Car seat for toddler..

[Marylou62]

My grandson is nearly 2 and a half years old and is already 19 kg and 97cm tall. He's just about to outgrow his Joie 360 spin so am looking for something easier for him to get into himself.. I can't lift him physically anymore really.
Just been to Halfords who said he's too short for a high back booster and the weight limit for ones with the 5 point harness are only 20kg anyway..
They showed me others but they were £140-150!
What do people do when they have monster toddlers!?
(And I would obviously pay that to keep them safe.. just hoping someone has recommendations please.

There are seats with harnesses that go to 25 kg but they are over the price you mention. But that’s what people with enormous toddlers get — I understand it’s too much when you aren’t the parent.
Wouldn’t his parents get you the seat?

They have to buy 2 for themselves as well..

Can’t they manage with one between them? Many two car families I know where one parent drops and the other collects from nursery etc, they just leave the seat for the other parent to collect. If they really can’t manage without two and expect you to drive him sometimes with a third seat, then surely it’s still their responsibility to buy a seat they’re happy with? I think the reality is you’ll be lucky to get away with anything lower than £150

No not really..
I collect from my DD at 8am and take him to nursery some days. Dad collects after work so it'll be a nightmare..
I'm more than happy to pay for it I was just asking advice about cheaper options..(he's the first GC so it'll get lots of use)

You might want to look at getting a 0-12 car seat, if it's to do for future grandchildren as well. E.g. Puggle Lockton (around £100) or Joie Every Stage (around £125). My LO's grandparents have the Puggle and it seems OK - she is similar height to your DG at 2.5, although much less heavy

My DD is very tall and heavy for her age and I got her Joie every stage when she was 2. It can be used both directions but we are using it forward facing as we only drive short distances. it was called ‘Joie Every Stage Group 0-1-2-3 Ember Car Seat’ when I bought it a year ago at Smyths Toys.

Looking at the Joie the harness only goes to 18kg.. he's already 19.5 kg but definitely needs the safety of the 5pt harness..

The safest option is to keep them rear facing as long as possible, you can get extended rear facing seats to 25 or even 36kg. My 4.5 year old is still comfortably rear facing. Seats will be minimum £200 (look for sales) but a small price to pay for them to be fully protected in a crash

I'm car seat researched out! I've just re-read and you can use the harness up to 25kg! Thank you

Newer isize car seats go off height rather than weight. Cosatto zoomi are stage 1/2/3 so from approx 15 months to 12 years with 5 point harness for early stage. My parents have that for DD it was around 120

I know but I'm 6ft and with him RF I can't put my seat back far enough to drive...

I was going to link this thread from the Car Seats section where BertieBotts gave great advice to the OP whose situation sounded similar but I can see that's your thread! Honestly there's nothing you're missing and you won't get better advice than from her. The only other car seats which forward face for your grandson's weight that I can think of (and I'm not an expert) are out of your budget and would probably be outgrown too quickly by weight anyway (Cybex Anoris, BeSafe Beyond 360, Avionaut Stardust 360). Would it be worthwhile you going to a shop which sells rear facing seats to try one in your car and see how it actually fits if the only issue with rear facing is logistical? If it's just short journeys he might be fine with minimum legroom and if they're installed upright they can take less room than a spinning seat. Still out of your budget though. The Britax 36kg seats are the cheapest ones, but I'm not sure how compact they are. I think the Avionaut Sky is the most compact.

I have this problem, I'm 6ft and my DH is 6'4, I'd love to keep DD rear facing for longer but I think once she grows out of her Joie 360 at 105cm that will be it. It's already a squeeze in our car with that car seat, can't see how an extended rear facing seat would be possible! People must be tiny or driving limos if they can manage those seats 😄

Thank you for understanding.. on another group I've been berated for turning him! But not everyone can afford a bigger car .
As I see it.. RF is obviously safer but he's huge and strong and we have no choice but to FF him. But hopefully I've found a car seat with 5 point harness up to 25kg which will see him until approx 3 yrs old when he will hopefully be more sensible about not slipping out of the seatbelt..(I'm very strict and he's usually very good with me.)

I actually didn't realise mn had a dedicated car seat topic so had posted in chat..