Carseat- by age or by weight to take off integral harness?

[Yanda]

I have Britax Evolva Ultima which is suitable from 9 months to 11 years. My 2.4 year old is getting increasingly uncomfortable in the integral harness, particularly the buckle which has wide pieces which are now digging into her legs. Its all adjusted to the maximum it can be as far as I can see. She is big for her age and it says in the instructions that a seat belt can be used instead of the integral harness from 15kg. She is nearly 16kg but obviously is still very young so what should I do?

[Martha200]

My HV was on about car seats the other day when I went for my dcs 8mth check and she said, which I thought anyway, always go with the weight not age as you would find in the instructions for use of the seat.

[lauraloola]

I used to work for Mothercare and did a course in car seat fittings. You should always go by the weight. If something did happen she may not be as protected by the straps she is in now to the seat belt.

I think you will be surprised at how well your dd fits it with the seat belt once the straps have been removed. She will love using the 'big girls seat belt'

[Flibbertyjibbet]

My ds's were both in the seat belt just after 2nd birthday as they are big. I went off the weight/height.
If a harness states that it takes up to a certain weight, then this is the maximum weight it can be guaranteed to hold in the event of an accident.
My boys love being in a grown up seat belt. Also when they are potty trained I think they find the harness uncomfortable.

[nannyL]

the integral harness is MUCH safer and its safe to use up until 18kg

i would keep her in a proper harness until she reaches approx 18kg

IMO you put chikdren in car seats to keep them safe in the evnt of a crash.... and if (god forbid) you are in a crash surely you want her to be a safe as possible during it?

[Yanda]

Thank you for your replies it has given me a lot to think about. NannyL I know that the integral harness can be used up until 18kg and I wouldn't even be questioning it if it wasn't so uncomfortable in it. She has always been so good in her car seat and now she she is saying "please mummy, it hurts me on my legs" and I really think that it does. She is now trying to undo it which she never has before and my instinct that it is because it is hurting her rather than she is just being toddlerish. The instructions say that the seatbelt can be used from 15kg so she is in the window between the 15 and 18kg which is why I am umming and ahhing because as you quite rightly say I want her to be safe in the event of a crash.

its interesting what you say flibbertyjibbert about the potty training because she has just potty trained and that that is coinciding with the problems. She is also quite tall and is already in some 3-4 clothes. I am also reassured by lauraloola's experience and that Martha's HV also advised weight so I think I am going to try her with it. Thanks all!

[Flamebat]

Weight every time for me

[Flamebat]

as in they stay in the integral the maximum time they can, not switch the earliest iyswim

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

The harness could cause a problem in an accident and crush the chest area if they are heavy. My advice would be to go to Halfords and ask them to check your child in the seat with the straps on, weigh your child before you go as that will help.

[nannyL]

why would the harness cause a problem if they are heavy?

it its well known the a 5 pint harness is the safest way for everyone to travel... hence pilots / racing drivers etc have 5 point harnesses because they are safer... and these drivers survive and walk out ininjured of HUGE super fast crashes that noone in a normal car would ever survive

It must be the width of the webbing that dictates how heavy you can be, and that would be how muc it would have been testes for.

If every person travelled in every car in a properly fitting 5 point harness we would all be MUCH ssafer and there would be far fewer injuries

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

I was told a harness can cause more injuries in an accident if they should have moved up to the adult seat belt.

Racing drivers will have a different kind of harness designed for an adult not a child.

[myaffkin]

Toddlers in boosters that use the adult belt are more likely than any other passenger to be seriously injured in a crash because of the way their pelvis will slide. That's the opinion of top international road safety experts. It's a mystery to me why so few 15kg+ seats have a 5-point harness (only the Britax Junior Traveller in the UK, I think, though there are loads in the States). I decided to buy the Junior Traveller.