[Bugged]

Well, we're headed to the UK to come home in September.

In other words we're coming to the UK to sail on the Queen Mary 2 from Southampton to New York in September....

Anyway, we'll be traveling with our son who will be 13 months old at the time. What are the rules for him and car safety seats in the UK?

[MoonPie]

good question! and lmao@ your sig, how true, did P make you write that?

[Paul]

I know you have to have them on the inside of the car, strapped to a roof rack or bonnet etc are not good enough, and also, the boot/trunk, despite being 'inside' is still frownd upon.



Are you hiring a car while your here then?

[Bugged]

We haven't figured it out just yet. If we come out there the week before the ship leaves we probably will rent a car. But then again we haven't exactly figured out where we'd be staying if we came out the week before.

If we come out the week before we were talking about staying at a timeshare resort. Maybe sharing a canal boat with MP and MM?? Assuming they'd come of course....

We should know more around the first of the year I think....

However, even if we don't come the week before, I have no idea how we're supposed to get from London to Southampton. All I know is that Cunard is responsible for that part. Is there a train, or do you think we'd be going by motorcoach?

[dietcokeplease]

Quote: Originally Posted by MoonPie

good question!

Why is it a good question EmmPee? Are you expecting?

Basically the rules are roughly the same as the US:

No rear-facing seat in the front passenger seat with an airbag.

And the rest depends on the weight of your child. If he/she is under 9mths+, 9kg/20lb and uses a rear-facing child seat then it is likely that you'll need to bring your own.

Assuming your child is of normal weight then you can reserve child seats from car rental agencies. You need to reserve in advance because seats are limited and to be honest they are normally the cheapest nastiest seats possible - although they do their job.

[Rakey]

Oh good, something baby related, my specialist subject

Securing your child
Securing your child into the car seat correctly is also of paramount importance. Again here’s an important check list.

Secure your child properly for every journey, no matter how short.
Adjust the harness every time, so that one or two fingers only can be inserted between the child and the harness.
Position the harness buckle low over the hips, not over the stomach.
The diagonal seat-belt should rest on the child’s shoulder, not the neck.
Never modify the seat harness or buckles as this may affect the quick release mechanism.
Remember some children are more suited to a harness style seat than a booster seat.




SUMMARY OF THE LAW.
Front Seat Rear Seat Responsibility
Driver Seat-belt must be used if fitted. Driver
Child under 3 years of age Appropriate child restraint must be used. Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. Driver
Child aged 3 to 11 and under 1.5m (approx. 5ft) in height. Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not, an adult seat-belt must be used. Appropriate child restraint must be used if available. If not, an adult seat-belt must be used if available. Driver
Child aged 12 or 13 or younger child 1.5m (approx. 5ft) or more in height Adult seat-belt must be used if available. Adult seat-belt must be used if available. Driver
Adult passenger (from 14 years) Seat-belt must be used if available. Seat-belt must be used if available Passenger


Important: failure to comply with the law could result in prosecution and could affect insurance cover. Remember the driver has responsibility for other passengers under 14 years and the careful stowage of luggage and loose items.

If you have any further questions about choosing and fitting a child car seat, or indeed you’d like advice on which Britax seat best meets your needs please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service Helpline on 01264 386034.

[Bugged]

He should be just out of a rear facing seat by the time we take the trip.

It sounds like the seat we're about to get (he's grown out of the infant seat, so we're going to buy a convertible one this weekend) should be fine. I figured we'd be traveling with a car seat, however I just wanted to make sure the laws weren't too different from the US.

Do you guys have LATCH mounts in the back seats? In the US all new cars built after 2002 need to be LATCH compatible. Basicly LATCH is two brackets at the joint of each back seat, the child seat just snaps onto them. I believe they are also called isofix?

[Rakey]

Thats is not in all cars here, its an option here still, but if you enquire with the hire company they should be able to give you ISOFIX on the hire car if you request it, but not sure if it is that same as the US system (as in the same distance between mounting points).

But if not you can pick up a seat in the UK for your time here, have a look on www.mothercare.com they have some basic seats at resonable prices might save the hassle and risk of damage to your seat you use at home during transportation.

[dietcokeplease]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey

Thats is not in all cars here, its an option here still, but if you enquire with the hire company they should be able to give you ISOFIX on the hire car if you request it, but not sure if it is that same as the US system (as in the same distance between mounting points).

Latch is just the fancy gimmicky marketing name in the US for ISOFIX. The whole principle of ISOFIX is the ISO part - International Standardisation Organisation. That said, you can be sure that Uncle Sam may do things differently.

Edit: Latch/ISOFIX is still an option on many UK cars.

[Rakey]

ISOFIX is still very over rated in my opinion and has taken the nursery industry ages to move anywhere on it as all the car manufacturers were all doing it in their own kind of way and trying to stop other people from making carseats that could use their systems. Main reason being is that a seat that is fixed correctly using a lap and diagonal belt gives just as good a fit, the main thing that ISOFIX gives is it makes it more idiot proof, as most carseats are actually fitted incorrectly in the UK.

But it is slowly growing and becoming more main stream, I guess maybe in 10 years or so all cars will have it as standard, but it will take time over here as both industries move so slow.....

but hey thats all my views from working in the nursery industry

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey

Main reason being is that a seat that is fixed correctly using a lap and diagonal belt gives just as good a fit, the main thing that ISOFIX gives is it makes it more idiot proof, as most carseats are actually fitted incorrectly in the UK.

Idiot proofery is our reason, I'd hate to have an incident and Alfie come to harm because we didn't get the belt on quite right. Our MINI ISOFIX seat fits the standard Volvo XC-90 ISOFIX latches perfectly too. For when he wants to go cruising in his Grandads drug dealer machine (blacked out rear windows!).

[Rakey]

PMSL gangsta Volvo

so where you been all day then Paul??? We noticed you were out, and very quiet the last couple of days. You haven't been testing anything have you?

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rakey

PMSL gangsta Volvo

so where you been all day then Paul??? We noticed you were out, and very quiet the last couple of days. You haven't been testing anything have you?

You don't want to know, nothing MINI related sadly.

[dietcokeplease]

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul Mullett

You don't want to know, nothing MINI related sadly.

Volvo2.com for todays parents.

[Bugged]

There is the same problem in the US, most child safety seats are improperly installed here too.

There was a study done earlier this year, that said that people were having problems following the installation instructions, even the the manufacturers were writing them at a nineth grade level!!

When we got our current seats I installed them myself and then brought them to a safety check being conducted by our local PD. The officer who checked our car said that I was only the second person out of the 40 checks she had done that day to install the seat correctly. She then proceeded to pull the seat out and re-install it.

The problem I have with LATCH (as mandated in the US) is that it works better in some cars than others. It's great in the MINI. It's got nice stiff seats so it's a piece of cake to level and tighten down the car seat base so the seat won't move. Our Subaru Outback wagon on the other hand UURRRGG!! The seats are all squishy, it's impossible to get the rear facing seat tightened down and level using the LATCH restraints. It simply can't be done.