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OT - Child car seats
I have been trying to check out the various regulations on children in
cars for our trip down I-95 and am now very confused. Over here in the UK both boys (aged 4yo and 6yo) use child seats (made from polystyrene with a fabric cover - hence light enough to bring as baggage) that use the adult seatbelts rather than an integral 3 or 5 point harness. Are these seats legal in the US and particularly in the states that I-95 runs through. I have looked at various sites on the internet and have come away even more confused.... Can somebody help me, please? Lizzy PS Both boys are miniature Houdinis and would be most put out by going back into what they would see as "baby" seats so would almost certainly undo the buckles and be out in very short order. -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
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#2
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I have two children as well - a 20 month old and a 6 year old. The 6 year
old now rides in the backseat without a car seat, since our pediatrician said he didn't need one anymore. He is tall enough that the seat belts fit him properly without the booster we were using. He also couldn't unfasten the booster to get out while being dropped off at school, and was quite embarassed for his friends to see him in a car seat. The younger child has a large seat with the 5 point harness, and he needs it, since he tries to get out constantly. I don't think there are actual regulations on what kinds of seats to use for older children. I see so many parents down here (central Florida, just off of I-95) without any restraints on their children, that I am sure your seats will be fine. Don't plan on renting them from a rental car company, either, as what they gave us last year was filthy and broken. If you think your children will be safe in the seats you currently own, then you should be fine. You won't get pulled over by police for your safety seats, anyway. That would be an additional fine tacked on after you were pulled over for some other traffic violation. I hope this helps, and that I don't start a flame war. In my opinion, as an uptight mom, the largest problem with car seats is that people don't use them. Drivers down here are completely without regard for other people's safety, even their own children. Jennifer in Florida "Lizzy Taylor" wrote in message .. . I have been trying to check out the various regulations on children in cars for our trip down I-95 and am now very confused. Over here in the UK both boys (aged 4yo and 6yo) use child seats (made from polystyrene with a fabric cover - hence light enough to bring as baggage) that use the adult seatbelts rather than an integral 3 or 5 point harness. Are these seats legal in the US and particularly in the states that I-95 runs through. I have looked at various sites on the internet and have come away even more confused.... Can somebody help me, please? Lizzy PS Both boys are miniature Houdinis and would be most put out by going back into what they would see as "baby" seats so would almost certainly undo the buckles and be out in very short order. -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
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#4
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The worst is when the kid is in the front passenger side
on the lap of an adult. It is like they use the kid as an air bag. They do have stops set up here sometimes in CA for checking. Like DUI check points. Here it is the law to wear seatbelts too. Can be over $100 for an adult not wearing a seat belt and each person in the car is written up as a separate ticket to the driver. As long as your childen are restrained I doubt the authorities would squabble about the seat itself. I would think car rental companies have seats available for the area standards. Taria JS wrote: I have two children as well - a 20 month old and a 6 year old. The 6 year old now rides in the backseat without a car seat, since our pediatrician said he didn't need one anymore. He is tall enough that the seat belts fit him properly without the booster we were using. He also couldn't unfasten the booster to get out while being dropped off at school, and was quite embarassed for his friends to see him in a car seat. The younger child has a large seat with the 5 point harness, and he needs it, since he tries to get out constantly. I don't think there are actual regulations on what kinds of seats to use for older children. I see so many parents down here (central Florida, just off of I-95) without any restraints on their children, that I am sure your seats will be fine. Don't plan on renting them from a rental car company, either, as what they gave us last year was filthy and broken. If you think your children will be safe in the seats you currently own, then you should be fine. You won't get pulled over by police for your safety seats, anyway. That would be an additional fine tacked on after you were pulled over for some other traffic violation. I hope this helps, and that I don't start a flame war. In my opinion, as an uptight mom, the largest problem with car seats is that people don't use them. Drivers down here are completely without regard for other people's safety, even their own children. Jennifer in Florida |
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I believe that at those ages - car seats are optional....what you have
should be good even if they aren't. I have seen those sorts of car seats used with older children. I believe that the states that do have seat laws for older children go by weight and size (if they are too small for an adult car seat to be safe they should be in a booster) Here is a link...it shows ages and has links to each state. I think what you describe would be considered a booster seat... http://www.inventiveparent.com/state-laws.htm Hope that helps Roberta (in Md) "Lizzy Taylor" wrote in message .. . I have been trying to check out the various regulations on children in cars for our trip down I-95 and am now very confused. Over here in the UK both boys (aged 4yo and 6yo) use child seats (made from polystyrene with a fabric cover - hence light enough to bring as baggage) that use the adult seatbelts rather than an integral 3 or 5 point harness. Are these seats legal in the US and particularly in the states that I-95 runs through. I have looked at various sites on the internet and have come away even more confused.... Can somebody help me, please? Lizzy PS Both boys are miniature Houdinis and would be most put out by going back into what they would see as "baby" seats so would almost certainly undo the buckles and be out in very short order. -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
#6
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Mosiacquilter wrote:
Is this one of the sites you looked at ? http://www.carseat.org/ Thanks for the link as I hadn't seen that one - probably suffering from "brain fart" before I got there. It looks as if our boosters will probably be OK, I shall have to check the labelling. I know they conform to the safety standards for all the EU countries, and the boys are used to their own seats and will stay in them which is important for a long trip. Lizzy -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
#7
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*Most* states here require car seats until the child is 4 yrs AND 40lbs ...
and most strongly suggest (if not require) children under 12 to be in the backseat (b/c of airbags and the kids' size)... if no one else finds a link for you to specific state requirements, I will look this evening... My kids used a little cloth adjustor for the seatbelt when they turned 4 until they were tall enough for the shoulder belt to fit properly. I got ours at BabiesRUs, http://www.safety1st.com/product.asp?productID=218 Hope that helps! Kellie "Lizzy Taylor" wrote in message .. . I have been trying to check out the various regulations on children in cars for our trip down I-95 and am now very confused. Over here in the UK both boys (aged 4yo and 6yo) use child seats (made from polystyrene with a fabric cover - hence light enough to bring as baggage) that use the adult seatbelts rather than an integral 3 or 5 point harness. Are these seats legal in the US and particularly in the states that I-95 runs through. I have looked at various sites on the internet and have come away even more confused.... Can somebody help me, please? Lizzy PS Both boys are miniature Houdinis and would be most put out by going back into what they would see as "baby" seats so would almost certainly undo the buckles and be out in very short order. -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
#8
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JS wrote:
If you think your children will be safe in the seats you currently own, then you should be fine. You won't get pulled over by police for your safety seats, anyway. That would be an additional fine tacked on after you were pulled over for some other traffic violation. Thanks for the info Jennifer - is your youngest 20 months old already? Seems no time since you were expecting.... Lizzy PS check your mailbox towards the end of April....g -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
#9
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Kellie J. Berger wrote:
*Most* states here require car seats until the child is 4 yrs AND 40lbs ... and most strongly suggest (if not require) children under 12 to be in the backseat (b/c of airbags and the kids' size)... By law they have to ride in the back over here in the UK too, although you can use the baby carriers in the front, also AFAIK all passenger side European airbags can be disabled for such situations. if no one else finds a link for you to specific state requirements, I will look this evening... Think I'm OK for that now. My kids used a little cloth adjustor for the seatbelt when they turned 4 until they were tall enough for the shoulder belt to fit properly. I got ours at BabiesRUs, http://www.safety1st.com/product.asp?productID=218 Good idea, I think I have at least one similar item, I'll throw it in the luggage just in case. Thanks for the help. Lizzy -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
#10
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The Ford dealer gave us seatbelt extenders. If I remember right
seat/lap belts are for 5'4" and taller. The extender works for shorter folks. They were free too. The guy told DH they are one of the few free things in life We are all over 5'4" so for the life of me I can't recall why we needed those things. Maybe DD was still a tad under that at the time. Taria Kellie J. Berger wrote: *Most* states here require car seats until the child is 4 yrs AND 40lbs ... and most strongly suggest (if not require) children under 12 to be in the backseat (b/c of airbags and the kids' size)... if no one else finds a link for you to specific state requirements, I will look this evening... My kids used a little cloth adjustor for the seatbelt when they turned 4 until they were tall enough for the shoulder belt to fit properly. I got ours at BabiesRUs, http://www.safety1st.com/product.asp?productID=218 Hope that helps! Kellie "Lizzy Taylor" wrote in message .. . I have been trying to check out the various regulations on children in cars for our trip down I-95 and am now very confused. Over here in the UK both boys (aged 4yo and 6yo) use child seats (made from polystyrene with a fabric cover - hence light enough to bring as baggage) that use the adult seatbelts rather than an integral 3 or 5 point harness. Are these seats legal in the US and particularly in the states that I-95 runs through. I have looked at various sites on the internet and have come away even more confused.... Can somebody help me, please? Lizzy PS Both boys are miniature Houdinis and would be most put out by going back into what they would see as "baby" seats so would almost certainly undo the buckles and be out in very short order. -- Lizzy Taylor Heywood, Lancashire, UK 53:36:00N 2:06:00E http://www.thetaylorfamily.org.uk |
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