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At what age/height did you swap to a booster seat?

7 replies

littledawley · 12/08/2010 10:33

one without the highback bit? DS is 6, average height and weight and still has a highback booster seat - he has recently asked why he can't just have a booster seat and I just wondered what people thought.
My understanding of the law is that only a booster seat is required but I have always assumed that the high back is safer (I think purely because of positioning the seatbelt correctly) - I also think that it looks comfier.

Would like to hear what other people think.

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LIZS · 12/08/2010 10:41

dd is almost 9 - 124cm and 20kg - and still using a highback, no plans to change, ds is 12 and over the legal height but still did until recently. They find the extra head support and the shoudler belt guide more comfortable.

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LauraNorder · 12/08/2010 10:42

DD is 7 and will be staying in her high backed seat for now.

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littledawley · 12/08/2010 11:17

Thanks - I still feel that he should be in it but know so many people that took them off in reception/yr 1. We have a booster seat for emergencies but I'm much happier with him in the full seat.

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castleonthehill · 12/08/2010 19:47

I have the kidfix which goes up to 150cm and does not separate. She goes on a booster seat in a friends car only if it is a short journey. mine are 4 and 8. I know the law in the uk is on a least a 135cm but car seat belts are designed for people of 150cm and the law in Germany is 150cm and if you are under 18 and under that height you need one and that is likely to go EU wide at some point.

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emmaand3 · 16/08/2010 19:46

I would also keep the high back on. My ds is 6 and is in the graco nautilus 1 2 3. The high back is important as it protects the head and also offers side protection too.

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DilysPrice · 16/08/2010 19:53

Latest Which? report made it clear that high backs are much safer in a side-impact, so I'm keeping mine in theirs until they're 11 - why not, if it's safer and we've already got them in the car? OTOH I do use boosters for visits to relatives or friends, to my mind they're acceptably safe for short urban journeys, I just wouldn't like to use one on a motorway.