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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be too stupid to understand car seats?

48 replies

whatareyoueventalkingabout · 28/11/2013 21:23

little one is 2 and 2 months and is 16.5kg. What do I do about a car seat? The one they have at the moment is up to 18kg, but I don't think that they are supposed to be in booster seats until they are four?

I am an intelligent woman but I appear to be entirely too stupid to understand what to do in this situation. do I put them in a booster seat even though they aren't old enough?

Do I keep them in the five point harness one? HELP!

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 28/11/2013 21:27

You can buy stage 123 car seats which have a higher weight limit as they convert to a booster seat, but they still have a 5 point harness.

When the child is older you can remove the harness and use the adult belt. It later converts to just a booster cushion.

ilovepowerhoop · 28/11/2013 21:30

the 5 point harness is also only ok till 18kgs in the 123 seat. Some seats harness to a higher weight but I'm not sure which ones (2way elite rings a bell though). I'd keep them in their current seat until they reach 18kgs and then see what your options are. DS moved to a high backed booster around the age of 3 as he was over 18kgs by then.

Tableforfour · 28/11/2013 21:32

Two way elite by britax is great, goes forward or rear facing until 25 kg and is easy to fit.

lilyaldrin · 28/11/2013 21:33

They can stay in the harnessed seat until 18kg, and then a high backed booster with a seatbelt.

PolkaDotParty · 28/11/2013 21:35

I think britax extensafix is 5 point for longer too

Willitberaaaaspberry · 28/11/2013 21:36

Have you had a look on the car seat forum here on mumsnet? I know it really helped me when we were looking for dds latest car seat. We had a bit of a different problem in that dd is older than your child but I wanted to keep in her a 5 point harness as long as possible. I got some great advice from some very knowledgable ladies. Might be worth a look for you.

bellablot · 28/11/2013 21:38

Keep them in the seat until 18kg then re-acess. It's not hard really, it's nothing to do with age but size

lifeinthefastlane1 · 28/11/2013 21:40

my dd age 4 is in the britax evolva 5 points, but she is just coming to the 18kg weight limit for that , however she still fits in the harness so I am loathe to put her in the booster seat just with the seatbelt, she has the highback booster with seatbelt in dh car but i dont like it at all. why dont they do 5 point harness up to age 7. my friend couldnt wait to put her tiny 4yr old on just the booster cushion without the high back the day she turned 4.
op , thats a real dilemma as you lo is not even nearly 4 so not even ready to think about using the highback booster. sorry not much help.

morethanpotatoprints · 28/11/2013 21:43

I had the one that went from birth to 4ft6 the size they don't need them anymore.
It was about £28 from Argos and was brilliant. It covered all the stages.
Even if you bought one of those now you'd still get your moneys worth.
Might be more than that now though as bought it years ago. Grin

Artandco · 28/11/2013 21:44

Ds age 4 is only just 16kg so still in 5 point. Have brought a concord transformer xt for when he is over.

Younger ds age 2 1/2 is 13kg. Looking at red book ds1 was around the same so in 18 months have only put on 2-3kg. Weight gain slows so I would imagine your son will be able to go in current seat for at least another year

Janek · 28/11/2013 21:44

lifeinthefastlane seatbelt harnesses are only safe up to 18kg, it's nothing to do with whether or not the child still fits in it.

Original poster
whatareyoueventalkingabout · 28/11/2013 22:40

janek what do you mean there? Am so confused x thank you all for your wonderful help x

OP posts:
lilyaldrin · 28/11/2013 22:51

Most car seats with harnesses are only safety tested up til 18kg.

OP, what is it exactly that you are worried about? Your DC is still within the weight limit for the 5 point harnessed seat, right?

Original poster
whatareyoueventalkingabout · 28/11/2013 23:02

little one will most prob be two and a half max when grows out of car seat, Does it mean I have to buy a third car seat and then change to a booster seat at four? Sorry if I didn't explain very well.

Don't mind buying a new car seat if I have to, but I don't want little one to be in wrong one x

OP posts:
foreverondiet · 28/11/2013 23:20

Can Stay in current seat until 18kg.

From 14kg can buy a high back booster with side impact and head support. Some of these have 5 point harnesses that can be removed.

My ds2 will stay in his stage 1 seat until he is 4 but he is quite small.

lilyaldrin · 28/11/2013 23:21

From 18kg your child can go in a high backed booster seat with a seat belt.

foreverondiet · 28/11/2013 23:24

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/cr/B0095TCCTE/ref=mw_dp_cr

You can get similar that use adult harness - fine from 14/15kg don't have to be 4.

lilyaldrin · 28/11/2013 23:25

For example this seat will be suitable when your child is 18kg, and lasts until 36kg. It's based on weight not age.
www.mothercare.com/Maxi-Cosi-Rodi-Air-Protect-Highback-Booster-Car-Seat---Black-Jacquard/399332,default,pd.html

lilyaldrin · 28/11/2013 23:27

Or my 3 year old DS has this seat:
www.johnlewis.com/kiddy-guardian-pro-2-car-seat-racing-black/p231879462

He's 14.5kg and currently has the impact cushion, but after 18kg will just have the adult seatbelt.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 28/11/2013 23:37

I don't think there is an age limit of 4 for a high backed booster seat. Keep your child in current seat until 18kg and then move to a high backed booster. Your DC is likely to be over 3 by that point (they don't stack on weight anything like they do as babies / toddlers) and fine in a high backed booster.

Original poster
whatareyoueventalkingabout · 29/11/2013 08:09

Ghoul I don't think will be over 3 by the time 18kg. Is 16.5 at present and was 2 in sept. One big kid

OP posts:
Waggamamma · 29/11/2013 08:14

It depends on your specific car seat but most 5 point harnesses are not designed to be used past 18kg.

Once she reaches 18kg you will need to put her in a high back booster or get a seat with a harness and higher weight limit (these can be v expensive).

My ds reached 18kg at 2.11 and went into the Britax Kidfix. I was worried about moving him so young but he looks comfy and secure in it. I also considered maxi cosi Rodifix.

ilovepowerhoop · 29/11/2013 08:15

the extended harness seats are ok until 25kg (e.g. britax two way elite) so you could keep them in that until they reach the weight limit. You only switch to a high backed booster when they have outgrown their current seat - they dont have to go into a high backed booster at age 4 unless they are too heavy for the seat they have i.e. if they were 5 and under 25kg then they stay in the harnessed seat until they reach 25kg.

Note: does not apply to seats where the harness is only suitable up to 18kgs - you need specific seats for the harness to be used up to 25kg.

ilovepowerhoop · 29/11/2013 08:17

p.s. the minimum weight for a high backed booster is 15kg, not 14kg

MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 29/11/2013 08:18

A three year old.in a high back booster with only an adult belt around? Surely not?