Booster Seats (again)

[Tripps]

Having popped into Halfords yesterday to pick up a booster for my eldest (almost 3) to go behind myself (not tall but laid back driving position) I hit upon a number of problems beyond the appaling taste in cars the occupants of the store had:

• Boosters will no longer be sold soon as new legislation to make child seats compulsory will make them illegal

• Even worse none of the three models they sell would fit behind my seat, well they would, if my daughter had no legs!

So I guess I now need to look at sitting her in the standard seat and just padding her a little, I've got a seatbelt adjuster so the belt won't strangle her so I reasonably happy with the situation.

Does anybody else do this or have any other solutions that don't involve removing chunks of mine or my daughter's legs?

[FourWheelDrift]

Tripps said:

Boosters will no longer be sold soon as new legislation to make child seats compulsory will make them illegal

Surely that's complete balls or someone in the Government's Ministry of Morons hasn't thought it through properly (as usual). What about older cars that don't have them fitted as standard, I guess not being able to buy a booster means a young child will just have to be loosely belted in the rear then, very safe I don't think.

Where did you hear about this, from the shop?

[Tripps]

FourWheelDrift said:

Surely that's complete balls or someone in the Government's Ministry of Morons hasn't thought it through properly (as usual). What about older cars that don't have them fitted as standard, I guess not being able to buy a booster means a young child will just have to be loosely belted in the rear then, very safe I don't think. Where did you hear about this, from the shop?

It was from Halfrauds yes, but the chap is their trained chidl-seat fitter and assistant manager, so is slightly brighter than the rest of them and I know new legislation is coming in so kinda beleive him, especially when he said they'll no longer stock booster seats.

He said they were now recommeneding backed seats, like the latest version of the Recaro Start I already have fitted - all very good on larger cars, but the 3-4 inches the back adds come out of a childs leg space...

What about the various cars that have pop-up booster seats, does using the manufactuer fitted and tested seats suddently become illegal?

[Tripps]

However - looking at their sites both Graco and Britax have new models of booster seats

They have however moved up the starting ages and weights thouggh, as I'm sure they were OK for 3+ years last year...

Britax said:

15kg to 36kg (approximately 4 to 11 years)

Graco said:

Suitable for Group 3: 22-35 kgs (around 5 - 11 years)

[Mrs BlueCerbera]

Tripps,

I have the Recaro Start too, which my 2.5 year old uses with his legs stuck either side of my ears.

My eldest son has just turned 4, but was 3.5 when we got the car. There is no way he would have fitted behind either of us in the Recaro seat. He uses the seat belt adjuster thing and no other padding. He is very comfortable like that. I believe he is safe and am happy to transport him this way. Although if anyone knows any different I'll happily listen.

Penny

[Tripps]

Mrs BlueCerbera said:

My eldest son has just turned 4, but was 3.5 when we got the car. There is no way he would have fitted behind either of us in the Recaro seat. He uses the seat belt adjuster thing and no other padding. He is very comfortable like that. I believe he is safe and am happy to transport him this way. Although if anyone knows any different I'll happily listen.

I think I'll have to give our eldest a trial fitting behind me then and see how well she fills the seat up, not as well as Podie I'll wager

[FourWheelDrift]

I suppose there's always the boot

[beano500]

Tripps said:

... for my eldest (almost 3 - not tall but laid back driving position)

I don't think you want to encourage him with a laid back driving position...