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Original poster

Car Seats for visiting children

18 replies

southcoaster · 10/12/2008 22:40

My sister is coming over from Germany for a week at Christmas with her 5-year old son. Now she's not bothered with car seats abroad but I am because he'll be sitting in MY car - so should she bring his car seat over (which she won't anyway), do I have to get one, or if we get pulled over, can I say 'well he's only here for a week ....." ?????

OP posts:
scrooged · 10/12/2008 22:41

Can't you get one so then you have it in the future if you need one?

BananaFruitBat · 10/12/2008 22:42

You can get basic booster seats for less than £10.

ChasingSquirrels · 10/12/2008 22:42

assuming he is under the limit (130cm?) then legal he should be in a seat.
You can buy the minimum - a booster - v v cheaply.

stealthsquiggle · 10/12/2008 22:44

Scrounge round friends/acquaintances - someone will have a spare one you can borrow. DB and SIL used our 'spares' when they came over.

Alternatively, a cheap booster seat for a 5yo can be less than £10 nowadays.

Original poster
southcoaster · 11/12/2008 10:26

Oh excellent, I'll get one then, thought they'd be much more expensive. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
bozza · 11/12/2008 10:51

Definitely get one of the £10 booster seats. I have one in my car boot permanently for when we are offering lifts to friends etc. As the children get older they are quite useful.

cat64 · 11/12/2008 11:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bozza · 11/12/2008 11:44

We have a booster cushion and a high back booster in each car (7 and 4 yos) but also a spare booster in my boot. I think once children get to school age this kind of thing becomes the norm. Eg on Monday I took my friend's DS to Beavers (we usually have an arrangement) but because DH was away I had to take DD along too, so needed an extra seat.

thenewme · 11/12/2008 11:46

Only here for a week? Sure, that will save you from having an accident.

Car seat or no ride.

Original poster
southcoaster · 11/12/2008 12:00

My son is only 18 months so we're a long way off from the booster seat, but as you say, if I get one I'm sure we'll get to use it again in the future.

OP posts:
MmeHereWeGoAWassailLindt · 11/12/2008 12:03

She can bring her own seat at little or no extra cost.

I am not keen on transporting young children with just a booster seat, they are not really much use in an accident.

I would tell her to bring her own seat or borrow one from a friend.

Original poster
southcoaster · 11/12/2008 23:53

I agree with you but you don't know my sister .... so if I want a peaceful Xmas I'll get one and be done with it .... I reckon he'll still be safer with a booster seat than no seat at all???

OP posts:
thenewme · 12/12/2008 10:43

Of course, but get a seat with a back.

Why would she not want her child safe?

stealthsquiggle · 12/12/2008 10:59

I am pretty sure this one comes with a strap to hold the seat belt at the right height - which would be the only issue in having a 5yo on a booster seat.

OP - if your DS is 18mths then it is probably worth spending a bit more to get one which will serve as a spare when he is older - but I wouldn't spend £50 on a high-back one, personally - we bought my DM the one in the link to keep in her car and I am more than happy with DS in that.

nannyL · 12/12/2008 21:20

i have that booster cushion too as my emergancy spare.... but i dont use it hardly at all

its not the ONLY issue... side impact protection is a huge issue too and they are not side impact proteted with a booster cushion

I have a 6 year old charge (Huge, age 7-8 clothes) and a huge 3.5 year old who is outgrowing his stage 1 seat...

but will NOT be putting 6 year old on the booster cushion that i already have.... will be getting another high backed booster seat so that in the event of a crash they are both protected as much as possible

thenewme · 13/12/2008 09:31

Why bother having it at all? It won't stop an accident because it is an "emergency." I would never use the cushions at all and it annoys me to see them on sale and 3 year olds on them.

nannyL · 14/12/2008 09:40

were you asking me why i have a booster cushion?

if so the reason i have it is because it fits in my boot and you never know when you might have another child at short / no notice (Ie when my charges best friends grandmother died, and his mum had to go at short notice, and i collected him from school)

and because when i have 3 children in the car its the only seat thats fit in the middle between my 2 proper car seats

of course it wont stop an accident... (and doesnt offer much side impact protection but when in use its jammed between 2 other seats)
and it will stop a child being paralysed and having their internal organs crushed by an adult seat belt.

and i would never ever EVER let a 3 year old sit on it either

  • there are a couple of 9ish year olds who sometimes come in my car and they use it too.

so that is why I own a booster cushion

ChippyMyrrhton · 14/12/2008 09:48

To the OP. If your nephew needs a car seat under UK law, it's not up to your sister to not bother - it's the law.
Agree with the others who've said get the Britax booster. Tesco usually have them if you don't want to chase around looking for one.

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