Larger Families Chatter ~ May 2008-May 2009

[Inertia]

To be honest, it doesn't make any distinction. It later says children should not graduate to adult seat belts until 7yo, which leads one to believe harness style - but seeing how it doesnt specify harness I think it means both is fine. We have a lap harness attachment anyway from when Lyta moved to a booster - but the recommendations are fairly vague in that.

One thing I did notice was that they went on and on about height and weight and how they are vital for proper child restraints - and then go on about how they are going to use age as a guide instead because we parents don't know our childrens height and weight! WTF?

Sam has practically zero body fat, but is all muscle - and it just gets bigger, so his weight is already pushing him out of a standard 26kgs booster now. Am I supposed to leave him on the seat because he is oversized for the child restraint - which will be considered unsafe, or put him in one because he is 6 - which will be considered unsafe? Same with Harry. He is 15kgs. He'll be 18kgs before he is 4yo. Am I supposed to keep my oversized baby in an unsafe restraint because they have decided to go by age?

They say provisions will be in place for this, but that depends on my state - and those enforcing it.

*headdesk* As I said - One size fits all apparently.

[storm]

Kat!!! Has been along time hey, wow Miss Molly is 11 months old already!! How on earth does the time go without realizing?????


HAHA Em, I wonder how too hehehehehe...

Wow I never heard anything about the new laws either, I must live under a rock LOL. Does that mean Noah will be backwards for 12 months? That's normal isn't it though?

[mountain mummy]

Sorry for worrying the gee willickers outta everyone ... it's just that DP went to get a booster for our 3 year old (14 kgs) and the chick at babyco said that while it is still legal now, there is a big push for it to become legislation (as apparently NSW is behind other states in regards to this ) and she'd hate for us to buy a booster (unharnessed) and then not be able to use it for a few more years ....

I'm really in two minds about it all ... I understand the safety aspect, but as others have said, are we presumed not to know our own kids statistics, and have some law enforcer tell us the just because they are not yet a certain age that we are breaking the law????

My eldest DS was a BIG baby (thankfully the biggest so far lol!) and by 18 months (he was already 14-15kgs), he was literally squished into the child restraint, with all padding removed (basically the bare essential basic child seat), so I had no choice but to put him in a booster (and back then, they didn't come standard with harnesses like today) because it WAS unsafe having him cramped in a child seat.

At the end of the day, what can they do if you have the youngest properly restrained, and have the older ones on boosters etc, due to lack of room??? They have to understand with bigger families that you can't just keep going and buying bigger cars!! Are they gonna starting fining you for having "too many kids for the size of the car"??

[Mumof8]

Laws laws laws. Might ring around and see cause i would hate to get pulled over and get into trouble. My 3yr old DS is 14kgs and loves using the bob the builder booster with the normal car belt. He has a maxi rider seat but just unclips it anyway and has done since he was about 17mths the little $hit. My 5yr old Ds is 17kgs and doesn't use any car seat at all so i might look at putting the little booster back in the car. And the baby well she's fine in her baby seat.

Well girls I have my FS appointment on the 29th April to give me the go ahead to use my frozen embryos. Af is meant to be here today but she hasn't arrived as yet. So my next af in May will be our first fet. God what am i getting myself into! I must be crazy people already think im nuts with 6!!! There all gunna think im off the planet lol

[Katstribe]

Hey Storm I know time flies, and i reckon you get so caught up in ones own life that you forget that other peoples bubs or bellies are growing (or disappearing)too! My life has been sooo hectic since i had Molly, i seriously don't get much time to myself! Not that I am complaining. I wouldnt have it any other way.Some days i think i would like another one but then other days i think its time i started thinking about my career that i want! It will take some time to achieve that goal so I will have to get started soon if i have def finished having bubs.

As for all these car seat laws I wish they would just bl**dy make up their minds, I knew it was all talked about but never thought anything was in place, then my Dad said something to me one day about not having my then 6yr old DD in a restraint. I was like um i didn't think anything had changed, just talked about! While he wasn't certain if anything was actually in place i decided since my DD enjoyed being in a booster i would just go with it to be on the safe side. I still do NOT know what the lwas are in QLD.

Anyway I am of to bed it was great to finally find some time to get in here and see what s going on! Hopefully i will a bit more now that DH is working again
Night Girls

[Inertia]

When I was looking it up today I see on the RACV that is hasnt been implimented anywhere yet - but... Transport SA says they will come into effect from July. Vic Roads already has the information as the standard on its website and the RTA have a info pamphlet out with the new info too - dated Feb 2009.

Whether they are law now - anyones guess though. '-_-

The good news is the NSW and Vic ones do mention sizes OR ages, so I might keep one in the car with me just in case.

Argh! These new laws are going to drive me batty. Think I might go with approved harness style belts through the back of the commuter now just to save me the hassle. Apparently there is a push to change all lap belts for lap/sash as well, which I cant do in the bus with the seats I have - but the harness will just go in hassle free.

[mountain mummy]

Argh! These new laws are going to drive me batty.

ME TOO!!! It was funny cause DP came home after his babyco adventure and said "well that's it, we can't have any more!" LOL! I said, sure we can, we just need a new car! But I hadn't heard anything prior to this to say that it was LAW as such ....