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Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

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Original poster

Is there a car seat for over 18kg that still has a 5 point harness?

28 replies

Zoggsrus · 13/09/2011 22:32

I really dont know what's out there, but from 18kg, are you supposed to switch to a seat belt?
There's no way I could do that with DS

Also, his current seat, (think it's cabrio isofix) reclines a bit, are there any similar?

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Original poster

Zoggsrus · 13/09/2011 22:35

Maybe it's priorifix!

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 13/09/2011 22:36

only the britax 2 way elite, which is only available from the in-car safety centre

Original poster

Zoggsrus · 13/09/2011 22:45

Thanks
But I dont understand why there aren't more?
Surely it's not just me whose 4 year old can't be trusted?!

OP posts:

Sidge · 13/09/2011 22:48

My DDs car seat has a 5 point harness for use up to 25kgs - it's the Britax Junior Traveller but I don't think they make it anymore.

rushofbloodtothefeet · 13/09/2011 22:50

You can get the ones with an impact cushion, where the adult belt goes round the cushion rather than the child. There are the Kiddy ones, or Concord do one or the Jane Montecarlo Plus. We had to go for one because we had to move DD out of her RF seat as DS needed it. She was almost 4 but under the 15Kg weight needed for a the adult seatbelt alone

thisisyesterday · 13/09/2011 22:50

there aren't more because car seat manufacturers have decided that UK parents don't want them

the britax traveller is still made, but classed as a special needs seat and as such is v. expensive see here

rushofbloodtothefeet · 13/09/2011 22:51

The Jane Montecarlo also has a recline (I think the Plus is the one with Isofix too). DD sleeps really well in it.

thisisyesterday · 13/09/2011 22:54

the impact cushion ones can't be used with the cushion over 18kg afaik

Sidge · 13/09/2011 22:54

Ah that's the Traveller Plus so goes up to an even greater weight, and of course is even more expensive!

Ours cost nearly 300 quid, as it had the 'special needs' label on it, but 600 quid for a car seat is mad. They've got us over a barrel though

rushofbloodtothefeet · 13/09/2011 22:59

thisisyesterday you are right, they are only for up to 18Kg.

thisisyesterday · 13/09/2011 23:01

i know. I think it's disgusting that people with children who have special needs have to pay 2 or 3 times the price for car seats, pushchairs etc etc etc

i nearly fell over when I saw them in the shop in milton keynes (having decided that I'd rather like my 4.5 yr old to be in a harnessed seat)

i really can't get my head around it

Original poster

Zoggsrus · 13/09/2011 23:02

£600!

How old would 36kg be?

Does anyone know the safety issues about the weight for the 5 point harness?

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 13/09/2011 23:05

how do you mean?

if you carried on using your existing one over the weight limit?

basically the seat hasn't been tested for children over 18kg. obviously that doesn't mean it is unsafe... but there is no way of knowing.

worst case the harness or seat itself would not be able to cope with the force of his body going forward in a crash and would either unbuckle, or come away from the seat....

Sidge · 13/09/2011 23:07

36kgs is pretty heavy, my DD2 is 7.5 years old and weighs 26 kgs and she's no lightweight.

I had to take her out of her Traveller at around 23 kgs as even though she was within the weight limit the harness was just too tight on her, even without a coat. With her coat on we couldn't do the harness up.

icapturethecastle · 13/09/2011 23:10

I was home in Australia recently and used this a booster car seat this which is an additional belt that clips into tether in your boot (my micra has one so most cars must have the tether) and you loop the seat belt through it. I thought it was brilliant and wished I had brought it back with me - may get my mum to send!

thisisyesterday · 13/09/2011 23:22

when i was little we used to have harnesses a bit like that!
ours were yellow... and they just bolted behind the back seats.

my dad still has them actually, but am guessing they're prob not that safe now

Original poster

Zoggsrus · 13/09/2011 23:34

That's interesting castle.
Might look into that
I'm very confused.
As the cut off for the 5 point harness is 18kg, surely it would suggest that that kind of harness has safety issues over that weight. I'm
thinking the extra weight could cause damage to back, neck shoulders in a crash. Watched a few of those crash test dummy videos!

But then how could that Aussie harness be safe?
Can't really figure out where that fits in, will look at car.
And Yesterday, if it's just a case of the seats not being tested over that weight, then why not test them?
Or do the manufacturers just want us to keep updating our seats?

OP posts:

Original poster

Zoggsrus · 13/09/2011 23:35

Not very easy to research on phone, will look at it properly tomorrow,
Thanks for advice and help

OP posts:

icapturethecastle · 13/09/2011 23:50

I don't know if I was very clear but you use this harness with a booster car seat not on its on - it just give you extra protection than just a seat belt (not sure re weight as DS was probably just under or on 18kilos - I have him in his group one seat still and need to move him up hence looking at this thread). When looking at the booster seats available here I just thought I wish I had brought it back. Saying all this probably easier to buy a seat with its own 5 point harness would probably be better. (Britax Evola goes up to 36 so may get that)

Re how the harness works - cars in Australia have a tether clip at the back of car you clip one end of harness into that and harness slips over there head and then you put the seatbelt through the harness. It is quite simple to use but had to explain!

icapturethecastle · 13/09/2011 23:52

Sorry their head - hate it when I do that!!

icapturethecastle · 13/09/2011 23:58

Here is a youtube video about it and .

Although I believe Australia standards are stricter than British ones it most likely not allowed here!

aswellasyou · 14/09/2011 11:50

The Britax Hi-Way and Akta Graco Belogic also have a five point harness to 25kg but are both rearfacing seats. Both available here.

Giddly · 14/09/2011 11:57

I was told it was a safety thing (though have no reference for it) - children over 25 kg are less safe in harnesses as in an impact their chest is thrown directly against the harness - with a seatbelt the inertia reel takes some of the direct impact away. Obviously if a child has special needs and is unable to sit upright it is different.
I have the Britax 3 way elite which I use rearfacing, but to be honest I don't much like it as a front-facing seat.

brachy · 14/09/2011 21:06

My DD was in the TWE (FF) until she was 6yrs 3ms...then she outgrew it height wise, it was a great seat for keeping her harnessed longer.

JuneMummy · 14/09/2011 21:14

I also have the Two way elite. I only use it rearfacing at the moment as DS is 2 years but i like that it will keep him harnessed until 25kgs

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