Car seats not fitted?

trixychic · 29-01-2015 9:00pm #1

Hi guys. I recently stopped into a free rsa seat test area to have my car seats checked. And lucky i did. While i thought we had fitted the seats proper it turned out we hadnt. So he fixed them for me and all was grand. But he asked me if where we bought it had fitted it.

Now i had asked at the time could someone come and fit it for me. I was heavily pregnant at the time and Couldnt do it. Had to bring it out and have oh fit it later. But it was shocking.

People are driving around thinkin their kids are safe having fitted them themselves, when they actually arent. Shouldnt there be a law stating that sellers/suppliers of child seats have to have a trained fitter on hand?

Woshy · 29-01-2015 9:49pm

We bought our car seat in Tony Kealy's and it was fitted for us before we drove off. It's one of the reasons we bought it there. We also bought the next car seat up from them and that was fitted too. I wouldn't have been comfortable doing it ourselves tbh.

I'm due baby number 2 and we're going to ask them to put the newborn car seat back in the car for us, just to be safe.

trixychic · 29-01-2015 9:55pm

Thats fantastic. And how it should be. Just a pity its not standard.

Sligo1 · 29-01-2015 10:36pm

I wouldn't have a clue how to fit our car seats. I know that sounds bad. We bought ours in mothercare and they were very good at putting them in for us and fitting them correctly. They've done on for all our seats. If they hadn't I wouldn't have bought from them.

Millem · 29-01-2015 11:23pm

I think another thing is that a number of people are putting kids with coats on etc with the car seats or/and are not pulling the harness tight enough. You would want to see how the midwives in holles st put our baby into the car seat :eek: we were totally clueless! I will never forget how Prince George was in his car seat when he left hospital!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-george/10747821/Prince-Georges-car-seat-prompts-protests-in-New-Zealand.html

Woshy · 29-01-2015 11:44pm

I was in Holles Street a few weeks ago for a appointment with the dietician and there was a couple with a newborn baby putting her in her car seat in a big, thick snow suit.

They couldn't get her in tight enough and spent ages fussing around with it in front of where I was waiting. I itched to tell them it would be better to have her in lighter clothes and then use blankets etc but I didn't want to be that person.

BeardySi · 30-01-2015 12:59am

isofix - it's yer only man!

Drdoc · 30-01-2015 1:01am

Millem wrote: »

I think another thing is that a number of people are putting kids with coats on etc with the car seats or/and are not pulling the harness tight enough. You would want to see how the midwives in holles st put our baby into the car seat :eek: we were totally clueless! I will never forget how Prince George was in his car seat when he left hospital!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-george/10747821/Prince-Georges-car-seat-prompts-protests-in-New-Zealand.html

Omg I never saw that picture before. That is unreal!

Woshy · 30-01-2015 1:14am

Treadhead wrote: »

isofix - it's yer only man!

Both our car seats are isofix - I still wanted them fitted by someone trained to do so

ozmo · 30-01-2015 1:20am

Rented a car in the states - paid extra (a lot) for baby seat - they wouldnt fit - you had do it yourself.

insurance reasons they said.

so watch out for that if you are travelling - best know how to do it yourself just in case.

Atlantic Dawn · 30-01-2015 1:24am

RTFM as they say, RTFM, if you can't don't transport your offspring in you car.

pwurple · 30-01-2015 8:22am

Tony kealys also fit seats bought elsewhere.

foodaholic · 30-01-2015 9:10am

Mothercare, smyths and halfords all fit car seats

lazygal · 30-01-2015 10:03am

As someone else said fitting seats was the reason we bought in Kealys. We have extended rear facing seats and they spent ages fitting them properly.

kandr10 · 30-01-2015 10:14am

I never heard of the no coats/padded suits in car seats thing til I read it here a few months ago ( having had my nov born daughter in a snow suit in the car for basically the first six months). I bought my pram and group 0 car seat in eurobaby. It's not listed in the booklet that came with it nor did any of the staff comment on it. A good friend recently had a baby and I mentioned it to her - she also had never heard of it. Neither had my sister who lives abroad. While I completely get the sense of it and try not to puta padded coat on her now unless unavoidable, I'm wondering why the information isn't more prevalent? If I wasn't addicted to boards I wouldn't have heard of it.

Suucee · 30-01-2015 10:15am

i never knew about the coats/snowsuit thing until recently but i never done it anyway. tried it once and my daughter just looked so bulked up and uncomfortable so always used blankets. our seats were fitted in halford for us . the lady fitting went through loads of safety details and showed me how to do it. i then had to sign a form to confirm she done all that with me. she even had OH try to fit one of the seats so he would know how. (i had baba in sling so i couldnt) .

OH works as a panel beater. he is the only one in the garage with young kids. he is asked at least twice a week to fit a car seat as the parents dont know how. i think thats appaling. they are letting a complete stranger with little experience fit their seats. most of the time they are simple enough but he normally does a quick you tube if its one he has never done before.

Woshy · 30-01-2015 10:34am

ozmo wrote: »

Rented a car in the states - paid extra (a lot) for baby seat - they wouldnt fit - you had do it yourself.

insurance reasons they said.

so watch out for that if you are travelling - best know how to do it yourself just in case.

We've been given a broken car seat as well - when we rented a car in France they gave us two broken car seats before I got stroppy with them and a third, decent seat was produced. Just a heads up to take a good look at the car seats you're given too!

Ocean Blue · 30-01-2015 10:44am

If you are stuck and need to fit the seat yourself - Google the car seat name and 'kiddicare'. They have excellent videos online giving step by step tutorials for fitting seats.

trixychic · 30-01-2015 7:31pm

This is the problem. The rsa is advertising all about bikes, speeding, drink driving, but never about the proper way to use car seats. I think it really needs to be addressed by the rsa and soon.

I bought all my seats in ken blacks which is supposed to be smyths and they would never fit them for us. There should be legislation brought in that you have to have a licence and fitter to sell or supply these seats.

I Didnt know about the coats and stuff on the children. Thats a big eye opener. And more issues that should be addressed by the rsa!

kandr10 · 30-01-2015 7:55pm

trixychic wrote: »

This is the problem. The rsa is advertising all about bikes, speeding, drink driving, but never about the proper way to use car seats. I think it really needs to be addressed by the rsa and soon.

I bought all my seats in ken blacks which is supposed to be smyths and they would never fit them for us. There should be legislation brought in that you have to have a licence and fitter to sell or supply these seats.

I Didnt know about the coats and stuff on the children. Thats a big eye opener. And more issues that should be addressed by the rsa!

Agreed! I've asked for advice on various things in smyths before and to be honest I don't think I would trust some of the staff any more than myself to fit it.

December2012 · 30-01-2015 9:51pm

Do tony Kealys only sell seats for babies?

I'd like to get somebody properly qualified to assess my current car seats and make sure they are the right size for my 6 and 4 year old.

Preferably not just to make a sale!

Woshy · 30-01-2015 10:12pm

December2012 wrote: »

Do tony Kealys only sell seats for babies?

I'd like to get somebody properly qualified to assess my current car seats and make sure they are the right size for my 6 and 4 year old.

Preferably not just to make a sale!

I think they do seats for all ages from what I remember.

When we went in to get the second car seat for our son they told us we should wait another 2/3 months if we could because it would be safer. They were more concerned with his safety than making a sale as far as we could tell. The seat we wanted was actually on sale at the time so they let us put a deposit down to ensure we got it at the reduced price and come back in 2/3 months to pay the test and pick it up. I was definitely pleaded with the service

lazygal · 30-01-2015 10:50pm

The seats we currently have should last until four years and they do booster seats so I'd presume they do provide advice for older children. I always felt there was no sales pressure with them.

monflat · 31-01-2015 12:13am

ozmo wrote: »

Rented a car in the states - paid extra (a lot) for baby seat - they wouldnt fit - you had do it yourself.

insurance reasons they said.

so watch out for that if you are travelling - best know how to do it yourself just in case.

Same happened to us in France last year.
The rental companies won't fit them. Its your responsibility

Ginny · 31-01-2015 10:08am

The rsa do address these issues, that's why they have the check it fits car seat events every week in different parts of the country. Moral of the story is do not buy a car seat you from somewhere that won't fit it.

sillysocks · 31-01-2015 10:56am

Woshy wrote: »

I think they do seats for all ages from what I remember.

When we went in to get the second car seat for our son they told us we should wait another 2/3 months if we could because it would be safer. They were more concerned with his safety than making a sale as far as we could tell. The seat we wanted was actually on sale at the time so they let us put a deposit down to ensure we got it at the reduced price and come back in 2/3 months to pay the test and pick it up. I was definitely pleaded with the service

We had the same experience in Tony Kealys. Smiths had said 'yeah it'll fit grand in your car', but I wasn't convinced so went to Tony Kealys and they actually tried to install it in the car and said it was pushing the safe boundaries and If it was their child they wouldn't buy it. Then they recommended a seat that was cheaper than the one we wanted so wasn't just a sales racket.

cyning · 31-01-2015 12:15pm

I had out two seats refitted by mothercare before Christmas: I knew they weren't right, and there was an rsa roadshow on: both seats were incorrectly fitted. He told me I should complain: and that the mothercare seat I had for my two year old was particularly badly fitted. He also said it's not the first time he's seen it with seats fitted there.

What he also said was my in car DVD player was one of two brands that was crash tested not something I had ever thought of!

kandr10 · 31-01-2015 1:12pm

Ginny wrote: »

The rsa do address these issues, that's why they have the check it fits car seat events every week in different parts of the country. Moral of the story is do not buy a car seat you from somewhere that won't fit it.

To be fair though because they've to go to all parts of the country it could be only in your particular area once or twice a year. I will go out of my way to find one ASAP but when they're not advertised it's difficult. I'd say for most people they happen to stumble across the check points rather than make a conscious effort to seek them out - which more people would be able to do if they were advertised more. Also they do run those ads on telly about safe cycling and using roundabouts etc so why not run one on the importance of checking your cat seats are fitted right and how kids should be clothed when using them?

Just out of interest - for those of you whose seats were incorrectly fitted, what was the cause? Was it easily fixed?

Sligo1 · 31-01-2015 1:26pm

kandr10 wrote: »

To be fair though because they've to go to all parts of the country it could be only in your particular area once or twice a year. I will go out of my way to find one ASAP but when they're not advertised it's difficult. I'd say for most people they happen to stumble across the check points rather than make a conscious effort to seek them out - which more people would be able to do if they were advertised more. Also they do run those ads on telly about safe cycling and using roundabouts etc so why not run one on the importance of checking your cat seats are fitted right and how kids should be clothed when using them?

Just out of interest - for those of you whose seats were incorrectly fitted, what was the cause? Was it easily fixed?

Totally agree. I never even knew about these check events until I read it here. Never heard of them.

Cyning, thanks for the mothercare alert! Looks like I'm going to have to get mine rechecked.

Ginny · 31-01-2015 2:05pm

The schedule is on the rsa site and they post where they'll be most weeks on facebook.

Afaik they are actually contractors too, so I think some come from Tony Kealys, with Tony Kealys I'm nearly sure you can go and get them to check your seat too. Mothercare also do a check it fits event. Althoughagain I wouldn't be too trusting with MC, as I have Erf seats and not many places have a clue about them.

kandr10 · 31-01-2015 2:06pm

Found this schedule on their website. Feb won't load for me.

http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Education/Check-it-fits1/Check-it-fits/Check-it-fits-region/2015/

ozmo · 31-01-2015 5:58pm

Ginny wrote: »

Moral of the story is do not buy a car seat you from somewhere that won't fit it.

I would say it much better to be informed and do it your-self than trust some potential random student part-timer staff member to do it.

Passengers occasionally press the wrong seat belt eject button getting out - so you would be stuck then if you didn't know how to reseat it.

I'm afraid but I think this might be one of those - read the manual - times - often its a sticker or booklet attached to the side of the seat.
The Non-ISO seat can be tricky the first few times to get it right but the ISOFix ones are not difficult.

bp · 31-01-2015 6:16pm

The AA did a piece on car seats too a few months ago- how to fit and about your child etc. Good video, should be online somewhere.

I read about the coats before actually on a advertisement for car seat blankets - a bio-hazard suit for around the car seat

trixychic · 31-01-2015 8:42pm

Ginny wrote: »

The rsa do address these issues, that's why they have the check it fits car seat events every week in different parts of the country. Moral of the story is do not buy a car seat you from somewhere that won't fit it.

The problem with this and other car seat info is you have to actively go searching for the information. Unfortunately there are alot of parents/child minders/relatives who wouldnt even think of it. They have a car seat job done. It needs to be advertised on television for the majority of people to watch it, and get interested and involved.

As for my seats? I had read the manuals on both. I had the older lads one fit correct, belt over the shoulder. The younger lads one was just too loose. I thought i had followed every step and had it in as tight as i thought i could get it. I was very wrong.

ThisRegard · 01-02-2015 4:53pm

Ginny wrote: »

Moral of the story is do not buy a car seat you from somewhere that won't fit it.

It's a good idea learn to do it yourself, isofix ones are pretty straightforward and the manuals are usually detailed.

wmpdd3 · 02-02-2015 4:18pm

I had my first seat installed with the company I bought if from, but there was a problem with my fuel pump and the seat had to come out so I learned to for my own seat with the manual and YouTube (britaxfirst class).

I wouldn't like to see a rule brought in limiting sales to places that fit as friends have had to order seats for hip dysplasia and extended rear facing from abroad, that rule would limit choice.

pwurple · 02-02-2015 5:34pm

ozmo wrote: »

I would say it much better to be informed and do it your-self than trust some potential random student part-timer staff member to do it.

That's a bit rich. Tony Kealy's staff are contracted by the RSA to give the car seat fitting demonstrations and do the training nationally. It's not some pack of random students.

Neyite · 02-02-2015 5:42pm

I do think that parents should familiarise themselves with how its correctly fitted. You don't know that someone in the back seat might mistakenly click the wrong buckle release - the one on the car seat rather than their own. If you are not familiar, you might not notice if something comes loose or unclicked.

trixychic · 02-02-2015 6:41pm

pwurple wrote: »

That's a bit rich. Tony Kealy's staff are contracted by the RSA to give the car seat fitting demonstrations and do the training nationally. It's not some pack of random students.

I dont think its "a bit rich" at all. That may be true for the shop tony kealys (and for the record i am living in Carlow and have never heard of the place.) but there are so many other shops selling or supplying car seats that do not have any staff qualified for fitting them.

Millem · 02-02-2015 7:07pm

pwurple wrote: »

That's a bit rich. Tony Kealy's staff are contracted by the RSA to give the car seat fitting demonstrations and do the training nationally. It's not some pack of random students.

Do not get me started on Tony kealys staff and car seats!! They told me it's fine place a supporting leg on top of an underfloor storage compartment (as long as I removed the lid). I checked with manufacturer and they said absolutely not

The supporting leg is the thing that is on an isofix base on a baby car seat or a leg on an ERF seat

ThisRegard · 02-02-2015 8:43pm

By relying on others to fit your seat without knowing yourself, your putting your child's safety entirely in the hands of a stranger.

trixychic · 03-02-2015 12:00am

ThisRegard wrote: »

By relying on others to fit your seat without knowing yourself, your putting your child's safety entirely in the hands of a stranger.

I do agree. If the rsa had adverts on showing how to put them in your self proper. And more importantly the "what not to do's" i think i would feel better

iguana · 03-02-2015 12:39pm

ozmo wrote: »

I would say it much better to be informed and do it your-self than trust some potential random student part-timer staff member to do it.

Too right. I know someone who did car seat fittings as part of his job for 11 months before a customer complained about a bad fit and he was sent for training. He'd never had a clue how to do it and was just taking a guess without putting any thought into how important it was. He was doing it completely wrong for the best part of a year and even now says he's not really 100% on how to do it.

My seat is the Duologic which can be either isofix or seatbelt and neither is tricky to fit. The car we had when S was born didn't have isofix so when I was pregnant I found that Graco has youtube videos outlining both ways to fit it. I spent ages watching them before fitting the seat, which I did for the first time with the laptop in the car so I could go through it step by step. It's connected by isofix now, which is faster to fit but if I put it in a different car for any reason it's really straightforward to change. That said the Duologic is known for being especially easy to fit, when he goes past 18kg and I need to get an ERF seat that's good to 25kg I may find it more difficult. But tbh, ERF is so rare in this country that I'm wary of trusting anyone else.

OrionA · 03-02-2015 7:03pm

Ive only ever had Isofix seats and tbh wouldnt have anything else. There is no badly fitted. Its either fitted or its not and theres an indicator to tell you it is so very simple. I'm actually buying my Group 2-3 seats at the moment and again will be going for Isofix for this

Car seats not fitted?

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