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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to wonder why on earth I can't find a bloody car seat?!!

9 replies

cleo78 · 03/05/2010 19:54

Argh!!? I live overseas and we have a 14 week old son who I would like to travel in a safe car seat! However, we can't seem to find one that actually fits as it's supposed to! Currently, we have the standard type one which is supposed to have the seat belt wrapped round it as well as over the top of his feet- but the seat belt isn't long enough to do it?! As a result, we don't have it fitted exactly right and it's also a 'local' one and not safety standard checked etc...
When back in the uk I went to mothercare and the showed me a Graco one which fits onto a base which attaches with the seat belt. That seemed ideal for us, so when I got back home, I bought basically the same Graco one, but the US version (i don't live in the US though). When I got it home and tried to fit it, the instruction book said it couldn't be fitted with the extendable lap/shoulder belts (surely these are normal??) and should be placed preferably in the middle seat. But my seat belt doesn't to shorten enough to make the base tight? The base and chair were wobbling all over the place??? And even if I could make the belt really tight, I just don't see how, with the base only 'clamped' at the back by the seat back, the car seat could be secure??

If anyone can help or give advice, I would be VERY happy....I'm sick of this now!! I just want my son to be safe! (p.s when I asked in Halfords what people do if their seat belts were too short, I was told that they change their cars??!!?)

OP posts:
GlendaTheGrizzlyPiggy · 03/05/2010 20:22

We had the problem of the seatbelt being too short in MILs car so we bought this. It works fine and it's EU safety approved.

tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 03/05/2010 20:34

Do you have ISOFIX?

cleo78 · 03/05/2010 20:35

OMG! Glenda, I think I might love you! I (stupidly??) hadn't even searched for these things as i was told that they weren't legal! Thank you!

OP posts:
cleo78 · 03/05/2010 20:52

No ISOFIX by the way...that would have made life too easy!! Looks like I'm going to buy one of these seat belt extenders though"!

OP posts:
GlendaTheGrizzlyPiggy · 03/05/2010 20:54

oh I've come over all coy . Happy to help.

mummychicken · 03/05/2010 21:09

I did the thing of checking the pram went in boot etc before we bought it. It NEVER crossed my mind that the seat belt wouldn't be long enough to go around a rear facing car seat. Nobody mentions that bit!!

So short of buying a new car, we bought an extension thing that Glenda pointed to. Never had any more issues, but couldn't give another mum a lift with a rear facing seat.

mummychicken · 03/05/2010 21:10

Forgot to say that the car seats' manufacturers "solution" to the problem was to push seat back to furthest position. I don't know many cars that have adjustable rear seats!!!

BikeRunSki · 03/05/2010 21:14

You could attach an Isofix base on the seatbelt. Only uses a small amount of seatbelt, and does not need Isofix bolts. We had a Maxi Cosi one in DH's van.

CarGirl · 03/05/2010 23:14

I had a britax rock a tot which has an alternative short seat belt routing!

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