Only gone and done it...

[trapperjohn]

For my grandchildren in the rearmost seats of the 124 I just use my "best judgement" Which works out to this. First of all do they really need to be in there for a long journey, if so...........

If they have a booster when sat in the "front" of the car. Then the booster goes on seat 6 or 7. If its a child seat then that goes on 6 or 7. Some child seats are cumbersome and take up a lot of room on 6 or 7 and can put the child very high in the space and the seat belt in 6 or 7 can appear not to be at its best working position. In this case I swop seats for a smaller one or the child has the seat in position 3 4 or 5.

I don't think there is a "law" to comply with on this. Hope someone can put a link in if there is.

 

[BigSilverEstate]

I agree it's very hard to find clear advice about this and I'll be interested if anyone can post anything definitive on this thread about it. We've yet to use these seats but our older daughter is now three and fairly tall so I think we'd consider it next time we are going to be transporting lots of family around.

The only time I have seen these in use by someone else on the road, the children were in the high sided booster seats (I.e. the ones that also have side head restraints and guide the seatbelt so it is on the right parts of the chest and shoulders. When I have read the DoT guidance this seemed to me would get you there on the legal front for a child of 15kg without stepping into potentially grey areas about the rear seats being child seats already, etc. Also from a peace of mind perspective this is probably the route I'd go as I would be worried about a three year old wriggling out of the seatbelt and the strap being too high across her neck.

 

[bigmacplease]

Pics???

 

[Merco]

^ I know - I must take them and put them up - sorry for the delay!

OK - the best I have been able to find out is that given they are already designed child seats and already at a raised level, the only issue is with the seatbelt. So long as this isn't going to whip up above the face/ neck, a booster seat should not be necessary. If there is a doubt about it then a booster should be used (best advice from 2 Halfords and a Mothercare!). I bought a little booster seat and tried it and she semed OK - the only downside is that without the side protection she has in her 'main' maxicosi seat, there is a tendency to turn around and not be settled. However, given that I'll only really use these seats when there is another adult in the rear of the car who can control for that, it should be OK with the booster although in my case it'll probably only be required for 6 months at most as then she'll have grown so the seatbelt issue is no longer a concern. Still haven't been able to find any actual legal advice about it and contacted my Mercedes salesman who helpfully told me not to worry as he'd had little kids and his 26-year old cousin in the back!

 

[BigSilverEstate]

Useful feedback. Was thinking something like this - same principle but with the additional side protection to keep her head in place if she falls asleep. A bit less convenient to just keep in the boot though.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...&productId=882185&categoryId=165554&langId=-1

Lots of people on here with stories of carrying their 20st, 6'9 friends around in these seats but I reckon a lot of them have W210s which are a fair bit bigger and higher at the back.