child locks on car doors

[BouncingTurtle]

Actually I'm not too sure whether IABU or not!

I saw a car pull up near me as I was loading DS into my car, it was an old Vectra. I was quite taken aback to see two children aged I guess around 4 & 6 letting themselves out of the car. Now I have no idea whether their mum had actually said "You can get out of the car now" which would be sensible to me.

Now maybe 6, I think fair enough, but 4 seems a bit young to be able to open a car door by herself.
When DH got his current car about 18mo (DSS was about 5) he didn't bother putting the child lock on, and told DSS (who is capable of putting on and taking off his seatbelt now) that he should only get out when DH told him too. Plus also on his car all the doors lock automatically when the cargoes over 5mph, and don't unlock until either he unlocks the car with the button or he switches the engine off.

So I guess I am asking at what age should child locks be used too? Are they a good idea? Or could they be dangerous in an accident (i.e. preventing a quick exit). What do you do with regard to teaching your los when and where to take off belts/ get out of cars? I want to file this info away for future reference for when ds gets bigger!

I guess it struck me because once I was in my car with DH and DSS (usually we use DH's car but it just been written off in an accident and DH was awaiting his replacement), and we were in a car park. I pulled into a space, realised I was rather wonky, so put car into reverse and started coming out when I realised that DSS (4 atm) had undone hit seatbelt! I immediately stopped and made him put it back on, and explained that he should never remove his belt without permission.

Sorry it's a bit long and rambling!

I still have the car door locks on and my DC's are 5,11 & 13.

Message withdrawn

Pitchounette - a strange question - they will learn in the same way as yours once the locks are off

I don't think it is a strange question. Having a child lock for 11 and 13 year olds is going a bit far don't you think? Presumably the child lock is for the 5 year old though Tas1?
My children have never bashed another car when opening the doors in the car park. I remind them to watch what they are doing and they do.

I am the wrong person to ask though - I never had locks on kitchen cupboards and never had a stairgate for DD, I also never put stuff out of reach for her (ie 'toddler proofing') in our house.
The only time she did anything bad when not watched was when she painted the bathroom walls (and the toilet bowl and the cat) with my nice expensive lancome mascara.

I am a bad mother.

still have the car locks on - but I have dd1 who has sn and would be opening the door whilst we were driving.

Dd2 - has worked out how to flick the little child lock and so decides at times to have the door able to be opened from the inside. She is pretty good and so I would not be so worried about her having the ability to open the door.

Having said that my dd1 - who is almost 6 - is the only child in her class to still be in a booster and a harness of some kind. Most of the other children may be in a booster seat with a regular seat belt or just in the seat with no booster. I am sure I am being over protective. Dd1 is in a H-harness seat belt. That only changed recently. She was still in a 5 pt harness until about 1 month ago.

Having said that - both dd1 and dd2 have been known to get arms etc out of seatbelts if they are the slightest bit loose!!!