General Chat

this afternoon I went out with my 2year old granddaughter, we went in 3 big shops,lidl,m&s and b&m to my horror non of these shops have restraining straps on there trolleys,upon asking why I was met with I do not know.it was quite a stressful time for me,as we all know how active and nosy 2 year olds are.

will not be going to those shops again with her.

I cannot help but think that it should be the responsibility of the parents/guardians.

yes errol it was my responsibility and her safety is my first thought,but I just found it odd that they did not have straps on the trolleys,
health and safety and all that.

Should all cars be fitted with child seats?

As parents/guardians etc of course our charges' safety is our first thought but that does not necessarily mean that it is the responsibility of a third party to install non legislated safety measures.
I agree that it is odd but it is certainly not the reponsibility of others although in this nanny state era in which we live one may expect it.

Maybe though health and safety does click in here because if a child had an accident when strapped in the stores safest harness then they would be held responsible .

Not all parents may use the harness correctly or even not use at all but a child could get caught up in it and be hurt ,or God forbid something worse

Sorry, but I believe that the toddlers safety is the responsiblity of the adult, not the store. If they provided straps, there would be the risk they'd been broken, worn or extremely unhygienic. The store would then be liable if there was an accident.

Lesson learnt - Next time, take an 'old fashioned' reins and harness. Even if the harness part can't be clipped to the trolley frame, you could tie the reins onto it.

For what it's worth, I haven't seen trolleys with toddler straps in Sains, Asda or Waitrose. Does anyone else provide them, hence your surprise?

all cars which carry children have to have child seats or the driver faces prosecution

Asda have child restraints on their trolleys - surely if a small child had an accident with one of those trolleys with no restraints the store would share a part in responsibility for the accident

My sister and I went shopping 34 years or so ago with our then 1 year olds. My nephew fell out of the trolley and plummeted head first into a freezer, cutting his head open in the process.

Her fault for not strapping him in with the harness all little ones wore in the prams at that age............she even offered to pay for the goods he bled on, but they were kindness itself and more concerned with tending to his injury.

Lesson well and truly learnt :-)

detective yes they do ,I normally use asda,tesco,sainsburys or morrisons,all of these stores have straps on there trolleys,that is why I was surprised at the other shops,i assumed that all shops would be the same.
and yes lesson learnt.

Strange - I've never spotted them at Sains were we normally shop. Perhaps they've all been broken ;-)

AnnCardiff - cars are NOT generally fitted with child seats as standard.

not generally - mine isn't but then I don't carry children in it - however, if you do carry children you HAVE to have child seats fitted

More modern cars, that is newer than ours, do have anchorage points fitted in the rear for child seats. Obviously it's up to the adult to provide and fit a suitable child seat.

But it is NOT the responsibility of the manufacturer!

Plus it is not a legal requirement for all children to use a child seat.

exactly

Supermarket trolleys fitted with child seats should be fitted with safety straps or harness.

It is the store's responsibility to provide equipment which is 'fit for purpose' and falls within H & S guidelines for the conveyance of children who cannot walk.

It is also the store's responsibility to sanitise all equipment which is either hired or loaned to their customers.

How many adhere to the above? Not many

:-(

Edit: Children must use the correct car seat for their weight until they reach 135 centimetres tall or their 12th birthday, whichever is first.

Exactly what? Not being a legal requirement?

all children travelling in a car have to be in child seats/booster seats or seat belts depending on age,it is the law.

That is not entirely correct...

They only have to have a seat or booster if they are under 135cm tall or under 12 years of age - whichever is sooner.
They then, like everyone, have to wear a seatbelt but it is only the responsibility of the driver until they reach 14.

my "exactly" referred to Detective's posting - not yours