Car seat - do I really need one?

[tami2k]

Hi FTM, 35weeks, deciding which pram/travel system to get..we currently don't drive, wondering do we really need a car seat? We will be using taxi and lifts to appointments etc

Wanting to get a carry cot as will be using it a lot and I know it's not recommended to use car seat for prolonged period.
Thanks xx

So you are going to spend probably over £1000 on a pram but not use a car seat

Isofix also hopefully eliminates people installing them incorrectly because it’s an easier process to fit them.

We often see four kids squished in the back, once or twice with a dog laying across them. It’s not unusual, lots of people don’t use car seats at all. Through not understanding the law or not giving a shit.

You won't be able to get a lift with family / friends without a car seat..

Definitely get a car seat. Second hand fine . These days molded seats are safe even second hand . Just wash the liner ? In1986 I had one of the first rear facing seats from Mothercare as I travelled many miles alone with our DD .
It had a metal cross frame . Thank goodness I never had an accident as it came apart in my hands the last time I used it. Mothercare recalled it and I had a full refund .
Looking even further back I remember my Mum and the rest of my family coming home in 1961 in our brand new mini with Mum sat in front with our new baby sister on her lap ! No seat belts then either . Seems unbelievable now.

The Joie Juva is the only one of Joie's seats that doesn't go onto maxi cosi pushchair adaptors. That one only clips onto their cheaper pram. The other Joie seats do go onto maxi cosi adaptors.

People are giving OP too much of a hard time.

Commit to never going in cars or else get one OP. You could have a friend with a seat pick you up from hospital.

Nothing wrong with secondhand seats. I trust people not to sell on seats that have been in crashes and my intuition as to whether a seller is a terrible enough person to do that. Car crashes don't happen that often!

It's actually legal to drive a baby in a non-taxi without a seat if it's an emergency (unforeseen and no alternative).

Safety aside, I doubt you'd want a baby in a car without a seat, they're squirmy!

Secondhand car seats are a myth created by the car seat industry. I would however get one from a friend you trust.

OP, since you’ve had a couple of posters saying “second hand is fine” and that they “trust people” (who they presumably do not have any knowledge of), it is only fair that you are linked to the NHS official advice on buying used car seats. Since this is not a cosmetic matter but a life and death one, which is easily resolved with a £35 new mothercare car seat as opposed to a cheaper second hand super famous one - you make the decision as to whose advice you will trust - unknown internet strangers or public health organisations making recommendations based on data and evidence. Here is the relevant NHS link -

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/child-car-seats-and-child-car-safety/

I didn’t buy a car seat until my oldest was about nine months old. I don’t think it’s that much of a stretch to imagine that without a car you wouldn’t use one. But then I didn’t take taxis etc either. I did borrow one once from a friend and the child’s grandparents had one because they had more than one car and more than one DGC.

If I was getting in a car regularly I’d get one, but it’s entirely possible to not use cars.

My mum bought a second hand seat for her car. Told me it was new. I knew 100% it wasn’t because it stunk to high heaven of weed. To the point that my baby was sick and screaming when he went in it. She hadn’t noticed when she collected it...

@tami2k - All newborn car seats can be attached with belts a far as i could see when looking. If you don’t own a car, there’s no point with isofix. It’s not the quickest thing to install & you certainly won’t be doing so in a taxi or a quick lift from a friend.

Just make sure you fully know how to use the belts securely, it’s easy to learn. Mothercare or Halfords will show you. You need to use your full body weight to ensure it’s tight enough fastened.

I own a car & used isofix in it but often used the belts with lifts from friends to baby classes as we are a one car family & my other half took it work usually. You’ll be just fine!

Like @JoyceDivision and @melissasummerfield I can’t believe that you would spend that much on a pram and yet think that a car seat isn’t worth it. Pretty prams are great but car seats save lives.