Rear-facing child seats ( > 18kgs)

Cionád

Legal or No?

Supposedly they are much safer but are rear-facing child seats, where the weight of the child is over 18kg, legal in Ireland?

I know it is legal for babies weighing < 18kgs, but cannot find the legislation.

In the shops here you cannot buy rear-facing seats for kids over 18kgs, and in the USA they are illegal (because they haven't been 'tested' there I think)

Thanks.

Redpunto

once the child has outgrown the rear facing seat you need to get a front facing one, do a bit of research to find the safest one for your car. Our car doesnt have isofix so the safest seat is an isofix but it wouldnt be the safest in our car without the isofix fittings. We got one in mamas and papas, cant remember the name of it, was over €100 anyhows but didnt mind as long as it was the safest.

Cionád

Redpunto wrote: »

once the child has outgrown the rear facing seat you need to get a front facing one, do a bit of research to find the safest one for your car. Our car doesnt have isofix so the safest seat is an isofix but it wouldnt be the safest in our car without the isofix fittings. We got one in mamas and papas, cant remember the name of it, was over €100 anyhows but didnt mind as long as it was the safest.

thanks for reply,

Ya, that seems to be the procedure here, but in Sweden you can have rear-facing up to 25kgs, cause their tests have shown it to be far safer. (there is a few videos and info at http://kidsincars.blogspot.com/2007/11/which-rear-facing-car-seats-is.html )

The car in question does not have isofix either, she would like to get a rear-facing seat from Sweden, but the only hurdle is the legality of it all in Irish law.

So if anyone knows the legal situation my sister would appreciate it.

LolaDub

As far as i knew they were less safe because the children are strong enough to kick and move them?

crosstownk

If the Swedish determine that it's safer then chances are they are right. However, you will have to work within the constraints of Irish/EU law. In the meantime you can crusade to have the Irish version changed.......

http://www.rsa.ie/childsafetyincars/procontent/Home/Home_Page/index.html

Cionád

crosstownk wrote: »

If the Swedish determine that it's safer then chances are they are right. However, you will have to work within the constraints of Irish/EU law. In the meantime you can crusade to have the Irish version changed.......

http://www.rsa.ie/childsafetyincars/procontent/Home/Home_Page/index.html

Yeah, she's not going to break the law

I can't see where it is defined in that link though, only mention of the rearword facing seats is that they can't be in the front seat as far as I can see, am I missing something?

thanks

crosstownk

This might be of more help.....

http://www.rsa.ie/childsafetyincars/procontent/KNOW_THE_NEW_LAW/KNOW_THE_NEW_LAW/AN_ILLUSTRATED_GUIDE_TO_CHILD_CAR_SEATS.html

AFAIK - rearward facing in the front is OK once the passenger airbag has been deactivated.

Cionád

crosstownk wrote: »

This might be of more help.....

http://www.rsa.ie/childsafetyincars/procontent/KNOW_THE_NEW_LAW/KNOW_THE_NEW_LAW/AN_ILLUSTRATED_GUIDE_TO_CHILD_CAR_SEATS.html

AFAIK - rearward facing in the front is OK once the passenger airbag has been deactivated.

Thanks crosstownk,

The issue is the weight restriction of rearword facing seats, in the back.

Rearward-facing seats provide
greater protection for the baby’s head, neck and spine than forward-facing seats. So, it is best to keep your baby in a rearward-facing seat for as long as possible.

Only move them to a forward-facing seat once they have exceeded the maximum weight for the baby seat, or the top of their head is higher than the top of the seat.

Seems ridiculous, as they are obviously better off in rearward-facing seats going by THEIR OWN advice. So one day the baby wakes up and its better off sitting forward than sitting rear-wards?

She found a shop in Belfast that sells seats for larger toddlers...

LolaDub

Perhaps they mean until children can support their own weight?

crosstownk

Each seat will have it's own weight limits - this is what you need to pay attention to. The weight can sometimes vary from one seat manufacturer to another.