To expect XP to use a child seat in the (small) rear seats of his sports car, for DS (4)?

[Twoddle]

He'd happily jettison it.

It's a Porsche 911 and they have two smaller seats in the back. We've had this same argument before - while we were still together - in relation to another type of car with a similar seat layout.

I thought it was the law for a child below 12 years/a certain height to travel in a car seat. End of.

I can see XP's point, in that these rear seats were designed for children and are therefore smaller, with a shorter shoulder-to-clip seatbelt distance. He thinks DS is uncomfortable and less safe with his car seat being squeezed into one of these smaller seats.

Personally, I just thought it wasn't an option, and find XP's taking-the-law-into-his-own-hands attitude infuriating and worrying. If it doesn't fit in the back, the car seat should be fitted properly in the front, not abandoned - surely?

Am I being unreasonable? Overreacting? What is the bloody car seat law in relation to these cars and their funny child-size rear seats?

TIA

I dnt know what the law is, but I bet if you phone Britax customer services or even Halfords or somewhere like that, they will tell you what is safest.
Hope you get it sorted!

YANBU when it comes to the safety of your child, never mind what the law says. It is easy enough to phone up Halfords and ask them

Your XP is talking out his arse. He needs to find a seat that will fit his car. Assuming your DS is over 3 and under 12:

There are three exceptions where there is not a child seat available. In each case the child MUST use the adult belt instead. They are -

1. in a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle;

2. if the child is travelling on a short distance for reason of unexpected necessity;

3. if there are two occupied child restraints in the rear which prevent the fitment of a third.

None of those apply in this case.

Full regs here

aND NUMBER 2 REALLY MEANS A GENUINE ERMERGENCY. nOT A SITUATION WHEN DAD WANTS TO PLAY THE RACING CAR FOOL WITH HIS SON IN THE CAR. Oops, caps lock

So he can afford to splash out on a 911 and won't pay for a child seat to protect his child.
Tosser.
YANBU. Child seats are non-negotiable.

You can get child seats for Porsches here

Thank you. V helpful. Phoned Halfords - they echo what's been said - and will call Britax in the morning to confirm.

Seems to be mixed advice on airbag disablement though. Will look into that.

Thanks again.

If the seats are designed for children, then (much as I hate to say it) XP might be right. We've got a 7 seater car, where the extra 2 seats fold out of the boot - they are children's seats, and you use them without booster seats (I rang Peugeot to confirm)

I would contact Porsche and ask them if the seats are designed specifically for children, and if they conform to the relevant BS standards.

If they're just small seats, he's talking bollocks and should get the right safety stuff pronto (or get a proper car )

dh takes our boys out in his 911 and tbh the back isn't big enough for a taller child on a booster. ds1 is a short 8 and nowhere near height requirements for no car seat, but is very cramped in his booster, so goes in the front with the airbag off. dh was testing him this afternoon to see where the seat belt was with no booster in the back and probably would have taken him without one if I hadn't told him he had to use a seat.
ds3 has a porsche seat and it isn't a lot thinner than a booster. The older children on the Porsche web site seem to be in a Cayenne - don't think those seats would fit in a 911 with a taller child.

£400 !!!! he should use one but maybe recommend the recaro option they suggest over the porshe own brand (or if he keeps irritating you perhaps just send him to porsche dealer)