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Original poster

Can you fit a car seat base with an over the lap belt?

14 replies

BellaLEL · 10/01/2012 15:17

Hi,

I recently bought a Vauxhall zafira (old shape) as I'm expecting my 3rd child and have only just noticed that the middle seat has an 'over the lap' seat belt. I have looked at the current laws on child safety in a car but doesn't give advice on anything like this. I have had some suggestions fired at me which are -

  1. I could technically have my 4 year old in the middle without her booster seat but don't feel comfortable with that idea.

  2. I could also have her in the front with me in her booster seat but I would prefer her to be next to the baby in case he'd need a comfort or entertainment etc.

  3. My car also doesn't allow you to disable the airbag so to have the baby in the front with me.

  4. My second child is 18 months who's car seat could be in the middle but she cannot be trusted next to a new baby because of how young she is.

  5. Also, the hassle it would be to get a 3 point belt fitted has put me off that idea.

  6. And finally people have told me to put one of them in one of the very back seats which again, not convinced about.

So, the only other idea I have thought of so far is to get a car seat base. But can a base be fitted with a 2 point seat belt? Or does anyone have any other options for me?

Thanks :)

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Loopymumsy · 10/01/2012 16:43

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Original poster
BellaLEL · 10/01/2012 17:48

Oki doki, thank you. I'll do my research on Graco, although their website is pants. A lady who's selling her Graco base on ebay said going by the diagrams on it, it can be fitted with a 2 point belt but will have to see the pics to believe her. Thanks again! :)

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 10/01/2012 17:52

i think i would put the 18m old in the middle if her car seat can be used with the lap belt.

the baby will presumably be in an infant carrier? so your toddler will be higher up, and facing the other way and I wouldn't have thought would be able to reach her at all.
she'll be held back by her harness and i really don't think she'll be able to do anything to the baby

YNK · 10/01/2012 17:55

My daughter had a maxicozi easifix base for her 2002 car, i'm sure that's what it was called.

Original poster
BellaLEL · 10/01/2012 18:20

@ thisisyesterday. Yeah my husband just got back from work and said exactly the same thing to me. So obviously where each child goes shouldn't matter as long as they're belted in correctly. Thanks guys :)

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 10/01/2012 18:22

:)

you could practice by strapping her in, in the middle, and then seeing if she can reach a doll or something in the baby seat?

truthisinthewine · 10/01/2012 18:24

I have had a graco base and mine said it could be fitted with a lap belt.

BertieBotts · 10/01/2012 18:25

There are no boosters which can be fitted with a lap belt, so it's going to have to be one of the younger two in the middle. Perhaps the baby would be best in the middle? More shoulder/hip space for the other two if you alternate rear and forward facing seats in the back.

Original poster
BellaLEL · 10/01/2012 18:39

I think my best option is to try all suggestions out and see which one works best for us. I've now got my Dad saying put my 4 year old in the front passenger seat. At least now I've got enough options to put my mind at rest, it's just picking one now. Haha, I am soo indecisive which doesn't help at all!

OP posts:
UsedToBikeAndRunAndSki · 10/01/2012 18:54

We had a Maxicosi base on a lap belt in our van. the fitting instructions were in the manual, so it must have been ok to do this.

sleepevader · 10/01/2012 22:42

Maxi cosi and I have had this debate recently. They now say no seat is suitable to be fixed by lap belt.

The britax prince and eclipse can be fitted be a lapbelt so a possibility for 18mo

sleepevader · 10/01/2012 22:42

Maxi cosi and I have had this debate recently. They now say no seat is suitable to be fixed by lap belt.

The britax prince and eclipse can be fitted be a lapbelt so a possibility for 18mo

justforinfo · 17/01/2012 20:40

Maxi Cosi cannot be fitted with a lap belt, the Graco base CAN be fitted with a lap belt, however as you have a Vauxhall Zafira you will more than likely get buckle crunch as your seatbelt buckles stick out of your seat alot, ALSO the Eclipse will also buckle crunch, although the prince shouldn't it's really not a very good seat :-/ I too would put the eldest child in the front in a high back booster (check with car dealer if airbag must be switched off) then have baby in rear carrier behind passenger seat and 18m/o behind you

Original poster
BellaLEL · 19/01/2012 22:28

Yeah I've resorted to having my 4 year old in the front with me now, she loves it! Airbag doesn't need to be disabled. Though if it did, I'd be screwed, as there's no option for that....It cannot be switched off at all :/

Also, I found that I wouldn't be able to have a car seat base as the middle of the floor in the car is raised which will make it unstable, therefore unsafe.

Thank you all for your advise, helped loads :D

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