Car Seat issues?

[Bunnykins]

Hi, we were practicing with the baby's car seat last night as we have a Toyota Celica (52 reg) and its a bit of an awkward shaped car plus its only 3 doors, so we anticipated a nightmare. Anyhoo we werent disappointed! when we tried to strap the car seat in we found the seatbelt wasnt long enough

Has anyone else had this problem?? Is there something we can do to fix it?

 

[Hope81]

oh dear contact the toyota maybe? i am sure other people probably complained about that to them

 

[Bunnykins]

Thanks good idea, I think I'll get my hubby to do that, he is a bit of a car nut and is a member of all the Toyota Celica fanboy forums, just he normally posts about wheel rim sizes and body kits, think he might be embarrased to put on a post about baby seats!!! lol!!!
I just find it strange that a seatbelt wouldnt be long enough for a baby seat, i thought all seatbelts were a standard length?? Its not even a big car seat just a normal silver cross baby one? surely we cant be the first people to put a baby in a Celica? I might have a quick google!

 

[Coco pops]

I think you can buy extenders for them, worth contacting the manufacturer xx

 

[charliebear]

What car seat is it?

 

[Baby Bean]

This might sound silly but what way did you strap it in? My dh's car meatballs are shorter than mine and there's a trick to it! We have a graco seat and if we don't put the lap belt across and plug it in first then the longer bit won't reach round and even then its tight and the seat has to be tipped up a bit first, poor lo! Hope that made sense x

 

[charliebear]

Just to add, I was told the seat belt extenders weren't safe to use with child car seats they were designed for the more portly people who struggle to use a 'normal' length seatbelt.
You could always ring your local garage/Halfords and see what they would recommend or replace the seatbelt.

We ended up changing car, not only for the seatbelt reason but it was a factor. We had a 3 door jeep and not very accessible when pregnant/just given birth!

 

[charliebear]

This might sound silly but what way did you strap it in? My dh's car meatballs are shorter than mine and there's a trick to it! We have a graco seat and if we don't put the lap belt across and plug it in first then the longer bit won't reach round and even then its tight and the seat has to be tipped up a bit first, poor lo! Hope that made sense x

Good tip!
We struggled with AJ's seat if we didnt do the above!

 

[xcitedmum2bex]

The. Shop a bought mine from fitted to car see if fit cos she said all don't fit hoe u get sorted soon x

 

[Young Mum 21 x]

my OH has a Celica too! but we've always put DD in my 207..
sounds a nightmare! ill have to see if my OH's is the same!! xxx

 

[Baby Bean]

Doh, just seen seatbelts got changed to meatballs stoopid phone! X

 

[NinjaKitty]

Doh, just seen seatbelts got changed to meatballs stoopid phone! X

I know, made me hungry. Mmmmmmmm meatballs *drool*.

 

[Zazu]

Could you put it in the passenger seat with the airbag off? You might have to buy a different seat, my local mothercare does a fitting service x

 

[Bunnykins]

Thanks for all the advice
I cant remember what the carseat is called but I know its a silver cross one and it fits on the pram chassy (we got given it by a friend second hand). I'm going to try the trick with the lapbelt then plugging it in first and see if that works, if not then I guess its gonna be a case of disabling the airbags and using the front seat (is that definately legal though???)

mmmmmm talking of meatballs, I have just had a Subway Meatball sarnie for my lunch and it was lush!

 

[Zoeox]

When I have my little cousin in my car his one seat doesn't fit very well and I have to put the belt along the bottom plug it in and then back around the back instead of fitting it to the seat then plugging it in. I think I may have to get a new car to put LO in as I only have a 3 door fiesta. =D
xx

 

[AugustMum]

As long as the airbag is off then its perfectly safe to have them in the front. Apparently the front seat is actually the safest place for the car seat (of couse, without the airbag on).

In some cars though the seatbelts in the front are shorter than in the back It makes no sense!

 

[JJ Mum]

Mine was second hand from my sister , and so not worth looking for one ofk those expensive seat docking things you can get nowadays. My seatbelt doesn't fit, but if you lift up the back of the carseat when trying to put the seatbelt behind the seat (where baby's head would go), we can get the seatbelt on ok, then push the seat down. Doesn't cause too many probs when baby is in the seat either. Hope this is an option for you too

 

[Emmamb]

The silver cross Ventura seat that fits the 3d pram is well known for not fittin into cars-it doesn't fit in my mums freelander or my Chrysler. Could just fit it in the zafira but fitted well in the laguna and vectra. Like jj mum said it's sometimes easier to tilt the seat up (towards the back of the seat) put the belt around and then push it back. I had to get another seat for my car xx

 

[charliebear]

SC ventura fits in BMW too Thats what we had for AJ

 

[Bunnykins]

Yep it is the silvercross ventura, just been googling it all and it looked pretty bleak everyone was saying baby seats just don't fit in celicas and to buy a new car (which is not an option for us at the mo) anyway we've just gone back out to the car in a last ditch attempt and used your handy tips about plugging it in first then doing the back bit and we've got it to work :yey: I can't believe it its a bit tipped up but its completely secure. So Thankyou ladies for all your help you've saved the day