Travelling with tots - car safety seats

[KtLuggate]

Well, luckily ( ) my car was recently stolen, including the kids car seats. So, we need new safety seats for the LC for Africa. Anyone have experience with this, obviously there are no custom made seats but it has occurred to me that being strapped in (tightly) into a 5 point harness overland is going to be bumpy! One 2yo, one 4yo.
Hadn't thought about it as we had seats that would 'do' but new ones needed now so opportunity to upgrade their comfort therefore our peace. Regular seats with potentially sheep skin seat covers is the thought so far. Seen versions without shoulder straps but a big securing cushion across the lap.
Sorry if this is a bit of a 'mumsnet' question but would prefer to get advice from someone who had used the seat for more than the school run.

[moggy 1968]

Off road you need to be restrained, as tightly as possible. That's why racing harnesses have shoulder and lap straps.

if your off road, they need to be well restrained so shoulder straps are a must. Ive got a 14 year old and a 4 year old, the 4 year old has a Brittax seat, for the 14 year old I have fitted a racing harness that supplements the original inertia reel, so on road he uses the old belt, off road he uses the harness. Key with the Britax is to make sure it's properly secure. any play in the straps and the set moves a lot.

We try and stop every 2-3 hours or so to give them a rest, because the seats are not well padded, I was suprised just how unpadded the kids seats are, but like that I've put in 20 hour days before now.

A 5 point harness tightly restraining them will be a lot more comfortable. The worst scenario is that they aren't tightly restrained and are thrown around the cab. They are too small to protect themselves adequately and have a high risk of injury, especially in the event of an accident. For children of that age shoulder straps and lapstraps are a must!

From that point of view, also look out for what is loose in the cab. In the event of an accident, or even just in 'enthusiastic' offroading stuff can get airborne and is very dangerous.

[KtLuggate]

Thanks. Think an isofix would make the situation better or worse?

[moggy 1968]

never used one, couldn't afford it and the seat pretty much stayed in the car anyway.

[grizzly7]

Hi


Old thread I realise but since I now have a wee man too I've discovered that there's a lot of reasons to go rear facing up until four years old, maybe more.


Some info- Rear Facing - the way forward not a shop.


From Swedish research, crash testing all by Volvo I believe, resulting in a standard that no forward facing seat can pass.


Switching to rear facing for an older kid might be difficult, but ours is now 8 months and is fine looking backwards out of the rear side window. Isofix is only up to 18kg and not retro fitable according to the manufacturers. But not really needed since many kid seats only need a lap strap with a (chair!) leg down the floor. We have a Klippan Triofix Recline which can be rear facing to 18kg with Isofix or a lap belt, then front facing to 36kg using the vehicle 3 point belt after 25kg. Expensive but long lasting I hope.


We visited a UK car seat dealer after dubious advice from several more general stores, tried several seats and this one fitted as if it was made for it. The variation in fit was quite amazing. The main reason one seat won't fit in a particular car is often because the little knobble on a car's belt that stops the buckle disappearing down to the floor can be exactly where one of the seats clips wants to close, forcing it to be too loose. Or the leg down to the floor is too short, or doesn't lock where you might want it too. Try before you buy, or make sure you can take it back seems to be essential?!


Happy travels

[moggy 1968]

avoid booster seats, worse than useless and likely to be banned soon
watching this crash test makes your blood run cold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8hlFdEH0Cc