To get a group 2/3 carseat for my almost 2 year old

[Whatismynameanyway]

DS is a very large almost 2 year old, he weighs about 20kg and is very tall. He has always been big, was 10lb9 at birth and has just continued to be massive 😂 he isn't overweight, just large.

We have the joie everystage fx carseat currently which I love but is very heavy and I usually leave it in his dads car (we are separated) as I don't drive so only need a carseat occasionally if going out with friends etc.

The straps for the everystage say maximum weight limit is 18kg, which would be fine if DS wasn't so big for his age. We have switched to the seatbelt as I am worried that the straps won't hold up in a crash if he exceeds the weight limit. I don't like this but feel it may be the safest option?

Now I'm looking to get a carseat to keep at mine, for when I have unexpected trips out etc but can only find group 2/3 high back boosters that cater to his weight/height. I know the general advice is rear facing etc until 4 but how can I do this when I can't find a carseat that will work safely with my son?

Would i be unreasonable to use a high back booster? If it is a bad idea could anyone suggest a carseat that will work for a 20kg almost 2 year old?

Thanks

Get a 1/2/3 one. There is a britax one which is very good. Has a 5 point harness which you can then remove. Under 2 is too young for a stage 2 car seat.

The Britax romer evolva. It is light and not too pricy.

At 2yo (or just under) he should still really be rear facing. There are some really good rear facing seats out there that would fit your larger DS comfortably.

He is MUCH TOO young for a high back booster. Please don't go for that option.

We've got the bridal romer evolva for my two year old. He's nearly three but quite a bit smaller than yours at 14kg and it does him fine.

There are a number of car seats that go up to 25kg in weight eg Axkidd Mini. Have a look at the in car safety centre website or give them a call. They will advise you. 2 is much too young for a seatbelt only. It doesn't matter how big he is, his skeleton will be that of a 2 year old so vulnerable in a crash. Have a google of internal decapitation if you need convincing.

You can get seats with a 5 point harness which is ok up to 25kg - I would go with one of these. I’ve just put just-turned 3 DS into a high back booster with a belt (Britax Romer) as he is now 19.5kg and over a metre tall but I don’t feel comfortable with him in a belt at all. He really flops forward if he falls asleep and because he’s wriggling about quite often I’m not happy about the position of the seatbelt. We are trying to find funds for a 25kg harness seat!

Too young for just a seat belt. You need a seat with a harness that is suitable over 18kg.

For PP, the harness in the 123 seats is only suitable until 18kg.

Can you get to one of the car safety centres to ask their advice?

I wouldn't like to put a 2 year old in a HBB but equally like you say he's over the weight limit. You can get 25kg extended rear facing seats, but not forward facing 🤷‍♀️

Firecracker2019 I don't need convincing, I know the dangers. I'm just struggling to find a carseat with straps for his weight and above. I've seen a couple but they seem to be £300+ and as a single mum I don't have that kind of money. Obviously if that is my only option then I will save and find a way of making that money but if there is an alternative that means I'm not stuck in the house for weeks while I'm saving that would be great!

Be warned OP. The options people are likely to recommend here will be very expensive (an Axkidd mini is about £300!) & the 25kg extended RF seats often won't fit in a smaller car if you need a tallish passenger to sit in the seat in front.

It's worth checking American websites to see if your car seat is listed with higher weight limits there. In the US they often test children's things to higher weight limits. My friend had a large toddler and found that her pushchair was listed to a much higher weight limit on US website than in the UK.

Seatbelt fixed seats will go to higher weight than isofix I believe. A multistage seat might work for you. Perhaps ring the in car safety centre and ask what they suggest.

This rear faces to 25kg and fits most cars and is good for tall and heavy kids. It's £185.

incarsafetycentre.co.uk/2-way-elite

10% off first orders at in car safety centre with code on website.

Badger my 3 year old is same size and has just gone into a HBB, the seat belt positioning is fine & snug - maybe check you have it installed right.

There are no forward facing seats that go to 25kg that I know of...
What price do you put on a child's life?
Most people pay more for their travel system than their car seat. It's a strange world

I only ever seem to hear about rear facing till 4 on Mumsnet..in real life, cant say I've ever seen a child that big rear facing.

The joue everystage fx was more expensive than my pushchair, which again wasn't cheap because my massive child exceeds the weight limit for everything 😂

Like I said I will spend the £300+ if I have to, it will just be a struggle.

Did you say he weighs 20Kgs at 2yo? That is way off the charts, are you sure it is right? How tall is he? Has he ever been seen by a doctor? If he is taller than the 97th centile he should be referred to a paediatric endocrinologist. I don't mean to scare you, some DCs are naturally very tall and very big but, statistically, these numbers will include DCs with rare conditions who are best identified as early as possible.

And thank you for the suggestions, I will have a look into them. Checking the American weight limits is a good idea!

The Axkid Modukid is cheaper and apparently very good.

There were no extended rear facing seats when mine were small but I had a high backed booster which also had removable straps, the straps were up to 50lbs (US brand) and it fixed with the seat belt (you then removed the straps and used as a booster until 4ft 3 tall. Think it was graco. We had a 60mph crash and dd was the only one without whiplash - Consequently I bought an identical replacement! I'm not saying that a £300 seat might not be technically better but a convertible front facing seat can be safe if properly installed, money does factor in.

Yeah, he has seen doctors etc. I am 6ft and his dad is 6ft4. He is fine, just massive! He is taller than his 3 year old cousin, nothing wrong with him. Some people are just bigger than average!

Tabby just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen and isn't much safer....🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

There are 3/4 ff harnessed seats that go to 25kg: Diono radian, maxi cosi beryl, joie bold and a cosy & safe one. I think they all need top tether, isofix and a seatbelt though so not the most universal.

Britax 2 Way elite from the in car safety centre is fairly universal and rf to 25kg so might be a good option though

Firecracker2019

"Tabby just because you've never seen it doesn't mean it doesn't happen and isn't much safer....🤦‍♀️"
Just dont think many people do it. My kids were quite tall too, I'd have been damaging their hips if I had tried to put them rear facing at 4!!!

Britax 2 way elite is much more affordable- rear faces to 25kg (ff limit is 18kg though) and is belt installed.

Little bit fiddly to install if you don't switch it around often (just lives in my car!)