child seats in defenders?

what do those of you with young families do?

We are looking to buy an 02 Defender and have a 10 month old. His car seat can be fixed with only a lapbelts and we would have 4 lap belted sidefacing seats in the back and 1x shoulder belted seat (passenger) and one lap belted seat in the front.

Must he always be in the front with the full strap? can you put child seats in side facing seats....also if we have another baby (won't be until 1st is 3 years so can probably be in the back on a booster) where can a rear facing seat go?

government website reeeeaaally unhelpful about this...

thanks for your help

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/110-hardtop-seats-38277.html
its not 100%relevent to you but has opinions on seating and safety,so have a read thru.

thanks. Think I might be slightly confused but the one we want has 4 inward facing all with lap belts...that's ok for the MOT right...? must be.
What about fitting front facing rear seats? is that possible? and if so, once they're in is it just like having permanent front facing back seats i.e. I can carry a child in them?

bit worried about people saying they wouldn't carry anyone they loved in the inward faicng seats...eeek! maybe we shouldn't be getting the Defender at all.

to be honest, with a young family, you'd be better off with a Disco.

Exmoor do forward facing rear seats, with a proper 3-point belt, but they're ferkin expensive.

Treworgey 90 said:

to be honest, with a young family, you'd be better off with a Disco.

Exmoor do forward facing rear seats, with a proper 3-point belt, but they're ferkin expensive.

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Ive just come back from driffield landy show with a pair of exmoor foldaway seats,£90 the pair (second hand) of course.

We have a 1987 100 CSW with 12 seats.
New laws state that kids under 11 must be in a proper forward (not sure about rear facing) seat. Thus side facing seats are no good.
But as lots of people up north have done they told the police when stopped that they can't afford a new car just because the law has changed and made the seating of kids different. The police up there have basically given up on it.

I have a 3 year old in a booster seat on the standard seat belt in the back, a 3 month old in his baby seat that gets strapped into a rear seat on the standard belt and wifey in the front.

If you are planning on more than 1 kid you would be better off with a 110 just to be able to get the prams, toys, shopping, DIY planks of wood, tents and all the other paraphenelia that goes with family travel thesedays.

I would agree with Patman and go for the 110 the seating options are much better and there is a good deal more room for a young family.

Patman1200 said:

We have a 1987 100 CSW with 12 seats.
New laws state that kids under 11 must be in a proper forward (not sure about rear facing) seat. Thus side facing seats are no good.
But as lots of people up north have done they told the police when stopped that they can't afford a new car just because the law has changed and made the seating of kids different. The police up there have basically given up on it.

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No it doesn't children over the age of three can travel in sideways facing seats unrestrained. if you restrain them you are breaking the law (proof tat the law is an ass). I Think that children must get preference over adults if a forwards facing seat is available. I will post the relevant legislation asap.

Here it is Child Car Seats : The Law : From September 06 And this is the clause that applies to the rear of landrovers "In addition, a child 3 and over may travel unrestrained in the rear seat of a vehicle if seat belts are not available."

Glad someone asked that! the info was really useful! I'm wanting a defender rather than a disco and was not sure about the rules! so if i fitted decent front facing seat in the rear with 3 point belt it will be ok to carry a child seat then?
cheers

Taggy said:

Glad someone asked that! the info was really useful! I'm wanting a defender rather than a disco and was not sure about the rules! so if i fitted decent front facing seat in the rear with 3 point belt it will be ok to carry a child seat then?
cheers

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yes as long as it's secure and the seat belt mounting are secure you'll be fine. But with really young kids you are better with a CSW, disco, or RR. as in terms of been able to reach them without having to get out of the cab, better heaters, better visibility etc.

Cheers for that, lots of thinking to do! time to put kettle on and convince mrs we really do need a landrover, it does flood a lot round here and we do need to drive throught it, p.s did i mention we're going to that shop you like later ..... might work!