Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 09:42

this is what decided it for us.

OP posts:
swallowsandamazons · 17/05/2008 09:53

What shocks me was seeing a couple getting out of a new big bucks car and then getting their child out of the cheapest car seat money can buy. We have an old Volvo with their lovely new back facing seat. All cars can look the same after a crash, but not all children will.

Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 09:58

Prefere not to judge others, just inform if they're up for being informed

OP posts:
swallowsandamazons · 17/05/2008 10:03

But people think that a safe car is the way to protect their children, when that is only half of it, the car seat is so important, and there does need to be more information

Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 10:59

You're so right swallows.

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Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 11:41

Would any other MN's be interested in getting in touch with their local road safety officers to see if they'd look into this? They're in a great position to let Mum's to be know when they do car seat 'talks'.

OP posts:
Meeely2 · 17/05/2008 11:54

can i ask the seat experts on here, their opinion on lie flat auto carrycots for newborns? I displayed my ignorance earlier and thought i knew it all, so want to reassess my plans for baby number 3 (should he or she happen soon). I have family a long way away, so car journeys are over the time limit a baby can be in an infant carrier. When the boys were teeny we just avoided these journeys and made everyone visit us!

This time I was thinking to give me some more freedom I would buy a pram with a carry cot on it that also fits in the car (Jane do one as do Chicco)....are these safe?

Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 12:02

You got me interested Meeely, so until an expert comes along...I found this

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Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 12:15

Sorry Meeely, just noticed that that's 4 years out of date

Bumping for experts

OP posts:
kazbeth · 17/05/2008 12:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Pixiepants · 17/05/2008 12:45

Great to hear you kept your LO rearfacing for as long as you could Kazbeth and your point about where legs go seems to be peoples first response.

It's been answered a few times already, but basically they're set quite far forward providing much more leg roon than stage 0 and users have said their children are comfortable. Older/taller ones might have to bend their knees but not uncomfortably so

As for normal cars, I can only quote MrsAki who has seen them widely used in Sweeden where people have all sorts of cars too

Here for loads more info in the FAQ section.

OP posts:
alibubbles · 17/05/2008 12:53

I have one of the Britax rear facing Elites for sale if anyone is interested. I bought for the little girl I look after as she was in a hip spic cast and was not allowed to leave hospital until a properly fitted rear facing seat, due to the weight of the child and cast combined.

Strangely enough I used this seat for my minded children about 15 years ago!

kazbeth · 17/05/2008 13:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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