When to move three year old into next stage seat

[Atlastadragon]

Hello all.

My 3 year old DD is still within the weight limit of her current car seat (a maxi cosi priorifix) but is quite tall. I asked at Halfords quite a while ago and they said that as long as her eye level was below the top of the seat she was ok. She isn't there yet, but we popped in today as I had been doing some reading and I wasn't sure if that was right. This with the background that I am not in a rush to move her, I want her to stay in this seat as long as possible as I think it offers more protection than a booster.

Anyway, the man at Halfords said that if the top of her head was over the top of the seat she should definitely be moved, and they had these seats which were the same as a high backed booster but which had a harness as well, which I liked the look of, instead of just relying on the seat belt. He said that the Pampero was very good (on a par with maxi cosi he said), and better than the Graco which they also did, but having looked on here, I see that Pampero is Halfords own make and not rated very highly! We said we would come back with DD, but now I am confused! does she need to be moved yet or not?

Both is kind of right copied from maxi cosy web site

For the safety of your child, we recommend using the Group 1 car seat (9 months to 3 1/2 years/9-18 kg) for as long as possible. Wait to switch your child to a next stage car seat when your child has reached the maximum weight limit or if the top of your child?s head protrudes above the top edge of the seat. As long as the back of your child's head is fully supported by the shell, we advise against making the switch just yet, so that your child can be offered the best possible protection.

I have also taken that to mean as long as the big bit of their head is within the seat ( which is about eye level) they they are ok in it.

All the seats with harnesses except two way elite and extended rear facing seats you have to stop using the harness at 18kg.
When in the similar situation to you I got a britax duo as it had the most growing room, I did not know about the two way. I got about 18mths out of it. If she is nearly 18kg you could get a high-back and use it for short journeys to practise sitting still

That is really useful, thank you!

Not before she is 15kg.
When she goes into a high back booster, her only restraint will be the car seat belts, that do not activate below 15kg.
I had exactly the same problem with my v tall (98th centile) DS last year.
I spoke to ROSPA who told me that it was eye level height that mattered.

She doesn't need to be moved unless she's 18kg or out the top of it.

DS is 4 in October and I've just moved him because his head reaches the top and I have a niggling feeling he's around 18kg now. I haven't had chance to weigh him in ages, though. Last time I did he was over 17kg, and that was when he was only just 3.

If she's over the top but not 18kg, then it might be worth getting a 123 seat (with booster and harness), but check the height of the harness straps, as they must come from above her shoulders, not below them. I found that with most, this meant that they weren't suitable for that much longer than a group 1 seat anyway. I reckon the guy might have been giving you the sales spiel.

It is possible to get harnessed seats which go above 18kg but they are much more expensive.

If you decide to go just for a normal HBB without harness the Britax Adventure is £29.99 on the mothercare website at the moment (in Billy colour) and they will price match this in store if you ask.

don't believe a word of it!!!

I would very, very, very much doubt that the pampero is anywhere near the standards of Graco or Maxi Cosi.

She is fine in her seat until her eyes are level with the back of the seat, so no need to move her if you don't want to.

Also, the higher backed models with the harness built in are only good up to 18kg. after that you have to remove the harness and use as a high-backed booster, so not necessarily any better than the one you've got

Thank you everyone. She is 16 kg at the moment, , not massively tall but i think she is tall for her age. Seems like she may be ok for a little while longer. There doesn't seem to be any point getting another seat with a harness for the sake of it, if I can keep her in what she's in now.

He just wanted to sell you a shit seat

Like pp's said its when eyes are level and not before 15kg.

I would suggest you complain to halfords about the rubbish advice but they really dont care about misadvice.