Would you let your 2 & 4yr old in a car without carseats?

[berrme]

so this "being from older gen" excuse does not wash with me.

OP, you did the right thing. No-one will protect your child, like you do. Shame on those people for pressuring you to put your kids at risk.

It really annoys me too. So what if they are old? There is no excuse to be ignorant and argue with someone over decisions they make for the safety of their children. I don't drink when pregnant but my FIL can't get his head around the notion of going without ANY alcohol. I hear the excuse that he is from a generation where it was OK, just let it go... but I don't see why I should. He needs to get over it and stop offering me drinks and asking if I am sure about my decision every 5 minutes.

That was a little off the point , I have taken my children unrestrained in a taxi when it was legal to do so, but I never would if walking was an option. They have changed the taxi laws and you need restraints in them too now. The thing that bugs me is that they made you feel bad about your decision when it was the right decision and it is entirely yours to make. Don't feel bad!

[HotI]

In Victoria it is still legal to travel in taxis with kids without car seats

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/...Restraints.htm
Do we need a child restraint in a taxi?
By law, taxi drivers do not have to provide child restraints or booster seats. However, they must ensure there is at least one anchor fi tting ready for passengers who wish to supply their own. If you can, take your child’s restraint with you.

Children under 1 year do not have to use a child restraint, but they must travel in the back seat.
Children over 1 year should be seated in their own seating position in a taxi, with their own properly fastened seatbelt if no suitable child restraint or booster seat is available in the taxi.

ETA in taxis. oops, sorry about that.

[Astrid]

My MIL believes that we would not need expensive carseats if they made cars like they did in the old days She understands that we need to use them, but does not agree. Before DD1 was born she was so happy that she had found us a carseat. I assumed she meant on special somewhere, but no, it was an old one that had sat in someone's shed for years. We had to rush out and buy a seat before she tried to bring it over on the plane with her.

I would have walked as well, really with that distance it would have been nice for everyone to have a walk.

HotI - you may want to edit your post to state "travel with kids in Taxis"

[aussienic]

My MIL believes that we would not need expensive carseats if they made cars like they did in the old days She understands that we need to use them, but does not agree. Before DD1 was born she was so happy that she had found us a carseat. I assumed she meant on special somewhere, but no, it was an old one that had sat in someone's shed for years. We had to rush out and buy a seat before she tried to bring it over on the plane with her.

My MIL did the same thing when we were pg with Ds1. It was the oldest thing ever. Even back then I knew you couldn't use it.. We just told her straight up no we wouldn't be using the seat but thanks for the offer.. and the rare time she had our son we either just swapped cars or took the seat out and put it in hers..

[berrme]

In Victoria it is still legal to travel with kids without car seats

That is interesting. I just checked, and apparently QLD didn't change the rules. I thought it changed over when the new rules about which children go in which restraints came into legislation. Obviously I would rather have my children restrained, but it does make trips to the airport etc more difficult when you have to take child seats with you.

[AndiE]

That is interesting. I just checked, and apparently QLD didn't change the rules. I thought it changed over when the new rules about which children go in which restraints came into legislation. Obviously I would rather have my children restrained, but it does make trips to the airport etc more difficult when you have to take child seats with you.

I hear you and we just take it for granted that we'll take our car to the airport and leave it in the long-term parking. A pain in the bum, naturally, but it's our preference.

[Astrid]

Victorian Child restraint info here:
Child restraints : VicRoads

Please read for yourself, as there is some incorrect information in some of the posts.