Car seats

[Guest guest]

We just bought the evenflo MedallianV xl. I dont know how old your little girl

is, but the

main reason we bought this one is because it is only 1 of 3 that is rated for

30lbs

rear-facing. The Britax roundabout is another but it was very expensive, and the

century

one were said to be impossible to install. Since our 4 month old baby girl is

already 18lbs

and 26 inches, we had to go for one that would last her rear facing up to a

year. Most of

the convertables are only rated to 22lbs rear facing!

Hope this helps!

Kym and Cailyn (who loves her new easy to instal car seat!)

Shera Sherman wrote:

>

>

> Hi. I have been gone for about a week or so now. My computer crashed.

> So I hope that everyone is well. I tried that mothers milk tea,it

> was great. Ok

> Well Miss Tea is in need of a car seat. She is about 20 pounds. Does

> anyone have a sugestion on what is good out there?

> Thanx~Shera

>

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[Guest guest]

Shera,

Welcome back sorry about your computer. We have an evenflo 2-n-1 and really

like it. My son is kind of claustrophobic so we needed a really open seat but

it isn't convertible to rear facing. Good luck with your search.

Wendi

Car seats

Hi. I have been gone for about a week or so now. My computer crashed.

So I hope that everyone is well. I tried that mothers milk tea,it

was great. Ok

Well Miss Tea is in need of a car seat. She is about 20 pounds. Does

anyone have a sugestion on what is good out there?

Thanx~Shera

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Sign up for a new email list today

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[Guest guest]

I've heard a lot of people say that there are problems getting some car seats to

fit some cars (and also heard it said in shops). I've experienced trouble

trying to get a rock-a-tot into the back of my car, where the problem seemed to

be seat belt length. Can you enlighten me as to what other problems there might

be? Is it always the length of the belt that's the problem? Which cars are

particularly difficult? DH is toying with replacing his car and if he does so

just after we've bought Tim his first grown-up car seat I don't want him to have

to choose the car based on whether the carseat will fit rather than choosing the

carseat on the basis of what cars we own. Do manufacturers sell replacement

seatbelts of longer lengths?

All experiences welcomed!

Anneliese and chatty little Baby Tim

[Guest guest]

>I've heard a lot of people say that there are problems getting some car

seats to fit some cars (and also heard it said in shops). I've experienced

trouble trying to get a rock-a-tot into the back of my car, where the

problem seemed to be seat belt length. <<

we had this with the Laguna -would only go in the middle(3pt belt) funnily

enough when we came to use the RaT with dd2 it fitted fine!

we have two Britax Club Class Extras which fit fine forward & rear facing in

the Laguna & Corsa, thoough fwd facing in the Corsa it needs the alternative

fixing to avoid buckle/frame touching.

>>Can you enlighten me as to what other problems there might be? Is it

always the length of the belt that's the problem? Which cars are

particularly difficult? DH is toying with replacing his car and if he does

so just after we've bought Tim his first grown-up car seat I don't want him

to have to choose the car based on whether the carseat will fit rather than

choosing the carseat on the basis of what cars we own.<<

i think it is all down to the length of seatbelt -Renault back seat belts

are reputedly shorter than av (according to Britax) that said, all our seats

now fit all ways in the Laguna!

BTW when we bought my car we took along our car seat collection to check!!

>>Do manufacturers sell replacement seatbelts of longer lengths?<<

Retrospectively fitted seat belts are not considered to be as safe as

factory fitted if you can in fact get them, but simply repacing the webbing

i would think is poss (presumably one has to do this after an accident?)

Shirley is the expert on this!!

Angi

both of whose girls would fit by weight into the rock a tot (under 13kg!!)

but you must be joking!!!!

[Guest guest]

In message <002601bfaf7c$6f670050$3a44883e@prime>, Anneliese Handley

writes

>I've heard a lot of people say that there are problems getting some car seats

to

>fit some cars (and also heard it said in shops). I've experienced trouble

>trying to get a rock-a-tot into the back of my car, where the problem seemed to

>be seat belt length. Can you enlighten me as to what other problems there

might

>be? Is it always the length of the belt that's the problem? Which cars are

>particularly difficult? DH is toying with replacing his car and if he does so

>just after we've bought Tim his first grown-up car seat I don't want him to

have

>to choose the car based on whether the carseat will fit rather than choosing

the

>carseat on the basis of what cars we own. Do manufacturers sell replacement

>seatbelts of longer lengths?

>

>All experiences welcomed!

Klippan produce a list of vehicles with known difficulties.

Some local authorities have a service whereby you can try out car seats

in your car before going to buy.

In the past I've always found Halfords to be really good about you

trying seats out before you buy.

RoSPA also used to do loads on this - they published some stuff in

conjunction with Hounslow Borough Council. I'm not sure what RoSPA are

called these days though...

In my experience, the cars with most problems are those with shaped rear

seats (i.e. a 'seat' delineated by a raised cushion). Also, the stiffer

the stuffing, the easier it is to get a snug fit. There's a lot to be

said for cheaper vehicles sometimes...

--

Helen Armfield

who seems to be posting far too often of late...

[Guest guest]

You are right, Annelise, that many car seats do not fit well into many cars.

that is why it is important to try a car seat in your car before you buy.

However you are talking about an existing seat fitting into a new car and

this can sometimes be difficult. My advice would be to get the car and then

if you find the fit is bad (get this checked by a specialist centre if

necessary - contact RoSPA for details) then contact the manufacturers of the

seat you have and buy the appropriate fitting (fixing) kit. This will then

need to be fitted into the new vehicle by an appropriatly qualified person

(a local garage can usually do it).

Many car seats in use are not safely fitted into vehicles which is a tragedy

since the parents are doing everything they can to safely travel with their

children. I have a snippet somewhere (which I can't lay my hands on right

now!) about a RoSPA initiative that set up check centres for this very

purpose. When I have time I will see what current data I can get from RoSPA

but I believe they have a website so there may be some details on there.

This particular initiative was a while ago but I assume that the centres are

still going.

--

>>Do manufacturers sell replacement seatbelts of longer lengths?<<

Angi answered....

Retrospectively fitted seat belts are not considered to be as safe as

factory fitted if you can in fact get them, but simply repacing the webbing

i would think is poss (presumably one has to do this after an accident?)

___

Yes you are right Angi - Retro fitted seatbelts are not as reliable as

factory fitted ones and, in some cases can be lethal. To retro fit seatbelts

safely takes special knowledge and requires structural reinforcement of the

vehicle in some cases.

As far as replaceing the webbing with something longer - I do not know if

this would be safe since the anchorages are designed with the belt supplied

with the vehicle in mind. However I think you should call the vehicle

manufacurers and ask them the question. They may not know without checking

and always ask to be supplied with the safety testing information that is

available to support what they tell you if they say you can do this.

Bottom line - my advice is if an existing child safety seat is going into a

new vehicle check (or have checked by a specialist centre) the fit of the

seat in line with the safety seat manufacturers intructions. If the fit is

not appropriate then contact the seat manufacturers and aquire and have

fitted the appropriate fitting (fixing) kit.

HTH and Good luck

Shirley

Branch Chair, Newsletter Editor (Chepstow & Caldicot)

Area E Representative Region 3

Branch web-site: http://www.nct-chepstow.freeserve.co.uk

Family web-site: http://www.btinternet.com/~shirleyparsley

[Guest guest]

Does anyone know what age a child has to be before they are allowed to be

in the front seat of a car (apart from babies in car seats of course).

Lesley

Chair/ANT Worthing NCT Branch

Mum to Emma 8, Kieran 4 and Carys 21m

" Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose "

>

> In my experience, the cars with most problems are those with shaped rear

> seats (i.e. a 'seat' delineated by a raised cushion). Also, the stiffer

> the stuffing, the easier it is to get a snug fit. There's a lot to be

> said for cheaper vehicles sometimes...

>

>

> --

> Helen Armfield

> who seems to be posting far too often of late...

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Try this site:

http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/highways/fit_01.htm

I understand that the actual law is very vague. The advice is usually to

keep the children in the back seat as long as poss, especially with the risk

air bags pose to small people.

Joyce

Visit our photo album:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=170356 & a=1767840

[Guest guest]

There is no hard and fast law regarding the age of children in front seats. All

the law states is that " children under three years of age travelling in the

front seat must be in an appropriate child restraint " . Children aged 3 to 11

and under 1.5 metres in height must use an appropriate child restraint if

available, or an adult seat belt must be worn. Over 12 or over 1.5 metres,

adult seat belt must be worn if available. In all cases, it is the driver's

responsibility to ensure that the child is appropriately restrained.

HTH

Alison

Chair, Maidstone branch and PNDL trainee

Does anyone know what age a child has to be before they are allowed to be

in the front seat of a car (apart from babies in car seats of course).

Lesley

[Guest guest]

There is no hard and fast law regarding the age of children in front seats. All

the law states is that " children under three years of age travelling in the

front seat must be in an appropriate child restraint " . Children aged 3 to 11

and under 1.5 metres in height must use an appropriate child restraint if

available, or an adult seat belt must be worn. Over 12 or over 1.5 metres,

adult seat belt must be worn if available. In all cases, it is the driver's

responsibility to ensure that the child is appropriately restrained.

HTH

Alison

Chair, Maidstone branch and PNDL trainee

Does anyone know what age a child has to be before they are allowed to be

in the front seat of a car (apart from babies in car seats of course).

Lesley

[Guest guest]

There is no hard and fast law regarding the age of children in front seats. All

the law states is that " children under three years of age travelling in the

front seat must be in an appropriate child restraint " . Children aged 3 to 11

and under 1.5 metres in height must use an appropriate child restraint if

available, or an adult seat belt must be worn. Over 12 or over 1.5 metres,

adult seat belt must be worn if available. In all cases, it is the driver's

responsibility to ensure that the child is appropriately restrained.

HTH

Alison

Chair, Maidstone branch and PNDL trainee

Does anyone know what age a child has to be before they are allowed to be

in the front seat of a car (apart from babies in car seats of course).

Lesley

[Guest guest]

Not really car seats but does anyone know how I go about getting my airbag

disabled?

I have a Peugeot 806 and our local dealer says they aren't allowed to do

anything with the specification of the car and won't even tell DH if it can

be done.

SAHM 5, Olivia 2, 1, 15.3.00

Editor Wallingford and District.

[Guest guest]

In message

, Lesley writes

>Does anyone know what age a child has to be before they are allowed to be

>in the front seat of a car (apart from babies in car seats of course).

Appropriately restrained, at any age. Will need to be a full booster

(back and seat together, not detachable) to meet the requirements of the

law.

In just a seat belt - 12 years is the law, unless there are no seat

belts in the back in which case the child should sit in the front and

any extra adults (other than the driver) behind.

The law is rather woolly on if there is more than one child but *seems*

to be that the youngest child should be restrained in the front (in an

appropriate device) and the rest should ride in the back. However, our

local traffic police regularly stop cars with unrestrained children in

the back - drivers are given warnings where belts are not being used,

and are told about the need for appropriate restraints for those under

12. They are also reminded that in an accident they would not be

adequately insured if they had minors (under 18) unrestrained where

restraints were available. After you are 18 it is up to you whether you

where a belt as a *back seat* passenger, but many policies still require

the driver to have ensured that all are belted-up for them and their

vehicle to be fully covered.

There is also a maximum limit for vehicle capacity - one per defined

seat, so it is against the law to put more than 3 children (of any

age/size) in the back of a standard car.

--

Helen Armfield

[Guest guest]

In message , JMcc@... writes

>Peugeot 806 and our local dealer says they aren't allowed to do

>anything with the specification of the car

Get him to ring Peugeot with you there...

Worked with DH company 206.

--

Helen Armfield

[Guest guest]

I inquired about having this done to our Seat Alhambra just before

Hannah was born. The dealer was happy to disable the air bags and

charge me £35 for the job. They said that they would have to

label

the car (somehow) so that if it were sold, the new owners would know.

We didn't get it done, because by the time Hannah came along we knew

we'd be moving overseas and selling the car.

In the end, I'm glad I didn't have it done - it doesn't seem right to

me now to disable a safety feature, and it really isn't a hassle

strapping her into the back seat. She can nearly always see another

child, and they can keep an eye on her.

> Not really car seats but does anyone know how I go about getting my

airbag

> disabled?

[Guest guest]

Any advice on seating children in a motorcaravan? My parents have

just changed theirs with being able to transport their grandchildren

too, it has seat belts on the back seating area 9we are talking

somethign a good deal bigger than a Dormobile here - we call it the

monstervan. Our current arrangement is a Britax Excel (9kg son - yes,

grown out of his 13kg Rockatot) and a Britax Ranger (14kg son). I

haven't seen the exact configuration yet, but have already pointed

out that cushions are not suitable boosters.

--

Vaudin

jennifer@...

[Guest guest]

Any advice on seating children in a motorcaravan? My parents have

just changed theirs with being able to transport their grandchildren

too, it has seat belts on the back seating area 9we are talking

somethign a good deal bigger than a Dormobile here - we call it the

monstervan. Our current arrangement is a Britax Excel (9kg son - yes,

grown out of his 13kg Rockatot) and a Britax Ranger (14kg son). I

haven't seen the exact configuration yet, but have already pointed

out that cushions are not suitable boosters.

--

Vaudin

jennifer@...

[Guest guest]

wrote >>Not really car seats but does anyone know how I go about

getting my airbag

disabled? I have a Peugeot 806 and our local dealer says they aren't allowed

to do

anything with the specification of the car and won't even tell DH if it can

be done.<<

--

We have recently changed our 806 so I don't know the answer but I would

think that Peugeot UK HQ should be your first port of call with this query.

If it cannot be disabled can it be removed??

Please let me know when you have an answer as I can add it to my file of

information.

Shirley

Branch Chair, Newsletter Editor (Chepstow & Caldicot)

Area E Representative Region 3

Branch web-site: http://www.nct-chepstow.freeserve.co.uk

Family web-site: http://www.btinternet.com/~shirleyparsley

[Guest guest]

Helen said.........However, our local traffic police regularly stop cars

with unrestrained children in

the back -

-------

I'm glad someone takes this seriously as the police here don't seem to

bother. I recently saw a mum with a baby of about 18mths on her lap in the

front and a boy of about 3 standing in the back.

Lesley

[Guest guest]

Shirley wrote:

>Many car seats in use are not safely fitted into vehicles which is a tragedy

>since the parents are doing everything they can to safely travel with their

>children. I have a snippet somewhere (which I can't lay my hands on right

>now!) about a RoSPA initiative that set up check centres for this very

>purpose.

I am sure RoSPA try very hard to gather info correctly and their own

check centres may be great at this, however I was very disappointed when

stopped by the police last year to take part in a similar survey.

The police officer and a nurse were doing the survey. They asked me the

age of my child and the type of car seat she was using. It was a Britax

Club Class (extra?). They marked it as infant carrier on their form and

I pointed out this was wrong. Perhaps not significant except that she

was way over the limit for any infant carrier and the seat was forward

facing. If the people collating the information are not fully aware of

the different types of seat available, then the stats they gather are

useless.

I got full marks and a brownie point for being the only person they'd

questioned who know what buckle-crunching was. Steffi got a colouring

book and sticker!

--

Sue

Chair and Membership Secretary, Nottingham Branch

Area A Rep, Region 6

[Guest guest]

Sue Woollett wrote:

>

>

> I got full marks and a brownie point for being the only person they'd

> questioned who know what buckle-crunching was.

So what is it?

[Guest guest]

Sue Woollett wrote:

>

>

> I got full marks and a brownie point for being the only person they'd

> questioned who know what buckle-crunching was.

So what is it?

[Guest guest]

I heard a news item about a baby in Germany(?) being killed by an airbag

which was supposed to have been disabled so better to put children in the

back if at all possible I think.

Cerys Byrne

Basingstoke Branch Chairman, Membership Secretary & Exp Reg holder

Mum to 1/12/95 & Kieran 31/12/98

> Not really car seats but does anyone know how I go about getting my

airbag

> disabled?

[Guest guest]

I heard a news item about a baby in Germany(?) being killed by an airbag

which was supposed to have been disabled so better to put children in the

back if at all possible I think.

Cerys Byrne

Basingstoke Branch Chairman, Membership Secretary & Exp Reg holder

Mum to 1/12/95 & Kieran 31/12/98

> Not really car seats but does anyone know how I go about getting my

airbag

> disabled?

[Guest guest]

said.........Any advice on seating children in a motorcaravan?

Assuming it has the same type seatbelts as a car, the Britax Super Cruiser

is a good seat for second car use. It is lightweight and lasts up to the

age of six [25kilo] Drawback is that it doesn't recline but there are

devices around for steadying heads and necks whilst asleep which you could

buy as well.

Lesley