Carseats?

I think, being in the carseat is safer for kid. Indeed, the mandatory use of carseats has been introduced just recently. However, in old times, the cars were different, the speeds were different, the amount of cars was smaller. I am aware of the case, when the kid survived exclusedely since he was in the carseat. Both parents died in this car accident.

I think that the carseat is a good idea, it makes our kids safer. But what BOTHERS me, is those parents who are like... oh my kid isn't big enough for the booster seat yet, he's 39lbs and they have to be at least 40 to be in it. HOLYHELL! one pound is not going to make a difference, dont they know that? And what is the cop that pulls you over going to pull out a scale from his trunk to see if your kid is within the proper weight for the seat? lol its not like they have a manual for EVERY carseat make in the country.

So the seats are a good idea, letting some people have children, that's the bad idea. lol.

I think carseats are one of the best inventions to protect our kids! When my girls were little, we didn't even have them (nor seat belts either!) I remember one time turning the corner and having my little daughter rolling right out of her seat and onto the floor! I wasn't speeding, only going about 5 mph (if that) on a dirt road in the country. The vehicle was a rag-top jeep, and the doors were pretty flimsy compared to vehicles now. She could have gone right out the door! But God was with me that day for sure. I'm glad that it IS mandatory for all children to be forced to use carseats. The law is in place to protect all children who are too young to protect themselves. I've seen accidents where the parents were killed in an accident, and the baby in the carseat survived. I know we all survived back then without carseats and seatbelts, but now that we have these wonderful innovations, it would be foolish not to use them to protect our young ones!

I think they are good for babies upto about 4 months old or until the child can sit up unaided.
After that age, unless its a long journey like going on a long trip to visit family or for a holiday i don't think they are worth it.
The price of them is ridiculous, because paying over £50 for a car seat is too much for how long they last in my opinion.
The booster seats for older children are also quite useless in my opinion, although they aren't bad priced for what they are.
Like you said, we all managed as children with no car seat after we could sit up properly, so why do children need them now.
~Joeys wife

Overall I do think they are a good idea at least up until the child can figure out how to get out of them on their own. Once they can do that it should be optional. I also don't like that because of new car and airbag designs the seats have to go in the back seat, where the driver can't see or reach the child unless they turn away from road. To me this is more unsafe since the driver is distracted. I've seen many cars swerve, have near misses, and full on accidents due to a parent or a caregiver just trying to take a look back at the child in the seat. Add to that once the child can "climb out" on their own of the seat it's very hard for a parent in the front seat to be able to tell since they can't see them directly.

Again overall I do like the thought of child seats and having them mandatory for children under certain ages/weights but I think they need to rethink some of the system they have with it.

Carseats serve a very important purpose, they keep children safe in a vehicle. Ask any cop that has been able to pull a baby from a wreck that was unhurt because they were buckled up in a carseat. And yes, we all survived, however, there were not as many drivers on the road and the speed limits were not as high.

Hello pimpsterque999

I think that car seats are a good idea as long as the law is realistic in regard to weights and ages. Some of the weight standards, alone, would put adults in car seats.

My chidlren stare at me in amazement when I regale them with stories of me riding cross country in the back window of my parent's car. Do you remember that? Wedging yourself up in the back window, behind the back seat, laying there, and watching the world go by? Or riding in the floor. Lounging in the floor, with my back against the seat in front of me and my feet propped up on the back seat.

My children don't believe me when I tell them these things.

i know what you mean. its amazing we are all still alive right? where we live its grown to a much larger population, and so much more traffic than when we were kids. So, i guess they do save lives. I also think seatbelts are necesssary, but don't really think an 8 year old will sit in a car seat. They always go a little overboard-the rule makers that is.

I used to ride in the back window. Half the time, it was easier for my mother to just let me do what I want than fight with me every 10 miles to stay buckled up.

I did have a car seat as an infant. It was one of those with the metal bars that came down sort of like a rollercoaster harness. I outgrew that and was just fastened into the seat with the seatbelt.

I do think some people have way too much time on their hands and worry way too much.