Advice on car seats please - is each of these children in correct seat?

[DillyDallyDayDream]

Hi, I nanny for a 12month old & a 4 year old.

12month old - weighs 22lb
In a britax prince seat
Is this ok? What would be better?

4 year old - very tiny -I'd say size of 3 year old
Has a booster seat
Am thinking of putting 4 year old in the britax prince and going back to rear facing for 12 month old - sound like a good idea

Any opinions/ advice please

What weight is the 4 year old?

Not sure

Don't know if this helps but he's wearing 3-4 clothes that are a little bit too big

Ooh Im interested in this. Both my children weigh around 34lbs but are actually 4 and 7 so quite light and skinny for their ages. They are both in seats with the straps over each shoulder but Im wondering if this is still ok for my oldest as they are getting taller, although still only 110cms.

Im a bit confused by it.

Child Car Seats website - you need to work at it but looks to have all you need to know.

If the four year old is not over 33lbs in weight then he should still be in the five-point harness.

it all depends on weight - the Britax prince seat does up to 40lbs. Is the booster a high backed booster or just the cushion? High backed boosters are much safer and are suitable from 15kgs (33lbs). I wouldnt put a 4 year old on a booster cushion - my 9 year old and 6 year old children are still in high backed boosters.

Handy link! Looks like my two are fine in their 5 point ones.

Im guessing you might need to weigh them op.

Personally I would want the 12 month old rf. The 4 yr old depends on his weight.
What do the parents say about this?

Havent you allready done a thread on this a week or so ago? And the advice on that one was to insist on suitable car seats fro all or.no taking then in the car - it was pretty unanamous that the 4yo was in the wrong type of seat.

22lb is almost 10 kg. Group 0/1 car seats like the Britax first class rear faces until 13kg. 12 months is little for forward facing, maybe unless you just pop here and there on little roads (ie not motorway speeds).

My DD2 is 1yr 10months and 12kg and I am thinking of turning her car seat forward because she is so heavy to squeeze in (also low car so limited head room).

4 is young for a high backed booster, and way too young for a booster cushion. You would have to check weights but the Prince will go to 18kg. I suspect she is under this, and a group 1 (ie harness) seat will be safer.

My DD1 is 5 and still in a harness car seat (15kg ish).

So yes, they would probably be safer in the different car seats.

HTH.

Yeh already posted on the childcare section about this,

Each child should be in the lowest stage seat thats appropriate to their weight/ head at correct level.

Ie infant carrier til 13kg/ head within seat.
Group 1 - eyes level and 18kg if forward facing although rearfacing is 5 times safer.
Then highbacked booster from 18kg (15kg is an absolute minimum and intended for children who has outgrown shell of group 1)

thestir.cafemom.com/toddler/149737/putting_your_child_in_a?next=21

www.ktnv.com/news/local/187038601.html?lc=Smart#.UPagtbEPWZM.facebook

www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.which.co.uk%2Fnews%2F2010%2F06%2Fbackless-booster-seats-a-safety-risk-which-says-217572%2F%23.UP2wa-iv9aQ.facebook&h=8AQEk2aYkAQENHpfKMDLxilAWHVUppDxHr-Ht0EFl8axA3A&enc=AZP4FY_OhtWBFg-z8haPSIUKinwO_W6js9EBJ9jfpyDxF1YBzXvLyKUOJHTpqV-c9ta-vjMrbtmxRxPnKpn_EV64&s=1

By lowest stage seat I should explain that each progression through the stages is a reduction in safety.

I read your thread in the childcare section but didnt reply as on phone. Personally I think its your responsiblility as a nanny to make sure the children are correctly restrained. I would refuse journeys until I knew child was as safe as possible.

An insurance case which went to court (WARNING: contains mention of death to adult, injury to child). It makes no comment about weight of the child from what I can see. It does mention Height and Age: "Here, the expert witnesses were unanimous in their findings that the booster seat was inappropriate and that the 5-point harness seat was appropriate for the Claimant, on the basis of her height and age." - the child was age 3, I can not find details of their height.

So I would say you need to look at the Height and Age details specified by the seat manufacturers, then look at weight (they need to be in the weight range specified by the manufacturer).

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/overview This says the car seat depends on the weight of the child. Age is normally given as a general guide dependent on the development, height, etc of the child.

The car seats are classified by the weight range they are designed to carry.

from car seat law website:

Child restraints are divided into categories, according to the weight of the children for whom they are suitable. These correspond broadly to different age groups, but it is the weight of the child that is most important when deciding what type of child restraint to use.

I am refusing journeys.