3 year old in a group 2 car seat?

[missorinoco]

DD (1 1/4) is in a rear facing car seat. Her head is sticking over the top.

DS is in a group 1 seat, forward facing. He is 3 1/4, 20kg.

I am wondering whether to upsize DS, and put DD in his car seat.

When I enquired in a store today, I was told DD definately needed to come out as her head was over the top of the seat, and DS should probably stay in his seat for a few more months. (This was all from chat in the srote rather than examining them in their seats if you're wondering.)

I'm now confused. I thought from previous browsing on here you were meant to keep them in group 0 as long as possible.

I don't want to buy a second group 1 if I don't need to, but safety is my priority and I don't want to upsize DS or DD too early.

TIA

As long as possible doesn't extend to their heads being over the top though so it is time to move her up.

Also, at 20kg, can't your ds go into a group 2, so your dd has the group 1? link here

Can you borrow another stage 1 from a trusted friend/family member?

I would get another stores opinion...that can actually be bothered to come out and have a look!

what is the weight limit on your group 1 seat?

many of them only go up to 18kgs.

My 3 year old is 19 kgs and so had to go up to a group2/3. he is fine in one of these.

You need to check the weight limit on your group 1 seat. I think some are only rated up to 18kg. If that is the case for yours then your DS is too heavy and the straps might not be strong enough to hold him properly in a crash.

If your DDs head is sticking over the top of her group 0 seat she could get whiplash if you stop suddenly.

mmm, i would check with another store? rf when the head reaches the top of the seat or 13kgs then change to group 1 and ff it is 18kgs(although check your seat as some go to 25kgs) or when the eyes are leve, with the top of the seat.

:)

Is her head sticking properly over the top (so that she could get whiplash) or just the top of it? What's the weight limit on the Group 0 seat, and how much does your DD weigh?

How tall is your DS, and what's the weight limit on his Group 1 seat?

At the same ages as yours my DC would have both needed to move up.

my ds's group 1 seat only did up to 18kgs so he had to move to the next seat around the age of 3 as he got too heavy for his old one. He moved to the maxi cosi rodi xr.

Sorry, my daughter woke up. All down again now.

Weight limit on the seat is 13 kgs, I thin she is around 10kgs, but she's chunky, so I'm having my doubts about that. Will check again tomorrow. Her eyes are level as mentioned.

I checked the weight limit on the group 1 seat - 18kgs.

As you say they both need to move up.

The same store also told me DS couldn't go into a high backed booster seat without a harness. I take it this is equally incorrect?

Some websites seem to imply DS can go straight into a booster seat. Looks like a big jump to me. Is it right.

Many thanks again.

I'm virtually certain he can go into a high-backed booster with just a normal 3-point seatbelt (I'm 100% certain that's what DS did at that age, and pretty certain I checked it out carefully before moving him up). He might legally be able to go straight onto a booster but I think most of those have a higher minimum height requirement (because they don't grab the diagonal bit of the belt the way a high back booster does) and a high backed booster is so much safer anyway that I wouldn't risk it.

I would go for a high backed booster seat rather than a booster as the back offers better impact protection and positions the belt correctly over the shoulder. Both my lo's (aged 3 and 6) are in high backed boosters - both use the maxi cosi rodi xr.

p.s. The majority of seats with a harness only cover them up to 18kgs so even if you have a group 123 seat you would have to stop using the harness at 18kgs and use the adult seatbelt.