Car seat query.....

[SpanishFly]

So.....if your child is just above the height where a booster/car seat isn't legally required - is it safer to continue with a high backed booster for a while or to stop using one completely?
Safety is my only concern now, and I can't find much info to say which option is better.
Any info would be appreciated.

Have you seen the 5 step test? [https://carseatblog.com/3966/the-5-step-test/]

It comes down to how the belt fits with or without the booster. We found there was quite a variation between cars, and my eldest who is all leg needed the booster for a lot longer than her height along would suggest.

My son hit 135cm just after turning 7 but he is a long way off not needing a car seat. I tried him in the car and the belt was over his neck, not close to sitting right. He will be staying in his HBB until he is quite a lot bigger. But knowing he was a big child we bought the biggest car seat we could.

So yes, try the test above - if they are just above the legal height its likely they would be safer in a HBB.

Keep them on the booster. Seatbelts are designed for adult skeletal frames. The seat belt often goes across the child's neck at 135cm unless on a booster.
Contact RoSPA for more details.

As long as he still fits in the seat and is within the weight limit then it's fine to keep using it

In Ireland and in Italy the legal minimum height is 150cm. This is perhaps a little excessive, but 135 is probably too short to be safe. My dd2 is currently at that in-between height...

Safer to use a high backed booster than not as long as it's not so small it's making the belt dangerous. Because these add side impact protection which doesn't exist otherwise.

For a backless booster, check three points of how the seatbelt fits without - should cross the child's thighs/hips, not abdomen, should cross their shoulder/collarbone, not rub neck, and when they have their bum to the back of the seat, their knees should bend at the edge of the seat (if they do not, most children scoot forwards to allow their legs to comfortably bend which puts the lap belt incorrectly over the soft abdomen). With/without the booster, whichever position the seatbelt fits most correctly is the safest.

Also, you can ignore weight limits for booster seats as the adult seatbelt takes the strain. 36kg is just the end of the standard, they aren't tested any higher but they don't need to be. If your child is deforming the seat with their weight (unlikely), stop using it. May be more of a problem for the inflatable bubble bum seat.

IME most children don't fit car seat belts well without a booster by 135cm, unless you are in a very small car. By 150cm most if not all children do. Between 135 and 150, it seems to depend on the car.

Apologies for taking a while to get back on here. I've had an odd few days with health and took some time out from life in general.
Thanks to all of you for the info. Will defo be using a seat for a while yet then 💕