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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Car seat turned facing the window

9 replies

knowingmekniwingyou · 30/10/2025 19:01

Swivel car seat turned to face the window. Surely that's not safe?

I told mum when we stopped at the lights, but she wasn't bothered and told me to go away

OP posts:
FamilyAreEverything · 30/10/2025 19:17

With a child in the seat? No, really irresponsible and dangerous.
Empty seat? Can’t see there’s a huge issue to be honest.

IsThisLifeNow · 30/10/2025 19:22

Yes a child facing out the passenger window is illegal, ie, nit rear facing, but not forward facing. Theres no accounting for stupidity though

Original poster
knowingmekniwingyou · 30/10/2025 19:39

FamilyAreEverything · 30/10/2025 19:17

With a child in the seat? No, really irresponsible and dangerous.
Empty seat? Can’t see there’s a huge issue to be honest.

Oh God I'm second guessing. There must have been a child in it as it had blankets and I'm sure I saw a child but imagine if there wasnt. Would make sense there wasn't a baby but she also had two children in the car. I'm sure I saw a baby in the baby seat. Surely she's not that dumb...

OP posts:
Bitzee · 30/10/2025 19:44

IDK maybe it was empty. That’s the spin position for putting them in and I’d see why you might leave it as is after the nursery drop so ready to go at pick up and mine did often take a doll or toy in the car with them then leave in the car rather than take it in. And we’d use blankets in the car as safer than a coat so thinking about it now it might have looked like a baby from afar when actually it was a dolly and a stray blanket… Surely no one is that daft to use it in that position… I’d hope that you saw it wrongly rather than a baby was at risk…

Original poster
knowingmekniwingyou · 30/10/2025 20:02

Bitzee · 30/10/2025 19:44

IDK maybe it was empty. That’s the spin position for putting them in and I’d see why you might leave it as is after the nursery drop so ready to go at pick up and mine did often take a doll or toy in the car with them then leave in the car rather than take it in. And we’d use blankets in the car as safer than a coat so thinking about it now it might have looked like a baby from afar when actually it was a dolly and a stray blanket… Surely no one is that daft to use it in that position… I’d hope that you saw it wrongly rather than a baby was at risk…

Plenty of parents drive around with their children not in seat belts and not standing up behind them whilst driving etc.

There must have been something for me to think there was a baby in there ... I'm sure I looked

OP posts:
racquel86 · 30/10/2025 20:09

Horrendous if there was a child! But I’ve also heard (can’t remember exact reason) that it’s dangerous to have the seat facing the window even when empty

Original poster
knowingmekniwingyou · 30/10/2025 20:44

racquel86 · 30/10/2025 20:09

Horrendous if there was a child! But I’ve also heard (can’t remember exact reason) that it’s dangerous to have the seat facing the window even when empty

Yes there was a child in the seat next to the baby seat so not safe

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 30/10/2025 20:54

It's not unsafe for it to face the window when empty, most people drive around like that all the time. I think most manuals say don't do this but I assume that's because it leads to increased wear and tear on the rotation mechanism compared with being locked into a position.

They definitely aren't allowed to be set that way with a child in the seat. Rear or forward facing only depending on the child's age.

I think though if they have a child seat, and they have an unrestrained child not in the seat, they probably don't think too much of the child seat requirement in the first place. Some people don't - it is bizarre. I can sort of understand it if they come from somewhere that the laws aren't enforced or they don't have laws for it and they don't realise that the laws are enforced here but that has to be a minority of people.

Original poster
knowingmekniwingyou · 30/10/2025 21:05

BertieBotts · 30/10/2025 20:54

It's not unsafe for it to face the window when empty, most people drive around like that all the time. I think most manuals say don't do this but I assume that's because it leads to increased wear and tear on the rotation mechanism compared with being locked into a position.

They definitely aren't allowed to be set that way with a child in the seat. Rear or forward facing only depending on the child's age.

I think though if they have a child seat, and they have an unrestrained child not in the seat, they probably don't think too much of the child seat requirement in the first place. Some people don't - it is bizarre. I can sort of understand it if they come from somewhere that the laws aren't enforced or they don't have laws for it and they don't realise that the laws are enforced here but that has to be a minority of people.

I see it often. Wish I could take a pic and report

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