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Original poster

baby has floppy head in car seat!

30 replies

mogwai · 07/09/2005 22:10

my 9 week old baby travels about in a maxi cosi car seat. Because I have an airbag (and Volkswagen will not switch it off for me) I have to put her on the back seat, where I can neither see nor reach her.

When I get her out, her poor little head has lolled right out of the head support (forward and to the right). I sat in the back with her today, while my husband drove the car. She lolls about all over the place when he pulls away from a junction. It looks terrible.

Does anyone else have this problem? How do you sort it? I know the seat is fitted properly, and it feels completely secure, it's just her head!

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Pixiefish · 07/09/2005 22:12

Have you the newborn support? I hated having dd in the back as well

Original poster

mogwai · 07/09/2005 22:13

This happens because she is asleep, by the way.

She actually has good head control when she's awake.

OP posts:

paolosgirl · 07/09/2005 22:14

I got a newborn head support as well. They're very good, and not expensive..

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nannyjo · 07/09/2005 22:14

you can get a neck support for them from mother care.

Original poster

mogwai · 07/09/2005 22:14

I don't know if it's the newborn support, pixie, it's just the one that comes with the maxi cosi, which is for newborns??

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Original poster

mogwai · 07/09/2005 22:16

good old mumsnet!!

I'll go have a look in mothercare.

I find it incredible that the thing is so badly designed. I shouldn't have to buy an extra head support for something that is designed for newborns! And she's over 2 months old!

OP posts:

Twiglett · 07/09/2005 22:16

its normal .. they do this

and so far DS still lolls and he's 4.5

it looks worse than it is

Twiglett · 07/09/2005 22:18

the back is the safest place for a carseat .. even a newborn one

because they're extra protected than if they were in the front and you're less likely to get distracted by them

I have never had my airbags decommissioned for that very reason

though if you want to you can get them decommissioned by any VW dealer .. it costs a few hundred though

Original poster

mogwai · 07/09/2005 22:19

Is it?

God, it looks so bad!

We were driving in the Peak District today, the roads were really bumpy. I tried lolling my own head to see how it felt when we went over bumps - it felt horrible. The reason I got into the back with her was because I was convinced she would snap some sort of neck ligament and I would have to sue the people who make maxi cosi car seats!!

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Original poster

mogwai · 07/09/2005 22:20

I took it to the VW dealer last month. They actually refused to switch it off, said they used to do it, but there are legal problems and they no longer do it.

I take your point about the distraction though

OP posts:

starshaker · 07/09/2005 22:24

i had a punto and they showed me how to do it all i had to do was open the passanger door and there was a lock for the airbag i just needed to use my key and turn t off simple

Twiglett · 07/09/2005 22:25

maybe they've changed .. this was almost 5 years ago

bet a back-street garage would do it for you

Flum · 07/09/2005 22:26

Happened to mine too, didn't seem to bother her though. Lookded mighty uncomfortable to me though.

Wordsmith · 07/09/2005 22:30

I think they may be technically safer in the back but I reckon you're in more danger of crashing because you are distracted by the thought of lolling head, worry that baby will choke/vomit and you won't be able to see her/him, etc etc.

I used to put baby seat in the front. Once they get into forward facing one it's easier to have them in the back, you can just turn round and see them.

matnanplus · 07/09/2005 22:33

As you say she has good head control when she is awake, her head lolls about because she is asleep and relaxed.

Yes it looks terrible but if she is not upset in the car or when you remove her then it's a sure sign that she is in no distress.

Try 2 rolled up muslins to make the support firmer or a newborn neck pillow, the only drawback with the neck pillow [which sits around the front of the neck/throat] is they can become dislodged and she may not like it when she is awake.

It is safer to have her travel in the back, you can get a mirror so that you can at least see her face and she when she is older will be able to watch you thru it.

burstingbug · 07/09/2005 22:45

I found that my ds lolled his head about in his Jane car seat, but I had the same worries as you about the head and neck so I brought a Graco car seat. I have no problems with this one.
Does the lap strap go under or over your current car seat? iykwim. With the Jane one it went under, but with the Graco the strap goes over. Think that made a great difference with the actual seat position.

BadgerBadger · 08/09/2005 00:52

Mogwai, a friend used to have to pay to have her airbags reacvitated if she let her car battery run out (ie left the radio on). This was a Honda, I don't know if all cars are the same.
(For her, it was a PITA, obviously as she wanted them active, but might be handy for those that would prefer them off.)

One of my carseats is a Bebe Confort Iseos safeside, I'm not sure what age they're suitable from (maybe 9 months, maybe sooner, I really can't remember) but they lie very nearly flat and go up to approx 3 years. It's the best one I've ever had!

The head lolling is totally normal, I was just as concerned as you, with DD1 and she's fine, suffered no ill effects!

vickitiredmum · 08/09/2005 01:01

I have a graco seat and DS and DD lolled in it when asleep. It is normal, though looks a bit shocking. I use a rolled up muslin too to help keep his chin up. DD still does it now and she is 2.5.

ghosty · 08/09/2005 06:09

Is the seat reclined enough?
When my DH put DD in the car he used to put it so she was almost sitting up and that made her head lol forward when she slept. I used to put it more so it was more reclined. I think it was the lolling forward that I didn't like, lolling sideways wasn't to bad.
My DD was a really big baby and she couldn't have the newborn support (the one made for the maxi cosi car seat) for too long as she grew out of it. I bought a 'head hugger' thing from the a babycare shop here in NZ.

SleepySuzy · 08/09/2005 06:38

I have one of the neck supports if you want it.

Pixiefish · 08/09/2005 12:44

I took mine to the Vauxhall main dealer and they also refused to do it. They said that it could theoretically still go off in an accident

starlover · 08/09/2005 12:46

you should be able to position the seat in a more reclined position.
i never had this problem with my maxi cosi seat.
also, are her straps tight enough?

tissy · 08/09/2005 12:47

Our Golf has a knob you can turn to switch off the airbag. they still recommend the car seat in the back, though.

mumtosomeone · 08/09/2005 12:48

Mine toddler flops when he is asleep! Tight straps everything! so what do we do about it?

starlover · 08/09/2005 12:48

yes, baby is safer in the back seat regardless of airbags

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