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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to put a child, not 3 until September, into a booster seat?

20 replies

SloanyPony · 17/07/2010 12:22

If a child has outgrown their Stage 2 seat (top of head is higher than top of seat) and meets the minimum height and weight requirements of a booster seat?

On one hand, I feel a child is safer in a Stage 2 seat for as long as they can be in one. All the guidelines say around 4 years of age, but my child is a giant so is just taller and heavier (though he is not heavier than the weight limit which is 18kg)

But on the other hand, if he's not really fitting it anymore, he's probably not safer in one.

I'm not aware of a minimum age you have to be to go into a booster - only a minimum height and weight.

AIBU or should I just crack on with the booster?

OP posts:

Lougle · 17/07/2010 12:25

How responsible is he? Can you trust him not to undo the 3 point seatbelt?

Original poster

SloanyPony · 17/07/2010 12:27

Yes - he can actually undo his stage 2 car seat. He did it once while we were driving, about a month ago, I pulled over and gave him a very serious faced lecture, he promised not to do it again until we were parked in our driveway, which is the only time he's allowed to do it. So now, every time we pull into the driveway, he says "I can push the red button now!" and undoes it.

He's a good lad like that.

OP posts:

AngelsOnHigh · 17/07/2010 12:35

In OZ children have to stay in Booster seats from 4 to seven.

Up to six months, rear facing capsule and baby seat until 4.

Severe penalties apply of not complied with.

If the booster seat still has two straps across, then should be alright.

I wouldn't use a booster with adult seat belt across the chest. Causes too much damange in an accident.

misdee · 17/07/2010 12:37

high back booster or booster cushion?

by they only ooutgrow the seat when the tops of their EARS are higher than the seat.

Jojay · 17/07/2010 12:40

If he meets the height and weight requirements I don't see a problem.

But try to get one with a removeable 5 point harness - they are much safer than a seatbelt I believe.

I think the Britax Evolva are supposed to be good.

Original poster

SloanyPony · 17/07/2010 12:44

Hmmm. The car I have has built in boosters, so that's the equivalent of a booster cushion, and it uses the seat belt of the car.

I think I might need to get a bigger Stage 2.

Trouble is he's so tall its actually difficult to manouvre him into the stage 2 he's got, because its so high, I always end up banging his head against the roof of the car! Poor soul.

He might not be ready. Whilst he wont undo the button, I can't guarantee he wont fanny around and lean forward or to the side and the seat belt can only do his job if he's in the right position...

OP posts:

BigWeeHag · 17/07/2010 12:56

You can get 1-2-3 seats that have harnesses on a HBB, I think those are good for longer and harder to undo.

JustaHalf · 17/07/2010 12:56

As long as he is big enough it should be OK, but the un-doing the belt would bother me...

Sloany, my car also has the pop-up boosters. My son started using them from 4, he is very tall, for his age. He still slips about when he falls asleep.

TBH, there are so many booster seats with the back unit that you can detach when they are bigger, I would put off the integrated booster until you can be sure he will keep the belt on. I don't think he's developmentally mature enough to know the importance of the belt yet.

Get yourself a decent seat, the britax evolva looks great, or similar, until you know he understands why he is strapped in. The car seat will never go to waste, even when you do just used the pop-ups in your car.

For the sake of a few quid, even a hundred quid, it's not worth the risk really.

maxybrown · 17/07/2010 13:01

what seat have you got now? As they do all vary anyway. Take him in somewhere and sit him in a few different ones? How tall is he?

NoSleepTillWeaning · 17/07/2010 13:03

DD2 put grew her stage 1 seat before 3 - one of those sloping maxi cosi type ones I think but felt she was too little still for standard high back booster. I got her a britax one which starts with 5 pt harness and now just uses the seat belt like a normal high booster. I think it's the evolva one if that helps.

LuluF · 17/07/2010 13:17

As far as I'm aware it's a weight and height restriction rather than an age restriction - we found the details on the internet - can't remember the site now - but if you want clarification, I'm sure your local police station will have info and be happy to talk to you about legal requirements. I'm sure retailers of car seats are pretty clued up on it all too.

Allidon · 17/07/2010 13:41

There is no specific age limit, it is based on weight/height. As long as he's heavy enough and tall enoough for a high back booster, there's nothing wrong with it, but personally I would buy a seat like the Evolva123 and use the harness until he reached 18kg.

As another poster said though, it is when the top of his ears/eye level reaches the top of the seat, so you may be able to keep the one you have for now.

Allidon · 17/07/2010 13:43

Meant to add, I wouldn't use just a booster cushion (inbuilt or otherwise) for a young child at all. I would use a HBB until they outgrow it height wise, and then use the cushion if a seat is still required.

faddle · 17/07/2010 13:53

I have DD in the evolva 123. She had outgrown the 0-4 seat by 3, so we got this and she had the 5 point harness until about 2 months ago. I just didnt feel comfortable with her being in just a seatbelt until then.
Both my DC are now in high back boosters, they have small booster seats for the 1.5 mile trip home from school with grandma (once a week) but everything else they are in proper high back seats. I just feel they have a much better level of protection in those.

wickedfairy · 17/07/2010 14:00

Hi,

We had exactly the same issue!! DS is big (tall and stocky, not fat) and he had to go into a high-backed booster seat (age 4-12) at 2.5 yo!!

I wasn't happy as he was still so young, but the shop said it really wasn't safe - they weren't trying to sell me a new one either, we already had it. He was above the min weight and more than tall enough, although I felt very uneasy at him being restrained only by a 3point seatbelt and not the 5point harness.

We had to keep an eye on him at first, as he would lean forward, but he soon learnt that he wasn't allowed to and is totally fine. He can undo the belt, but he knows he is not allowed to until we tell him it is ok.

Defo go for the high-backed boosters, the other ones (cushion only) do not give any side protection. He needs to be safe and if he is too big for his current seat (as was our DS), then you have to move him up.

Good Luck!

waitingforbedtime · 17/07/2010 14:02

Ds has been in a high back booster seat since 2y3m as he is so big.

pigletmania · 17/07/2010 16:04

I would keep him in as long as possible, until he exceeds the weight limit, then get a high back booster in which an adult belt will go over it.

pigletmania · 17/07/2010 16:08

We went for the Britax Evolva once dd grew out of her baby seat, it converts into a high back booster and the harness comes off. I dont know why people waste their money on several different seats when you can buy one like the Evolva it incomporates each stage.

Quality · 17/07/2010 16:15

DD1 moved to a HBB before she was 3 as she was way too big for the 0-4yrs one. I use a chest pad on the strap and the way it is set up she couldn't actualyl reach the seatbelt until a few months ago (she's 4.5 now) and knows not to.
It wasn't safe to keep her in the seat anymore as she was too tall and too heavy, the weight worried me more tbh as the seats are not guaranteed above a certain weight, but it also meant her head had no support on either side.

Seona1973 · 17/07/2010 18:17

ds has been in a high backed booster since before he was 3 as he had reached 18kgs and was too heavy for the harness on his other seat.

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