I'm confused about when to move to a HBB - help?!

[butterflyrabbit]

My DS is nearly 4, 15kg and approx 104cm. He's in the Nuna Rebl usually rear-facing but the height limit is 105 cm. (I have just found out the safety concerns re the Nuna Rebl too - luckily they will replace with the newer version which I can use with DS2 when he's old enough).

Nuna Rebl weight limit is 19.5kg but obviously he's getting too tall. I'd assumed he could go into a HBB but reading some posts on here I'm not sure he's quite mature enough to not mess around with the seatbelt etc. Any suggestions for what to do? I'm reluctant to buy yet another Group1 (or whatever toddler seats are) seat but obviously want to make sure he's safe. Are there even any that cater to kids taller than 105 cm?

[trilbydoll]

Joie Bold harnesses to 25kg then it's the seatbelt. Kiddy Guardian Pro has an impact shield to 18kg then it is the seatbelt. I don't think height matters with either, the headrest goes up a long way. Both ff tho, did you want to stay rear facing?

[butterflyrabbit]

Thanks, I think our time rear-facing has come to an end tbh. Good to know there's no particular height limit as it's hard to tell from the pictures/reviews.

I have been using Which as a guide and it got about 50% but a good/average safety rating - just the different modes add to risk of not installing correctly.

Not too keen on those impact shields so the Bold looks like a good solution for the time being.

[butterflyrabbit]

Is that the only seat that covers taller/heavier toddlers then (not that I think of DS as a toddler any more?!)? Seems a bit bizarre that they'd otherwise have to move to a HBB when they might not be ready. I didn't even think he was particularly tall/heavy. Maybe he's just immature....

[butterflyrabbit]

oh wait (sorry talking to myself!) it looks like most 1/2/3 stage seats might be appropriate? As long as the weight limit is high enough?

I thoroughly confused myself buying my stage 1 seat a few years ago then became quite au fait with it all - now I'm back to being clueless!

[drspouse]

We have the Kiddy with the impact cushion, we had the same issues - skinny fidgety 4 year old. She can actually reach the buckle to undo it but it's a bit of a reach so she tends not to. She also doesn't slip down like we were afraid with just a HBB.

[butterflyrabbit]

does she mind the impact cushion thing?

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

I would go for the Bold over an impact shield if you want to go forward facing. For me the risk of injuries with an impact shield doesn't make them a safe option.

Other 25kg forward facing options are the Cosy and Safe Excalibur and the Diono radian 5, but your car must have top tether in order to fit all 3 FF 25kg options.

Rear facing has more choice if you don't have top tether.

Any other 1/2/3 seats will only use a seatbelt once they've outgrown the harness by height or weight (always 18kg with these seats).

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

Sorry, I should have started by saying that although he might be 105cm, he might not have outgrown it by height if he still physically fits in the harness and in the shell. The height has to be used as a bit of a guideline because some children might be 105cm but be all leg so they fit in the harness; some might be shorter than 105cm but carry their height in their torso which means they don't fit anymore.

It's not like weight which is an absolute rule so if he still fits in the seat, I'd contact Nuna to check and then try to keep him in that for another 6 months and see if he's ready for a HBB then.

[butterflyrabbit]

Thank you! It'll be a while till he's 18 kg at least. What RF seats are there, just out oft interest? Which has reviewed a lot of seats but didn't have any RF stage 1/2/3 ones

[drspouse]

Our DD's head was above the level for the RF we had; she likes her cushion, she can play on it!

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

Which isn't great for RF seats at all. They've given some really good seats poor reviews for stupid reasons 🤦🏻‍♀️

25kg RF seats include Axkid Minikid, Axkid Move, Britax Two Way Elite, Britax Maxway, Diono Radian 5, Be Safe Izi Plus, Britax Hi Way.

We've got two Minikids and then Britax TWEs as our spares. I've not used the other ones.