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Original poster

New! EU wants to forbid forward facing car seats

301 replies

MissHH · 25/06/2008 07:03

Read more here:

kidsincars.blogspot.com/2008/06/new-european-research-children-should.html

What do you think? I can clearly understand why looking at that report.

OP posts:
Pixiepants · 30/06/2008 11:41

Lovely pic's S&A. Your seat is the same as mine and I agree is was easy to fit...just not a task to be hurried...esp. the first time.

Sleepycat, this thread was started to let parents know about a safer product not widely available, and not intended to make anyone feel guilty. Wouldn't you feel worse if you thought that parents weren't being informed of safer alternatives to spare your feelings. I know you're not the only one who feels this way, but this product is not going to come down in price until demand rises, and for that to happen people need to know it exists.

Also £300 is approx the price of one of the seats. The cheapest at the moment is £200 I think...still very expensive, but no need to misrepresent the facts by only quoting the dearest product.

No one on this thread is suggesting that a properly fitted FF seat isn't a perfectly safe way to carry children, so you know you're doing the best you can for your LO. It's just that many parents are outraged that other European countries are receiving better advice and more choice than here in the UK...and it's not our fault, but I for one would like to see that changed.

Pixiepants · 30/06/2008 12:00

Boredwithwork, that's an interesting quote from Which. They're basically agreeing that RF is safer. (Impossible to disagree with from all the studies on the subject that I've seen), but are they suggesting that UK parents aren't bright enough to follow an instruction manual? How rude, if that's the case.

Once the products are in the mainstream shops they will be fitted by professionals won't they? as are FF to my knowledge, but in the meantime, I think we can be sure that anyone who goes to the expense and bother of buying a RF Group 1 seat will make sure that it's fitted correctly.

Pixiepants · 30/06/2008 12:03

And finally Melrose, the same rules apply to luggage in the boot as for FF. There is a post from Miss HH in the last page or two with a link to safer toys for RF seat occupants!

Pixiepants · 30/06/2008 12:06

Looks like a roof rack is the next thing on our shoppin' list....

Mumsnut · 30/06/2008 12:24

Which to go for ... Ezi or Nordic Fixway ....? At least the Fixway can be fitted by Volvo though the Ezi looks better on paper ...

Pixiepants · 30/06/2008 13:03

My friend had the Ezi-besafe imported and has fitted it with no problems, and thinks it's great. It definatly comes out best in tests doesn't it?

I went with Fixway in the end as the belt sockets in our car are long caused "buckle crunching". I didn't want to go to the expense of importing a seat that wouldn't work. (And didn't think to try my friends out...duh!). I'm happy with my choice as even though I don't have the very highest scoring seat, I know it's facing the safest way.

Hopefully a few more 'RF's' will be along later to offer suggestions too.

Pixiepants · 30/06/2008 13:04

'causing' buckle crunching...

MrsAki · 30/06/2008 19:12

The quote from Which? is incorrect when it says that parents in Sweden HAVE to have it fitted by professionals. You don't have to. There is no law about it. It is just like here. Most people buy a seat in a shop and get it fitted the first time. I think that Which? is puzzled as to why Swedish parents are not installing the RF seats incorrectly, as the experts at Which? find them hard to instal. I didn't think that our seat was hard at all to instal, after having read the manual for about half an hour. It was the best half hour of my life
We have the BeSafe Izi Kid. Recommend it. Good seat

magicfarawaytree · 30/06/2008 19:35

I am all for safety - but there surely must be a safety issue if you are tall and your seat has to be pushed back in order to drive. Surely on impact you would be smashing into your childs seat with more force than those that are shorter? dh is 6 3 and I am 5 10. to drive safely the seat is way back not generally a lot of legroom in either the passenger seat or drivers seat in most cars. at the mo we have a galaxy and the seat can go back but dh car has fixed seats and much smaller car.

silverfrog · 30/06/2008 19:49

Ime, car size can be a bit of a red herring. We first had a RF toddler seat for dd1 when we had a Volvo XC90. It fitted ok, but did compromise room in the front passenger seat, but only as much as her RF infant seat had anyway.

We then changed cars and got an Audi A2 (couldn't get much more of an opposite!) The RF seat fitted as well as it did in the XC90, which is soething we checked when buying the car. So, from one of the biggest cars on the road, to one of the smallest, but no difference in seat room.

we now have a Honda FRV (not a particularly big car) and the seat fits the best of all - absolutely no compromise on front passenger space at all. In fact, we have had dd1 in her RF toddler seat, and d2 in RF infant seat and still got me, dh, and my adult step children in the car too.

MrsAki · 30/06/2008 20:51

The front seat will never smash into the car seat as the car seat is wedged between the front seat and the back seat, i.e. it is leaning against the front seat.
We have our seat behind the passenger seat in a Renault Scenic and we have the passenger seat as far back as possible. Lots of leg room for the passenger and safe seat for LO.

magicfarawaytree · 30/06/2008 23:15

if the airbag goes off it smashes into passenger or driver (dh 15.5 stone) with force hence the injuries it can cause. the front seat will be forced back into the back of the rearfacing carseat. at the safe distance for driving dh front seat dh will be forced back into his seat which will be forced back into dc in rear facing carseat. we have 3 dcs so use all three seats. agree passenger can be cramped but what about child behind driver? obviously want what is safest for children so was wondering about the issue of airbag going off and distance between driver and child behind driver when driver is 6'3 and uses most of space in car?

swallowsandamazons · 01/07/2008 09:51

Volvo told me that if its not safe they dont do it, so i think that the forces of airbag going off would of been considered.

Original poster
MissHH · 01/07/2008 18:58

Either way.. I would say that if I had the choice I would rather risk getting hurt so that my child was safe.

BUT I have never heard anything like what you are describing magicfarawaytree. If that was the case then I am pretty sure that would have been known in Norway and Sweden.

OP posts:
MrsAki · 01/07/2008 19:01

I agree with missHH. These seats have been used for 30 years in Sweden and I have seen quite a lot of injury statistics and reports (by Volvo, Folksam (an insurance company) and VTI (a research institure)) where they have looked at all accidents in Sweden for the last decades. I have never come across anything like what you describe above.

PussinJimmyChoos · 01/07/2008 19:48

Right, spoke to Volvo today who were understandably twitchy about selling and fitting a rear facing for a non Volvo car...so no go on that front...

What next? Could order the Besafe from Sweden but run the risk of it not being fitted properly!

Help!

Pixiepants · 01/07/2008 20:35

PiJC, did you speak to Richard in the parts dept? He went through the fitting with me so no sure why they would be twitchy with you. I don't have a Volvo That said, it really isn't difficult to fit the Fixway correctly. Mine is so secure. Would you like to visit to see mine? Still not set up CAT, but will if this would help.

PussinJimmyChoos · 01/07/2008 21:19

No because DH did the phoning and left the phone number I gave him in DS's nursery bag (twunt) so rang the general number instead....that may explain it. Will get him to ring Rich in parts tomorrow. Honestly, men!!

I would like to see your car seat actually - and would be nice to meet another mnetter - I don't think you have come to any of our Bristol meets have you?

Pixiepants · 01/07/2008 21:50

Finally sorted..hope to see you soon.

Original poster
MissHH · 01/07/2008 22:08

MrsAki:

Got visitors on my blog from this discussionboard where I can see that they are quoting the error about fittings of car seats in Sweden.

Maybe you could tell them that it is not how it is.

OP posts:
PussinJimmyChoos · 02/07/2008 08:46

Pixie - I've tried to CAT you but it says you haven't got it set up. I've got CAT though if you want to CAT me

PussinJimmyChoos · 02/07/2008 09:03

Oooh have just seen your CAT message - have e-mailed you

nappyaddict · 02/07/2008 09:47

So if you have a car where the seats can be turned around like in the espace is it best to use a RF seat with the seat of the car RFing aswell so the child is actually forwad facing iyswim?

Pixiepants · 02/07/2008 10:23

No nappyaddict. If a child is facing forward in a frontal collision the pressure on their necks and spines on impact is too much for their small bodies, as their heads are disproportionally (SP?) large for their bodies until the age of 4.

RF car seats must not be used FF as they would not have been tested in this position. HTH.

silverfrog · 02/07/2008 10:59

I htought that in cars where the seats can be turned around (like the espace,and the voyager, i believe - could be wrong) the car was not to be driven woith the seats turned around - I spoke to someone at the otor show a few years ago about this, and he said that the seats were only turn-aroundable for leisure purposes...