General Chat

Youngest grandson is coming up to two and always gets strapped in to the supermarket trolley. His walking reigns have a set of clips which can attach to a trolley in case there aren't any, but whilst the odd one get broken or goes missing, it is rare that we can't find a trolley without straps.

Eldest grandson is nine, but as he is over 140cm tall he no longer fits in a child seat. We simply make sure the seat belt is in the lowest position at the shoulder and the seat in it's highest.

Seats have a maximum lifespan of around six years which means children will need two. Group 1 with integral harness when up around age 4 or 5 and a Group 2 which uses the car's seat belt after that.

Group 3 booster cushions are now considered less safe than proper chairs. The consumer group Which? is calling on manufacturers and retailers to phase out backless boosters, as it says they don't provide enough protection in side-impact crashes and could put children at risk.

From what I've seen, trolleys suitable for small children have a 5 point seat belt fitted BUT in this case, we are talking about an active 2 year old so I assume they could walk.

I bought my own in the local chemist, wasn't expensive and fitted in my handbag.

Did anyone see the last Watchdog where only 1 in 50 of the child car seats tested had been fitted safely?

Get a dogs collar and lead and leave the child tied up outside!!

Here in Ontario they have to have a booster seat if they are under 8 years old or under 36 kg. ( 80 lbs.) or under 145 cm. (4 ft. 9 inches)

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

Really .................................. it IS the law here in BC. Of course you're not gone to fine the 10 year old, but the parents get fined.

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

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.

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

Exactly what? Not being a legal requirement?

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

But it is NOT the responsibility of the manufacturer!

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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 :-)

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