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Booster seats in cars

(14 Posts)
mollie Wed 11-Nov-15 12:13:43

My gd is almost five and at school. Its possible I may need to collect her unexpectedly and I'm wondering about not having a booster seat. She grew out of her last car seat and as I so rarely have her in my car I haven't replaced it. She's tall for her age so I wondered when it would be OK to just use a big cushion and the seatbelt?

harrigran Wed 11-Nov-15 12:19:17

Mine are big enough to use booster seats but I still have two proper iso fix seats with protective sides. I would never put GC at risk, they are way too precious.

mollie Wed 11-Nov-15 12:32:03

Totally agree but I was wondering about emergency situations. Normally I use a seat from one of her parents cars but what if I can't get hold of one? What happens in taxis?

kittylester Wed 11-Nov-15 12:34:52

Boosters aren't that expensive I don't think. I have one in my car but it will be used for all 6 DGC eventually so I suppose the 'bang per buck' is quite good.

Falconbird Wed 11-Nov-15 12:57:16

I have been in a taxi on a number of occasions with my grandchildren using
booster seats.

The taxi drivers have always been extremely helpful and have given me a hand with the seats as I have a bad back.

mollie Wed 11-Nov-15 13:24:30

Do taxis have booster seats or were they yours falconbird?

shysal Wed 11-Nov-15 13:26:53

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Childs-Car-Van-Booster-Seat-Polystyrene-15-36kgs-Boy-Girl-/301227592948?var=&hash=item4622904cf4:m:mqtcS5jb6c8dIaD9X-QeXnw
Booster seats can be so cheap, there is no excuse for not having one/some in grandparents' cars. I had 3 of them, which I donated to their schools for trips when they were no longer required.

Greyduster Wed 11-Nov-15 13:36:18

GS (nearly nine) has just moved to a booster seat, in both his parents' car and in ours - they aren't expensive. You can get a decent one from Halfords for about fourteen pounds. I have, however, kept his isofix last stage car seat in case we have to do a longer journey than to and from school. Getting him into it now will be another matter - apparently it is not "cool" to travel in a car seat! He gets to travel in his father's two seater occasionally and therefore thinks he can sit in any front seat. He can think again! The sad thing is that once you've finished with a car seat, you have the Devils own job to get rid of it. Charity shops won't take them.

mollie Wed 11-Nov-15 15:46:23

I've now bought one so it's just an academic question, but what about taxis or emergencies?

rubysong Wed 11-Nov-15 15:50:35

We had a "Bubblebum" inflatable booster seat for DGS (before they emigrated). It didn't take up too much space inflated or deflated and it complied with the legalities.

mollie Wed 11-Nov-15 16:23:40

Actually, that's a good point Shysal, what happens on school trips in mini-buses? Sorry to be obsessive but when kids were young seat belts weren't law so this is all new to me...

shysal Wed 11-Nov-15 16:24:00

I am pretty sure that at least some taxis carry booster seats.

Greyduster Wed 11-Nov-15 16:41:21

By law you don't need a car seat or booster seat in a taxi or minicab; a child over three can use an adult seat belt. You can make emergency or necessary short journeys without using a seat also, if you don't have one. The child can use an adult seat belt. In my own car I would always use a booster or seat regardless of how short the journey, as you don't know how it would affect your insurance if anything happened.

mollie Wed 11-Nov-15 17:12:03

Thanks, Greyduster, I just wanted to know for emergencies etc. I've always used a proper seat or a booster but wondered 'what if?'.