Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

I'm still confused about the new car seat regulations from September!

16 replies

TinyGang · 09/07/2006 21:02

Help!

I have three that sit in the back. They're all tall for their ages (they'll be 8 and 5yr dt's come September).

Dt's sit on ordinary booster cushions and dd sits on a firm normal house cushion because a proper booster proper one won't fit in between the other two.

Will this still be ok? I'm so confused. I can't believe they'd even fit in those full sized child seats with backs anymore.

OP posts:
LIZS · 09/07/2006 21:10

House cushion not usually ok - won't spread the force of any impact in the same way. Some boosters are narrower than others so you may yet be able to get one in between otherwise 3rd child can go without or sit up front with a booster. Is it a 3 point seat belt in middle ? My 8yr old still fits in a booster seat with a back btw - Maxi Cosi Rodi with height adjustable head rest. Think it is expected until at least 22 kg or 6yrs old roughly iirc.

Original poster
TinyGang · 09/07/2006 21:19

I know its not ideal but I can't fit three along the back and I can't swich off my front airbag. Have looked for narrower ones

OP posts:
KathyMCMLXXII · 10/07/2006 09:55

Yes it will be ok in legal terms - it's covered by an exemption for if you can't fit a third booster in (read this in leaflet from Mothercare yesterday).

mummycan · 10/07/2006 10:19

this might help

LIZS · 10/07/2006 10:40

mummycan think that is now , but it changes in September to this .

Booster seats (with backs) as opposed to just the booster cushion (base) for 15kg to 25kg - but these shouldn't be used with just a lap belt.

Clary · 10/07/2006 10:44

TG we have three Britax Kid seats for our 3 (aged a big 7, 5 and 3) which I think are reallygood as they offer head support. DS1 is fine on his. ALl fit in the back of a Citroen Picasso.

NikkiH · 10/07/2006 11:28

Goodness - it's a minefield! Transporting our two boys around shouldn't be a problem as we have booster seats for both of them in both of our cars but when it comes to taking friends to and fro Beavers / parties / home for tea and having to be organised enough to have extra booster seats available for them (and getting them to use them) - that will be a nightmare!

mummycan · 10/07/2006 11:37

Thanks LIZS

KathyMCMLXXII · 10/07/2006 12:04

NikkiH, you know there's an exemption for 'occasional short journeys' (for over 3s), don't you? That ought to cover the odd Beaver run.

I am personally not too stressed about the legal side of it, because firstly, no-one ever seems to get stopped even for blatantly flouting seatbelt regs (witness various horrifying threads on MN about people seeing cars with toddlers crawling all over them, or people with babies on their laps) but in any case the fine is only a £30 fixed penalty and no points or anything, so it's not the end of the world if you do.

I would like to know if I was being safe, though, so I would love to find out exactly what the risk level is from these various things, and I've googled like crazy but can't come up with anything concrete....

Original poster
TinyGang · 10/07/2006 13:39

Just got back to this. Thanks for the replies.

Clary..coincidentally we changed our car earlier this year from a Citroen Picasso to a smaller car (which is cheaper to insure) because the children are now a bit older. We don't (or didn't think!) we needed to accommodate big child seats any more. I have to say though what a good car the Picasso is for child transport

I'm still confused though! I don't want to un-wittingly flout a new law. Am heartened that all my rear seat belts in my new car are all diagonal ones though, so maybe that helps.

OP posts:
Clary · 10/07/2006 13:42

tg, doh! about the car! Agree about child-carrying properties of Picasso. Don?t worry tho, the new rules say you only have to do what you can do iyswim, ie if 3 back seats won?t fit then it?s OK. I think.
But it is confusing. And I agree with Kathy that there?s not much info.

karenj1980 · 10/07/2006 14:50

I've just ran bare foot out to my car to get the leaflet from Mothercare. Here is what it says:

Why can't my child just use a normal adult seat belt?* Adult belts are designed for adults. If a child uses them, the seat belt sits too high over the stomach and can cause serious damage to your child, increasing the rish of slipping out under the belt as well. From Sept 06 (subject to approval by Parliment), children under 135cm and under 12 years old must use a proper car seat.

Penalties - £30 fixed and up to £500 if taken to court. Driver is the person responsible for under 14 years.

Excemptions*

TAXI - 3 years and above can travel and use adult seat belt in the rear if no child restraint is available.

OCCASIONAL JOURNEYS - Short distances eg emergency if child restraint is not available.

WHERE TWO CHILD SEATS THAT ARE OCCUPIED in the rear and prevent a 3rd CAR SEAT fitting in.

Hope this helps - Like I say its all off the mothercare leaflet which I took when I went in to do some shopping. x

Original poster
TinyGang · 10/07/2006 15:01

Thanks Karen

Hmm - doesn't sound very promising for my middle cushion though does it, as it's not a 'proper' one. I can't fit three booster seats together in the back though. Loads of parents must have this problem with three children surely?

OP posts:
karenj1980 · 10/07/2006 15:16

TG - I have learnt my lesson my feet hurt after ha ha. The car is literally outside my door so I didn't run far.

If you have 3 and 2 of the car seats are being used, and a 3rd car seat will not fit then you do not have to use a 3rd car seat.

HTH

bluejelly · 10/07/2006 15:23

What is a booster cushion? How does that differentiate from a booster seat?

LIZS · 10/07/2006 15:27

Cushion has no back/head rest rest, booster seat does.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page