Thinking about offering lifts to a lady we know who has a 9mo child. Are there any rules? Do kids need to be in special seats, like in the UK, or is it okay for the mum to have him on her lap? It’s only a short journey of a couple of km across town.
I don’t know the answer, but think you’re wise to find out before making a commitment.
2 Likes
Everyone in a car must be secured, either by a sear belt or in a suitable child seat. At 9 months many mothers will have a car cot or equivalent for their child, so ask perhaps?
3 Likes
Our Skoda and Kadja both emphasise the danger of child car seats and air bags. If your car has a manual there will probably be a whole section on how a child seat must be fitted in a car. I think a child of that age must be in a child seat buckled into the back seat of the car. No doubt others on here know more.
2 Likes
Must be strapped into the appropriate seat for weight, in the back. You can get a car seat at any hypermarché or borrow one. Babies on knees are a complete no-no.
1 Like
My wife used to drive round Jo’burg with Gigi’s predecessor (a Maltese bimbo called ‘Isabella’) on her lap. Not as silly as it might seem, she’d had a handbag stolen from the passenger seat while stopped at a robot (traffic light).
No way José 
Earlier this year we had our daughter here with her baby at six months and then at nine months. We had to have an appropriate car seat. They are not cheap. We bought ours here…
Welcome to the world of isofix,
I have no doubt that would illegal. You can’t have a baby rattling around in a cot on the back seat anymore, Even the top notch baby seat we had for the aforementioned daughter, when she was a baby, wouldn’t pass muster anymore. The regulations are very strict.
1 Like
Thanks, all.
I’ve heard of isofix but never thought I’d need to use it 
never too old to learn !
2 Likes
For anyone else reading this, Vinted is a great place for car seats . Babies grow and need different sized seats so people are always selling car seats!
2 Likes
Be careful though with second hand seats especially the full on baby to 2 years seats as in case of being removed from an accident vehicle. Mygrandson’s seat was broken in two during a side impact back in the summer and only discovered when the cover removed. Luckily he was not in the car and yes, all children must be securely restrained in the proper seats for their age.
1 Like
A car cot is a specific legal car seat for tiny babies, like this, rather than upright seat
That’s a car seat for me Jane 
As Cat says there are all different sizes with different age ranges. Porridge was asking about a nine month, the age we’ve just been dealing with. He may well not get back in France before he’s outgrown the one we had to buy 
But they did about four thousand safe kms with it during that trip, so not bad value. It’s now taking up a disproportionate amount of space in the cave, along with his highchair, pool toys, etc. etc. 
,
As @cat suggests: Vinted?
2 Likes
In many areas you fund puériculture specific events to sell kids stuff. There is one twice a year in a nearby salle de fêtes.
2 Likes
Absolutely.
This is probably a good moment to also point out the rules regarding restraining pets whilst in transit. I see the advice widely ignored every time I drive anywhere. There should be a publicity campaign to show how dangerous a loose animal would be in the event of a crash.
1 Like
My Shiba Inu used to chew through canvas restraining straps before we had even driven a few hundred metres so had to change to a metal chain strap mix to keep him secure in the back
Yes I would Sue/Jane but I’m worried that they might decide on the spur of the moment to visit for a little break. They love Perth but do miss good old Europe too.
So like a good scout, I need to be prepared. They couldn’t even put the Oz one in the hold, they are different specs. 
1 Like
Right … supplementary question.
We hoped to borrow one today but that fell through. So it looks like we’ll be buying one.
I’m trying to avoid Amazon at the moment, but (this all being new to me) I’m a bit lost as to where you buy child seats. Our Norauto doesn’t have them; nor does Leclerc, SuperU, Weldom …
Our nearest big town is Saumur. What sort of shop will sell a child seat?
Do you have a local website for your village/town where you can ask for help?
As for which shop, I thought it was Norauto as well, or a baby shop.
We used to have a local Troc, especially for baby/ children’s things, all had to be in perfect condition. Worth having a look to see if there’s anything like that near you.
1 Like