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Original poster

I don't understand all the fuss about car seat laws.

29 replies

MamaGhoul · 19/10/2006 22:52

Why don't people have them anyway? Whether its law or not, you want your children to be safe right?

I wouldn't let my DC go in a car without a car seat whether it was law or not. Years ago, we'd been on a day trip with the PIL and DD (then 3) wanted to travel home in their car - I went to my car to undo the carseat and when I got to their car, MIL had sat DD on a cushion - it wasn't law then, but there was no WAY she was travelling like that.

OP posts:
SPACEdoutzombieCADET · 19/10/2006 22:54

i think its people with o,lder children who had stopped using boosters, say 8/9 years old.

Original poster
MamaGhoul · 19/10/2006 22:55

I'll get me coat

OP posts:
SPACEdoutzombieCADET · 19/10/2006 22:55

lol!

MrsSpoon · 19/10/2006 22:56

I'm with you MamaGhoul. It has been the advice, over the last few years, that boosters were to be used until 11 years and I could never understand why anyone would take their child out of a booster seat before then. My DS1 is 7 1/2 and loads of his friends have stopped using boosters but it has always been beyond me why so I am glad it has been made law now.

SPACEdoutzombieCADET · 19/10/2006 22:59

some people do though, which is why this new law has been brought in, personally, all my chjildren have sat in the appropriate car seats until the relevant age.

2shoescreepingthroughblood · 19/10/2006 23:01

did you see cods post the other day about how he dd or ds(sorry can't remember which) love the new booster as he/she could see

Original poster
MamaGhoul · 19/10/2006 23:03

no i didn't see that 2shoes

(can you do me a favour? CAn you go on msn and see if I'm appearing online? Want to know if changing my settings has worked!!)

OP posts:
KellyKrueger1978 · 19/10/2006 23:07

I'm guilty and I am ashamed of it. I just got into the habit of not using one when we had a car that wouldn't fit the kids in sep car seats. When the dts were first born we still had a fiesta, so dd and ds had to share a seat and a lap belt for a short time until we got a seven seater (short trips only). Then I jsut didn;t really bother using their seats until I started reading about the new laws and went out and bought dd a booster and dug out ds's car seat again.

misdee · 19/10/2006 23:07

i havent taken my dd's out of their seats for car trips. dd1 got asked last term by her friends, why she was i na baby seat (high back booster). dd1 said she wasnt lol.

portonovo · 20/10/2006 09:15

I agree. Despite the new laws, all govt/international transport and safety bodies say the real safe level is approx 150 cm. The lower limit was only given to EU countries to allow them to pass it into law more easily! So guess which level our govt went for...

All my children had/will have seats until they are 11 AND 150 cm tall. No problem.

misdee · 20/10/2006 09:26

my children will be in them till they ourgrow them completely. no arguements. i have kept hold of one the spare high back boosters i had in my old car for dd3 when she outgrows her 2nd stage seat.

NannyL · 20/10/2006 11:15

i completely agree with you mamagoul!

TheDaVinciCod · 20/10/2006 11:16

4

colditz · 20/10/2006 11:24

what if an adult is less than 150cm tall. Is that considered illegal too?

misspopov · 20/10/2006 11:29

I'm really pleased with this new law as DD2 (aged 7) has always used a high back booster and gets embarassed when friends tease her for sitting in her baby seat. We never let her travel without a booster although none of her friends had one until now. It has also stopped some of the mums jamming 5 children into the back of the car for trips out, she used to feel left out because she had to stay with us because we felt it wasn't safe.If it makes people think more carefully about their children's safety then it can only be positive.

Bramshott · 20/10/2006 11:33

Sorry - slightly off topic here, but does anyone have kids who are taken to school by taxi? I know that the rules don't apply to taxis, which is fine for an occasional trip, but when she starts school, my DD is supposed to go in a taxi every day. She's small for almost 4 as it is, and there's no way I would be happy about her going without a booster, but am interested to know what others do about school buses / taxis.

lizziemun · 20/10/2006 12:07

Colditz

No it's not illegal as your bones stucture is fully formed.

My mum is only 4ft 10inchs and she has a cushion type thing which levels her seat and lifts her up slightly.

nikkie · 20/10/2006 23:04

Our school bus has booster seats on not sure about the taxis though.Don't think they could object to a booster for a regular trip

misdee · 20/10/2006 23:06

bramshott, usually the taxi driver will pick up a booster from yours, and leave it soewhere at the school. thats what dd2 nursery does.

cat64 · 20/10/2006 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

eidsvold · 21/10/2006 01:45

from a different perspecitve - we have quite strict laws regarding seat belts, safety seats etc here in Aus. Our seats have straps that allow them to be bolted to the car - think it is the same as the isofix system (? could be wrong) so our dds' car seats are anchored by a bolt in the back dash. We also have very strict laws about children and babies being in the front seat - airbags or not.

I was stunned when I got to the UK and probably mroe aware of it after I had dd1 - to see babies in their carry seats strapped in the front passenger seat. It really shocked me - as we are so strict here.

Our dd1 will be in a booster that has a five point harness and anchor bolt until she is at least 7 or more - given that she is rather ditty - compared to most of her peers at kindy who are in booster seats that are just held in with the car seat belt.

BudaBeast · 21/10/2006 03:43

DS (5) also in high back booster - isofix as well.

Gets asked why he is still in a a baby seat - I just reply "because it's the law".

The fact that Hungary is in EU hasn't seemd to change things here as far as I know. I must print off some info and take to school.

threebob · 21/10/2006 04:25

Law only applies here in NZ until child is 5. No way will ds be losing his car seat in just over a year.

ghosty · 21/10/2006 04:33

Threebob ... DS is nearly 7 and sits in on a booster. Won't be getting rid of it anytime soon.

threebob · 21/10/2006 04:52

We will be the only 2 people in NZ. Actually as you are leaving I will be on my own.

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