Greetings, I need information on the laws in Italy regarding the use of child car seats. Our five year old usually uses a booster seat but as of late perfers a seat belt alone. The law here in Canada is that car seats are madatory until the age of 6 or until the child exceeds 40 lbs. Our daughter is 43 lbs. We recently received our information package from Peugeot and it gives the regulations for France as car seats up until age 7 and booster seats up until age 10. This has me slightly concerned so I was hoping that someone (perhaps Cristina) would have the answer. Thanks, Laurie
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Kim,
When we rented through AutoEurope, one of their representatives told me that in Italy child seats are mandatory only until age 4--I can't vouch for that, but when we were in Italy in May, we never once saw the kind of booster seat that our five-year-old uses. They may very well exist--we just never saw one!
Our daughter is also not quite big enough to use a regular seatbelt, but we found a decent compromise for our trip--before leaving home, we bought one of those little contraptions that you slide over the seatbelt to adjust the angle for smaller kids. It's just a little flat vinyl triangle thing with snaps, you slide the seatbelt through it then snap it into place, but it kept the seatbelt positioned properly, and made it much more comfortable for her. I think we only paid about $6 for it, but it was a big help! Also much easier than lugging around a full-sized booster, especially considering how "compact" the back seat of the rental car was.
During our trip, we actually saw a whole lot of very young kids who weren't restrained properly... if at all. I saw babies and toddlers riding in the laps of passengers--and even in the driver's lap on one occasion--on the autostrada. Saw kids barely old enough to walk clinging on in front of or behind an adult on motorbikes and mopeds, no special seats or helmets... scared the heck out of me!
until 9 months ( 0 - 10 KG) child seat Group 0 until 12-14 months ( 0 - 13 KG) child seat Group 0+ 9 months 4 yrs ( 9 - 18 KG) child seat Group 1 3-4 yrs - 6 yrs ( 15 - 25 KG) child seat Group 2(*) 5-6 yrs - 11 yrs ( 22 - 36 KG) child seat Group 3(*)
(*)groups 2 & 3 are [plural] 'cuscini rigidi' (=hard cushions?) cuscino rigido lbs 43 = 20 kilos (kg) (mind rounded) child seat in Italian seggiolino group gruppo You could ask for a 'cuscino rigido di gruppo 2' Saluti, Paolo
Posts: 845 | Location: italy | Registered: 18 July 2002
Thank you for your information. I will look further into this and perhaps end up purchasing the appropriate seat as it has been my experience that the cost for 22 days often exceeds the cost of buying a seat. Regards, Laurie
I know that there is a law but am not sure of what the exact age is for riding without a car or booster seat. My 4 year old is in an in between booster (like a seat with back attached). We bought her a booster (cuscino rigido) which is just the base part but she still prefers her seat and I prefer that she is strapped in tightly.
My feeling is, and I am a very opinionated person if you all haven't noticed yet is that children who cannot sit comfortably and safely using a regular shoulder harness should not be seated without a booster seat at least. If the law tomorrow changed and they said kids only needed to be in car seats until the age of 1, my two would still be in care seats. Better to be safe then sorry.
Italians are notorious for driving with children running around a car. I saw a woman last week with her probably 6 month old just layed on the passenger seat. My sister in law came to Siena yesterday but took the train because she is scared to drive the Siena Grossetto with her son in the car. She arrived at her parents house (about 15 km outside of the walled city) and then went to Siena. Of course she didn't bring a car seat. She is a neurosurgeon. You would think she would understand the risks but she doesn't.
Cristina A San Franciscan in Siena Read my report on the Palio di Siena
Here are the factors to consider when deciding if your child is ready for the adult belts:
When your child is big enough so the shoulder belt can lie across the middle of the shoulder and chest, not anywhere near the neck. When your child can sit all the way back and your child's knees bend easily over the edge, without any slumping. The lap belt must be low and flat across the lower hips / upper thighs, not the stomach. Your child is responsible enough to not unbuckle the belt, or move around.
Car seat belts are designed to properly restrain adults. A booster isn't a big deal to ask for, and I'm sure will make you more comfortable. If only a lap belt is available, make sure it is worn tight and low on the hips, not across the stomach.
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