Young children, car seats and seat belts

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Wed 29 Apr 2015 14:43
Young children, car seats and seat belts - Wardlows

I wonder if anyone can clarify this situation.

We have a nearly 4 year old grandaughter, who uses a child's car seat. The original straps are now too short for her so we secure her into the seat using the standard seat belt.

Is this legal?

Thanks.

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Wed 29 Apr 2015 15:19
Young children, car seats and seat belts - daveyjp

It depends which group of car seat it is. Most car seats suitable for larger children have slots to accommodate a normal seat belt.

Check the instructions and feed the belt correctly if they are provided.

The belt needs to fit snugly across the chest, not across the neck.

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Wed 29 Apr 2015 19:16
Young children, car seats and seat belts - Brian Tryzers
Doesn't sound good to me. There are boosters with backs and head restraints for children too big for Group 1 but not ready for a base-only booster. These have guides for both portions of the seat belt but I've never seen one with its own straps too; where would they go when not fastened?

My children are nearing their teens now, so I may be out of date, but what the OP describes sounds like an improvised solution that won't guide the belt safely away from the child's neck and internal organs as a booster must do.

Might be better to look here:
www.rospa.com/road-safety/resources/free/parents/c.../

We're just blokes on the internet.

Edited by Brian Tryzers on 29/04/2015 at 19:23

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Wed 29 Apr 2015 20:33
Young children, car seats and seat belts - dan86

With two young children one nearly the same age as your granddaughter I know a bit about car seats and the pain they are to fit. If it like the one my daughter has then the straps can be removed and it can be used as a high back booster witch has the guides for the seat belt. It sounds like it is the type you are describing as otherwise you would be able to tell just by looking if it wasn't. Hope that is helpful.

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Wed 29 Apr 2015 21:19
Young children, car seats and seat belts - alan1302

Is this legal?

Thanks.

I'd want to know if it was safe first :-)

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Thu 30 Apr 2015 09:06
Young children, car seats and seat belts - dan86

As long as the car seat is designed to be used like that it will be safe.

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Thu 30 Apr 2015 09:34
Young children, car seats and seat belts - Bromptonaut

From description of belts being too short it sounds like a seat designed for a younger child. Unless it's designed to be used with an adult belt, ie with guides to keep lap belt below child's abdomen and diagonal belt off neck it's probably unsafe.

Depending on the child's weight they may be able to use a simple booster cushion which will be quite cheap.

The law is set out on the .gov website:

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

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Thu 30 Apr 2015 10:42
Young children, car seats and seat belts - Ian D
Look on the side or rear of the seat and tell us the exact make and model and we will be able to help, otherwise it will be speculation/ guesswork.

Edited by Ian D on 30/04/2015 at 10:43

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Mon 4 May 2015 17:14
Young children, car seats and seat belts - grumpyscot

Personally, if I was in doubt, I'd buy her a seat designed for her age. Cost just doesn't come into it where kids are concerned.

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