4.5 year old still in 3 point Britax renaissance.

[falabalamb]

Just wanted to check I wasn't missing anything, she's 4 and a half and weighs 14.5 kg (hope my scales are working right!) so well under the weight limit. I can't find anything about height restrictions on this seat though, keep getting info about the height of the seat when I search!! Is there any other reason that she should move into a booster? I would rather she stayed in a proper harness as it's safer but if for whatever reason, she needs to move up, I want to make sure I know about it. Thanks.

[nextphase]

I think the min weight for booster seats is 15kg, so she isn't heavy enough to move up! My oldest is 4 next week, and going to be in his (5point) current seat for as long as I can keep him there.

I think, and you need too check this out properly, that for the infant seats, its heat at the top of the seat, and for the next stage, its eyes level with the top of the seat before they are too tall.

[Spikeinhiscoat]

Ds1 is quite light, and was 5 before we moved him up. All the safety information I saw was weight-based, the age is just a guideline. Saying that, a person working as a car seat fitter said I should have moved him up a group as soon as he turned 4. I think he was wrong though. The G 1 seats often say they are suitable up to 18 kg, and G 2 start at 15 kg. Even if your scales are a bit out, you should be fine for a while.

[nextphase]

heat head at top of seat

[Bananasinfadedpjs]

I had to move my daughter just before she turned 5 - she was still well within the weight limit (just over 15kg) but she was too tall for the seat, partly because of her head being over the top, but mainly because the harness, even at the highest point, was too low for her shoulders, and I felt it wasn't safe - I think in forward facing seats the strap needs to be at or above the level of the shoulders, and it was below them.

The advice is to use the lower stage seat for as long as possible, and I wasn't particularly happy at having to move her up when she was still light enough for a stage 1 seat, but it just didn't fit her.

So I would look at the head height, and the shoulder strap as well as the weight, but I think it's probably fairly unusual to outgrow a seat that way - our problem is my daughter is very slight, and therefore light, but with a long torso.

[falabalamb]

Thankyou, she's very tiddly, short and slight, it took her ages to grow out of her infant seat. Knowing what I know now, I'd have put her into an extended rearward facing seat but back then I didn't know about them. Her little brother will be going into one (when I can afford one!) so there's no rush for her to come out of her seat. So she's ok where she is for a while, thanks so much for your help :)

[MultipleMama]

My son is 4.5 and will be moving to another RF when he hits 15kg - I won't put him in a booser until he was at least 6yo.

You have plenty of time to decide:)

[MultipleMama]

I meant 18kg facepalm

[Scruffey]

I think it's outgrown when her eyes are level with top edge of the seat, but check your instructions.

[Knittingnovice]

DS will be 5 in a month and although he is 15.3kg he will be in his 5 point harness for as long as it fits him. The only exception is when we all go in DH's car as it doesn't fit three car seats in the back, so he goes in the front in a HBB, while I squeeze between DD1 group 1 & DD2 infant carrier.