Tall heavy toddler - and a car seat dilemma

[Robotindisguise]

DD is 2 years 3 months. So we should have ages to go on our Group 1 car seat, right? Not so much.

She's on the 99th centile for weight and height. Which leaves her with precisely 800g to gain before she's too heavy for Group 1. The top of the seat is already not too far above her eyeline...

I'm going to have to go up a level, aren't I? I really don't want to - I'm plagued with thoughts of how much larger toddler heads are and how much safer car seats are for smaller children. But if gets too heavy for it - that's not safe either. Anyone else been in this position?

It's a pain, isn't it?

If she's over 18kg you'll have to go for the adult seat belt type. The harnesses aren't tested above that weight.

We have the same problem one stage on. My DD1 is 7 and has hit 35kg. So only 1kg to the top of the weight limit...just have to carry on as no other seats with a higher limit.

yes, ds1 was 20 kgs at 2 yrs but at 3.7 yrs he's still only 21kgs. he is in a britax two way elite. he's rf and it's harnessed to 25kgs but you can use it ff to 25kgs too with the harnesss. i think the car seat companies should bring out the car seats they have in america as so many children are heavier and are too small for the weight limits on their seats!

:)

Thanks all - food for thought

One more question - those who have gone for seatbelt based boosters - can't the children get out?

Go for the Two Way Elite. She can rear face or forward face up to 25kgs. My DS (26months) is rear facing in his, my 6.5yr old DD has just finished using hers though she still weighs in at 17kg...she outgrew it finally heightwise, but was in a 5 point harness until a few months ago.
I'd prefer if she were still in a 5 point harness, but alas, no.

another vote for a TWE here

we have just got one of these for the same reason - www.kiddy.de/en/kiddy-child-safety-car-seats-baby-car-seats-child-seats-with-the-original-impact-shield-for-maximum-safety.html - he can't escape! :)

Please get the 2 way elite. They need to be in a 5 point harness until the age of 4, even those that are tall and heavy. The elite can be forward facing until 25kg - my 91st centile DS2 fits in it with another notch to go at nearly 4.

Before 4 their pelvis are just not strong enough to protect their internal organs in a crash from an adult belt across them, they need the 5 point harness to distribute the weight on impact effectively.

Righto. Thanks all x

I came on to ask this very question. I've googled Britax Two Way Elite but can't find any stockists. The only results are for lots of review sites, Mumsnet discussions and safety websites. Anyone know where I can have a look at one? Tried Mothercare, John Lewis, Halfords, Amazon etc.
One other question, is there any reason that a tall 2.5 year old couldn't go in a high-backed booster with attached harness?

The only place that seels it is the in car safety centre in milton keynes

CitrusZest - if a 2.5year old is tall, likelyhood is they wont fit the attached harness on a HBB. That was the problem we had with my boys - they were just too tall and heavy for the harnesses attached the standard high backed boosters.

citrus, there's no reason height-wise afaik that you couldn't use a highback booster with harness. seats like the britax evolva 1-2-3 would be just fine

the problem is you can only use the harness on those up to 18kg, so if your child is heavy as well as tall then it's not going to be any better than your regular group 1 car seat.

if it's just the height that's the issue and the weight is still well under 18kg you're fine though

not neccesarily thisisyesterday - the harness has to be above the shoulders for it to be safe. In a tall (i.e. 99th centile) child, they would be too tall for a high backed booster harness way before their 4th birthday (my son was too tall for it by his 3rd birthday) as the harness is limited on height. As soon as the straps are falling below their shoulders it is dangerous - yet they may be too young for an adult seat belt.

Another vote for the 2-way Elise. We have it in our (teeny) 3 door Yaris and it fits easily - much more easily now DS (3.2) can climb in and out on his own! (obv with me doing the strapping in/unclipping, but much easier on my back than when I had to lift him in and out).

He's still Rear Facing and although he's very tall for his age he doesn't seem to have a problem with legroom - either putting his feet over the side, crossing his legs, putting feet together and knees outwards, or feet up the seatback. :) I'm hoping he'll be in it for a good while longer and he doesn't seem close to outgrowing it. The best £195 we've spent!

smokin... it depends on the seat!
the harness on a lot of them moves up as you move the back of the seat up.

I know, but they are still restricted to a standard height. My sons outgrew the britax evolva 123 very early for instance and that's one of the biggest standard on the market

I had exactly the problem you mentioned. My gigantic 2.5 year old, who's almost the same height as her 5 year old sister, has had to go in a regular high-backed booster.