Car seat and booster seat question....please advise me..

[mumfor1standfinaltime]

Hi all, I am wanting to travel in my Seat Ibiza with 3 little ones.
Have ds in his car seat who is 14m , have another seat for my niece who is 18m. No problems there.

BUT..what does the law say about how to travel with my 3.5yr old Nephew? I have a 'lap belt' in the middle of the back seat, and am aware he will need a booster seat. Is this enough? And will booster work with a lap belt?

Sorry for silly question but want to travel safely and Ive only been driving for 6 months!

TIA

Most boosters are designed for use with a 3-point adult seat belt (I only know of a Roemer one which has an additional bolster for the lap belt). could oen fo the proepr seats be secured by a lap belt so he cna travel on the outside with a 3 point belt ? Even under the new law it seems you can have a 3rd child in the rear without a proper seta or booster if it wouldn't fit. I've always wondered about the relative safety of child in rear in lap belt or front 3 point with air bag - think rear still wins.

I think your nephew requires (by law) a high back booster seat. \link{http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/advice/childcarseats.htm\this might help?}

Thanks liz, see your point on the airbag senario.( I only have air bag on driver side) Just wasnt sure on the law on booster seats.

Will have to look at the car seat to see if it will fit in the middle lap belt.

Thanks for link, will have a read....

Very confusing law! What the heck is a 'child restraint', I take it this means a booster or car seat. From what I can make out, Nephew has to be either in the front with a seat belt or with a 'child restraint (?)' if available and not in the lapbelt. Although it doesnt say he cant sit in the lap belt. ??

\link{http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_rdsafety/documents/page/dft_rdsafety_611257.hcsp\This link} should give you your answers - both to what to with your nephew (see point 10) and what is meant by a "Child restraint".

Essentially, you'll be OK legally with your nephew in the middle with the adult belt, but he would be better if he were eiler in a booster seat (not sure if any work with a lap belt) or in a booster fitted in the front (make sure to push the seat well back, away from the air bag).

Thanks prettybird. I dont like the idea of having him in the lapbelt, but I can see that he is ok to sit there legally.

Dont have an airbag in the front seat anyway, so not an issue (only driver side).

So confusing this law isnt it!! May print it off for reference! Im sure that the Government should make these things clearer and the information more readily available.