Child seat confusion

[Buckman]

Our "adopted" daughter will be visiting the UK next month along with her 5 year old son. She may be hiring a car or borrowing our 1996 Corolla. We are unsure about the child seat requirement as to carry one on the plane and then fit it into either the hire car or our car could be an issue.

Reading up on it, a government website states "A child aged 3 or older can travel in a back seat without a child car seat and without a seat belt if the vehicle doesn’t have one" which is confusing. The child is always restrained with seat belts and will be in the rear.

In addition only an EU-approved car seat can be used in the UK. Those approved outside of the EU can't be used in the UK, and EU-approved seats can't be used in other countries, such as the US. She is from outside the EU and UK.

Can anyone enlighten us please? Thanks.

 

[Hutch]

If a car such as an old 1950 Ford or Humber were built without seat belts and not retrofitted the child can travel in a rear seat,
As for the child seat , go to Halfords and see their child seat range.

 

[Buckman]

If a car such as an old 1950 Ford or Humber were built without seat belts and not retrofitted the child can travel in a rear seat,
As for the child seat , go to Halfords and see their child seat range.

She has a car seat in her home country so it will mean dumping any bought over here before returning home. Sadly the exchange rate is very poor at the moment at nearly R24 to the £1 due to inflation when originally it was was R2 - R4 to the £1.

However can you put a price on a life?

 

[otherclive]

Dies the Corolla have rear belts. At 1996 it must have. Most car seats we have used since our grandson was born in 1992 then granddaughter in 2007 were fitted using the rear seat belts. Although if the car had Isofix attachment point they would be used in preference.

Coming from outside the UK or EU doesn’t make any difference unless she brings a seat with her, then it must carry the CE EU approval.

It’s quite straightforward here’s a Whiich link

Child car seat laws in the UK: Which? advice - Which?

Find out when you have to use a baby or child car seat, and the penalties you face if you don't and are caught

www.which.co.uk

 

[Buckman]

Corolla has rear seats belts. I think it is the way the government website states in what is obviously poor grammar "A child aged 3 or older can travel in a back seat without a child car seat and without a seat belt if the vehicle doesn’t have one". reading it gave us the impression that if there was no car seat in the vehicle they can travel in it. It should have stated that if the vehicles does not have seat belts in the rear or fixing points.

Just seems sad that even if she did bring the car seat with her that is approved in her home country, it may not be able to be used in the UK although it may come out the same door as the EU approved version and is identical. Apparently most airlines allow the car seats free.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Always plenty of child car seats on ebay and Facebook market place.
Buy from one for her visit and resell it after she has gone back!
Simples !

 

[Sam Vimes]

Always plenty of child car seats on ebay and Facebook market place.
Buy from one for her visit and resell it after she has gone back!
Simples !

I would certainly not buy a used one. You'll have no real idea of what it's been through.

When we needed one for our grandson we went Mothercare for advice and they would try various types in the car to determine the best fit.

We'd already done research into what appeared to be the best types. Best to get one that's going to cover a wide age range because they seem to grow quickly.

If I recall height and weight are contributing factors as to whether or not a child seat is needed.

 

[Sam Vimes]

If you're interested this is what we bought. Britax Romer - box of Lego not included. He was under 5 when we first put him in it and he's now 8 and there's still room for him to grow.

 

[Mel]

When we went to the USA you could hirea child seat along with the hire car. No idea if you can do this in the UK as have never tried.
At 5 a booster seat will do the job. They are effectively just made of plastic and serve to give the child sufficient height so they can wear a seat belt. Not really the same as seats for babies and toddlers. It would be easy to ascertain if a second hand one was sound.
Mel

 

[Buckman]

Thanks all. I have contacted her and advised on the options offered as above. On arrival she is staying in London for the night so may hire a car to get to get to West Midlands and hopefully a child seat will be provided.

Obviously she cannot leave the child alone while she shops for child seat, but she needs to get to a shop. I will see what she decides over the next few days.

 

[ProfJohnL]

With questions like this , i'm certain the OP should be better consulting a website put up by a reputable and traceable organisation rather than asking for advice from an anonymised forum where you can get inaccurate views and some deliberately misleading posts

Id suggest you try the RAC here

 

[otherclive]

I would certainly not buy a used one. You'll have no real idea of what it's been through.

When we needed one for our grandson we went Mothercare for advice and they would try various types in the car to determine the best fit.

We'd already done research into what appeared to be the best types. Best to get one that's going to cover a wide age range because they seem to grow quickly.

If I recall height and weight are contributing factors as to whether or not a child seat is needed.

The WHICH article in my post 4 discusses the pros and cons of weight versus height, as children grow at different rates. My choice would be a new one, which can have growth potential and could be used if the child comes to visit again. We always used specialist seat retailers as they had the widest range and like you gave us the chance to try them.

 

[Dustydog]

My gran daughters are 5&7. Both now use a booster seat and the cars seat belts.All safe and above board as described by Mel.Over 40 years ago my kids had child seats all “approved” . Carrying one on a plane seems an unnecessary burden.. Plenty used ones available if you really want one . The Laws have been so strict the last 40 years I doubt you will be able to find a non compliant one. Always check all the straps for wear on a used one.

I hope my post is not considered a “deliberately misleading post”?🤪

 

[GaryB]

When our daughter was younger we also followed the "must buy new" mantra, believing that buying second hand was akin to buying a second hand toothbrush. However, some child equipment really is so basic and simple that there is little that can wear/go wrong with GOOD cared for used items. Straps and buckles can easily be checked for wear and the main materials are often moulded foam which is very robust.

We're all different and free to do as we please, but my own personal take now is that I would consider good second hand child equipment.

 

[Parksy]

With questions like this , i'm certain the OP should be better consulting a website put up by a reputable and traceable organisation rather than asking for advice from an anonymised forum where you can get inaccurate views and some deliberately misleading posts

Id suggest you try the RAC here

There's nothing wrong with asking for advice on this forum as well as consulting an authoritative website Prof.
I'm not sure if you set out to insult forum members with your odd suggestion that deliberately misleading posts would be submitted in relation to a child's seat?

 

[ProfJohnL]

There's nothing wrong with asking for advice on this forum as well as consulting an authoritative website Prof.
I'm not sure if you set out to insult forum members with your odd suggestion that deliberately misleading posts would be submitted in relation to a child's seat?

Firstly, If anyone was upset by my comment I apologise.

Secondly Buckman had asked for the legal position of child seats. and becasue it was a specific request about legality, comments on an anonymised forum is not safe place to take legal advice, becasue we have seen comments in past threads on this forum which have suggested a legal positions on other subjects, which were wrong (either through ignorance or malice). It makes more sence to seek specific legal advice from proven reliable sources.

Thirdly, I did not suggest that inaccurate information would be posted, just that its not unknown of inaccurate information to be given.

 

[Parksy]

Firstly, If anyone was upset by my comment I apologise.

Secondly Buckman had asked for the legal position of child seats. and becasue it was a specific request about legality, comments on an anonymised forum is not safe place to take legal advice, becasue we have seen comments in past threads on this forum which have suggested a legal positions on other subjects, which were wrong (either through ignorance or malice). It makes more sence to seek specific legal advice from proven reliable sources.

Thirdly, I did not suggest that inaccurate information would be posted, just that its not unknown of inaccurate information to be given.

Firstly, it's for the person making enquiries to judge the accuracy of any information given on this forum.
Secondly, people are being upset and annoyed when high handed condescending comments are posted in response to genuine enquiries, and they report this fact to moderators.
Thirdly, you wrote:
"......asking for advice from an anonymised forum where you can get inaccurate views and some deliberately misleading posts"
Deliberately misleading?
Really?

 

[Buckman]

The WHICH article in my post 4 discusses the pros and cons of weight versus height, as children grow at different rates. My choice would be a new one, which can have growth potential and could be used if the child comes to visit again. We always used specialist seat retailers as they had the widest range and like you gave us the chance to try them.

I doubt if he wil grow much in the 3 weeks that they are visiting the UK, but get your point. All our own grandchildren are over 12 years of age. LOL!