Group 2 car seat for 2.9 year old?

[patchesmcp]

I'm after some advice regarding what car seat to get my 2.9 year old please?

We currently have a Britax TWE which is now forward facing in my DH's car as DD's infant carrier is behind the passenger seat and there is no room to have it rear facing behind my husband because of his driving position We also have a Besafe izi combi in my car and it's this seat he's almost at the weight limit for so this seat we need to replace. We'll need two new seats as we'll also need to replace the one in my parent's car which also goes up to 18kg so money is also something to consider. I'd rather not spend more than £450 for both of them.

I really don't want to get another Britax TWE as I'm not convinced of the side impact protection, particularly f2f.

DS is around the 98th centile for both weight and height, although his height is in his body, rather than his legs so he'll need something which has decent growth room in the body.

Finally, he is pretty sensible for his age but I'd like to keep him harnessed if possible, at least in our car. He only goes in my parent's car once a week at most and for short journeys so I'm not so worried about the seat for their car.

Any recommendations for the car seat which doesn't exist

Do I read that as he is approaching 18kg?
In which case, my understanding is you won't find harnessing that will take his weight - seatbelt only at that weight.
Not sure about weight limits for some of the impact cushions? Might be worth looking into that?

We're the other way. 4.5, and still only 14kg. Desperate to go into a HBB as per rest of mates, and I keep saying not yet!

The new Britax xtensafix is group 2-3, can be installed belt or isofix and I'm sure the shop told me it can be harnessed to 18kg.

Only problem is that it looks quite narrow - I can't imagine any 9 or 10 yo being able to squeeze in. Although I don't actually know any 10yos so I don't know how accurately imagination is.

Bollocks, meant harnessed to 25kg. Sorry!

The new Besafe izi plus is rear facing, harnessed, to 25kg.

Not sure you'd get two of them for £450, but worth investigating?

Perhaps a izi plus for the main car and a TWE for the GPs car?

next he was 17.7 when I weighed him the other week, so we need to make a decision quickly.

Thanks for the info - I love the new Besafe, just gutted it wasn't around when we bought ours. I presume it's the same size as the combi (does anyone know?) in which case it'll be a no go

The xtensafix looks good too and we could afford two of those. I don't know whether to be concerned or not that it isn't that wide as having looked at the percentile charts it would only last DS until he was about 5 anyway as that's when he'll hit 25kg. He'll also hit 35kg before he's 8 when he'll be too heavy for all car seats Luckily, think he'll also be tall enough to just use an adult seatbelt.

This is now making me wonder if I should buy something like the xtensafix for our car and just transfer the TWE to my parents car when they need it then get a group 2-3 car seat for them when DS is old enough to sit properly using a seatbelt.

Does anyone have the Xtensafix? Is it any good?

Any other suggestions?

Thank you everyone for your help so far

Just done some more reading and discovered the xtensafix actually goes up to 36kg but you use it as a HBB from 25kg so it should last longer than I initially thought.

Just need to see if the cars have top tethers now. I know mine doesn't, but think DH's does and hopefully my parents will too as it's the newest of all.
Fingers crossed!!

Fingers crossed! If you do go for that, will you come back and let us know what you think? Am considering it for our next seat. Dd is only teeny, 13kg at 3.5yo, but almost outgrowing the dual fix because the harnesses won't go any higher. Hoping that the xtensafix will give her enough growing room until she doesn't need a car seat any more!

www.britax.co.uk/customer-service/britax-xtensafix