What age did you take the headrest off your school age child’s car seat?

[Collectorofcookbooks]

DTs are telling me the headrests on their car seats are too low and digging into their shoulders. Sure enough, they are!

The headrests won’t go up any further but it feels far too early to take them off - they’re only six and a half! They’re 122 and 123cm and both weigh 23kg, but are very long backed.

These seats are meant to do them until they’re 11, but I’m not sure at what stage it’s ok to take the headrest off. If it’s something we just need to put up with that’s fine, but is there any guidance on it?

Which seats are they? Not all car seats have removable backs

They’re from John Lewis - Group 2/3. The headrests come off when they’re not needed, then the back comes off when you just need a booster.

Not proposing to take the back off, they’re several years off that!

By take the headrests off, do you mean go to a backless booster?
DS1 has just come out of his carseat, aged 10 and 142cm. His shoulders were getting too wide. He us ok in my car without a booster, but we need a backless booster for DHs car, as he doesn't fit the adult seat.

Given you've got several years before they are legal without a carseat (135cm) I think I'd look at a carseat which goes taller/wider than the existing one - it will still get several years use. But with twins, that's not a cheep option!

Its unusual that headrests would be removed. Can you link to the seat?

What car seat is it? Some car seats are smaller than others but they should all go up to about 135cm or above.

They don’t seem to make the seat anymore- if they need new car seats they’ll just have to squash for a while!

No no, definitely not taking the back off!

They’re similar to this one

If they are squashed they'll end up slouching or leaning forward out of the seat.

As much as I know it's contraversal I'd be tempted to try out some seats in the shop then see if you can find them on the second hand market.
Far more seats are no longer wanted because they are outgrown rather then been in accident.

What make are they? I dont think the headrests are designed to be removed unless it says somewhere in the instructions

@dementedpixie they’re John Lewis own brand

Actually I'd be half tempted to.take them back and tell JL they are too short for the children.

You might not get all your money back but JL might give you a discount of new ones.

I know what you mean op.
My.daighter is 6.5 too and I took hers off. The head rest of the car seat is low enough for her anyway.

This is the bit I took off..
Not the actual back part.

This bit, circled, moved up and down, but at it's highest it was still too low for her shoulders.

I dont see a picture

Its there now

Either the pic didn't post or this is a repeat....

Yes that’s exactly the bit I’m talking about @monkeytoesofdoom

Good to know I’m not the only one with this issue!

That’s a good idea - put the car headrests back on. When I do finally take them off. Will see if I can stretch a few more months out of them, there’s nothing in the budget for 4 new ones!

they say aged 11 but it's really 135cm and quite a lot of kids are above 135cm before 11 years old, my DD is 9 and 142cm

Are you absolutely sure you've got the backrest extended properly? It looks like the one we have and my DS, who is 146 cm still (just) fits.

They’re not supposed to be backless until 126cm+

I waited as long as possible - nearly to the limit. No point rushing.

Why are posters still talking about backless?! Read the OP she is talking about the headrest, not the back 🤦‍♀️

The headrest often has guides for the belt. I don't think they're designed to be used without it

Do you still have the instruction manual or can you find it online? I've used loads of different types of this kind of carseat and I've never come across one where you have the option of removing the headrest, the whole back section yes but not just the head rest. The headrest provides side impact protection for the child's head.
I've used high back boosters with average sized children up to around 10/11 years. If the head rest doesn't move up and down on your existing seats I would look to buy new HBB's. You will get a few years use out of them.

The head part shouldn’t really come off because that is the padded side impact protection. Do they really not adjust high enough? I’m surprised on a group 2/3 because that’s supposed to last years.

Is this the instruction manual for your seat @Collectorofcookbooks? It doesn't say anything about removing just the headrest, only making the seat into a booster.

johnlewis.scene7.com/is/content/JohnLewis/jlbaby_group123seat_121015pdf?