Car seats for over 36kg

[kthorri]

Hi, I have a 6 year old and I'm about to renew our car seat. I've been looking for a less bulky seat that would be able to support my child for the upcoming years.

Most carseats only offer a weight range up to 36kg. However I feel like that would be a short-term investment as my kid is already 32kg, and I feel like he is far from ready to be seat free (132cm height).

[BaronessBomburst]

32kg aged 6?
Are you sure?

[kthorri]

That is what the scale reads at least

[BaronessBomburst]

But if he's already 132cm he's tall as well and may soon be out of a car seat. The current legislation is until 135cm or age 12, whichever is sooner.
I don't know the answer but am bumping for you.

[SouthernComforts]

Eek I'd be checking those scales OP, 36kg would be off the charts for a 6 year old.

[hmmimnotsure]

32kgs for a 6 year old, are you sure?

[BertieBotts]

It doesn't matter what he weighs. That's not what OP is asking. Since he's 132cm it's not at all unlikely.

You can use a booster seat (high back or backless, high back is recommended) past 36kg, the reason they all end at 36kg is that this is the end of the legal standard. The newer standard is height based only and doesn't have any weight limits, but in any case - it is not dangerous to use a booster seat (that uses the adult seatbelt to restrain the child) past 36kg, even if it is from the older standard.

What I would strongly recommend to you would be to go into stores and try out the seats they have either with your child or with a tape measure, to see how high you can adjust the head support, as the problem you'll find at his height is that he'll outgrow several of the more common brands very quickly. You might need to try every booster they have in the shop to find one with enough growing room. Or if you would prefer to order online, Diono high backed boosters tend to have high headrest possibilities and Britax Adventure is another good one, also good for bigger children as it doesn't have restrictive side arms.

Although you can stop using a car seat at 135cm it's not unsafe to continue using one if you feel he would be safer in it. Adult seatbelts are really designed for 150cm+, so there's a gap there.

[kthorri]

Thanks everyone! I truly appreciate your concern over my child's weight.. or my ability to use a scale.

I hope you guys don't stop feeding your children based on a curve.

@BertieBotts, thanks for the reasonable answer. I'm gonna look into those suggestions, I was just worried about insurances and stuff with the label only saying 36kg. He has been using the car seatbelt for quite a while in the current seat, but I'm going for a isofix and usage of car seatbelt (so that the chair is stationary when he enters the car).

@hmmimnotsure: Yes I'm sure.

@SouthernComforts: We don't live in by charts, we nourish and exercise.

@BaronessBomburst: Yes, I'm sure about the weight, I know he's close to 135 but I still feel he's not ready to leave a seat just yet (there is a bit of a gap as BertieBotts noted).

Just a thought for future reference, if my child was obese, or struggling with weight, asking for a carseat recommendation is not the scene I would turn to for advice on my child's weight..

I'll leave you with a "off-the-charts, check those scales" kid carrying a set of footballs to go to his requested extra workout of the day..

[BertieBotts]

If you are really worried about going against what the sticker says, you could get an i-size booster seat, as these use height limits instead of weight limits so there is no maximum weight stated on them.

But I have never heard of this being an issue with insurance - I doubt they would even ask a question about car seats or the child's weight at that age anyway. And due to the height issue, I would want to be prepared to look at both i-size and R44 regulated booster seats because you will struggle to find one that goes very tall, even though the i-size ones are supposedly designed to take children up to 150cm - they just don't all go that tall. Take the child to a shop and try them all out :)

[UnexpectedItemInTheShaggingAre]

Is your little one broad, as I have read some HBB are narrow around the shoulders for bigger children.
Are you on Facebook. The group car seat advice and support UK looks fantastic
Hope they can help xx