5 point harness for tall child

[handmadewithlove]

I am trying to find a harnessed seat for my just turned 3yr old. He weighs 15.5kg but is very broad and has outgrown his maxicosi priorifix width ways... we have tried some group 123 seats but the harness doesn't adjust high enough for height - even the one which goes to 25kg.

Any suggestions?

[HappyAsASandboy]

The Britax Two Way Elite is very tall and wide (sort of flat-ish, no real 'wings'), fits most car seats and goes to 25kg with a 5-point harness either forward or rear facing. I think it is the most useful seat ever!

The In Car Safety Centre sell them, and will give advice and support by phone if you can't get to Milton Keynes, Essex or Belfast.

[diploddycus]

I second the two way elite. Also the britax advansafix but that might be the one you tried that goes up to 25kg. It's a fab seat.

[handmadewithlove]

The problem with both is the maximum height of the harness just fits him now so there is no growing room left. I wondered if a seat with an impact cushion would be better as that isn't restricted by his height in the same way?

[diploddycus]

How tall is he? 110cm 4 year old still has plenty of room in both the advansafix and TWE. I'd say more room in the TWE though.

I don't know much about seats with impact cushions, sounds like one might fit the bill for you though. I'm not sure what the weight restrictions are on them, I'd be worried he'd outgrow it quickly.

[SweepTheHalls]

I will coming on to suggest an impact cushion seat. We used the Jane Montecarlo one.

[handmadewithlove]

Not sure on height. I sat him in all the seats they had in the shop I was in and even the shop assistant was surprised that he was right at the edge of the harness height. She said the rule was that the harness straps need to be above or level with his shoulders?
Weight is less of an issue as he has plenty to go before he reaches 15kg.

I think I need to find a 123 seat with an impact cushion. Is the Jane montecarlo 12 or 123?

[Momzilla82]

Impact cushion on a kiddi guardian pro fix and then you won't need to ever buy another car seat as when he's older you can remove the bar. It's got great side impact protection too.

[RobotHamster]

There a Britax that fitted out tall light child. Think it's the Evolve 123.

[handmadewithlove]

Evolve 123 not big enough! Which is ridiculous as he really isn't that tall. We have the evolve 23 at the moment so that would have been ideal. Any idea of anywhere in Surrey / sussex that we can try the kiddy guardian?

[Momzilla82]

John Lewis should have/ be able to get one in stock. But trust me it fits all the way up to 12 years old. My big 5 year old is no where near grown out of it. I like that the side impact protection doesn't just go up it goes out to the sides to make chair wider as well.

[RobotHamster]

Wow, really? Even with the headrest moved right up? I thought that fitted quite large children

[handmadewithlove]

The seat itself is fine. The problem is that the harness straps do not adjust high enough. This is why I think an impact cushion may work.

[BertieBotts]

You definitely don't want one which converts to a booster because it won't be big enough. You will need to look at extended rear facing or special needs seats.

I am surprised that the ones which HARNESS to 25kg aren't big enough. How tall is he? My six year old (seven in October) is 125cm and weighs about 23kg. He's still in nursery (German kindergarten) and he is taller than all of the other children there, he towers over the three year olds. Have you absolutely definitely tried one which harnesses to 25kg, or just a normal 123 seat which is a booster after 18kg? I've heard of children being in these seats until they are six or eight years old. The ERF seats which harness to 25kg are not usually sold in your average baby or car equipment shop.

I would say if he's tall the impact cushion won't be suitable either, because the problem with them is they are designed that the child's body would curve around the shield in an impact. If it's just pinning his hips and his chest is quite high behind it then it is just going to pin him which has similar (not as bad) issues to a lap belt. The upper body wouldn't be restrained adequately.

I will say though - as he is 15kg, he could legally go into a high back booster with adult seat belt. It might be that that's actually safer than a harness or shield which doesn't fit properly, especially as a seatbelt adjusts to the movement of the person wearing it. I think it was Freakonomics which said over 3 years car seats don't actually improve injury rates any more. So it might be worth just going for a really, really good booster seat?

[BertieBotts]

For reference I'm fairly average height and my 125cm, 23kg six year old comes up to just below my boobs.

[handmadewithlove]

We have tried the britax advansafix which is forward facing to 25kg - the straps on the highest setting were about half an inch above his shoulder. It is possible the shop assistant adjusted it incorrectly but I also checked it didn't go higher! He is currently in a britax evolva 23 high back booster. I would just prefer him to be harnessed for his safety and also to stop him messing about in the car!

Good point about the impact cushion. I think I will need to try one.

[BertieBotts]

This review says the harness on the Advansafix is small. That's silly really. Sounds like it's more of a marketing gimmick then as the seat can be used as a booster later.

clearlybex.co.uk/2014/12/britax-advansafix-review/

I would try to get hold of a Two Way Elite.

[diploddycus]

Have to disagree about the Advansafix being a marketing gimmick! I'm very defensive of it my son was an 18kg 4 year old when he went in it and is now a 20kg 5 year old so he's had about a year extra of having a 5 point harness so far, he'll be in the harness for a while yet too, he's 110cm atm.

I know it's not right for you though OP and I agree with trying the Two Way Elite. It's meant to harness a 6yr old so if it doesn't fit your 3yr old I'd think you'll need to start looking at a HBB, as Bertie makes a good point about if he's tall an impact cushion could be in the wrong position.

[keely79]

For the Kiddy guardianfix - there's a shop in Croydon - think it's called Baby Nest that sells them (that's where we got our first one) - don't know if that's any use.

[handmadewithlove]

I can probably find that! Thank you

[AA2Boys]

I have the exact same issue. No harnesses give my 2.5 year old boy any room too grow any taller. We tried the Advansafix today and the harness is only slightly higher than his shoulders in it so not much growing room. I also have the issue that he weighs in at 18kg already.

[captaincake]

I believe the britax two way elite and the axkid mini kid have the highest harnesses?

[Ragtag14]

I'm having the same problem with my daughter. She's only just turned two and is currently in the Joie stages 123 but the shoulder straps are actually coming in level with her shoulders now. She's only 13kg as well. Not sure what to do as can't afford £200+ for a carseat with impact cushion. Can anyone point me in a more price reasonable direction? We bought the Joie cause it's meant to do up to 7 years. :/