Trunki BoostApak booster seat - suitable for three-year-old daughter?

[comtessa]

www.johnlewis.com/trunki-boostapak-booster-seat-black-green/p230997661?kpid=230997661&s_kenid=30e42d8f-b3bd-91e9-7be4-00004e35e4d4&s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73

The age range on this advises from four to 12 years old, and the recommended weight range is 15kg - 36kg. My three-year-old daughter weighs 15kg - is this going to be safe to use for her? Does age matter or is it only weight?

We don't have our own car this would be ideal for the times we hire one or need a lift from friends and also for air-travel, but obviously her safety is the most important thing. Any experience/comments/advice welcome.

Thanks!

I wouldn't use anything other than a high backed booster at that age unless she is under 18kgs and then she should be in a harnessed seat. I wouldnt put a 3 year old on a booster cushion without a back as there is no side impact protection

We use one for a 15kg 3 year old when getting lifts/taxis. It's just not practical to always have a high backed, harnessed seat to hand and often the alternative is no seat.

Safe? Hmmm...

Safe-r than nothing? Yes, so for taxis, lifts, etc, where the other option is riskier, then yes, it'll be 'safe'.

If you have the option of a high backed seat with a five point harness, than that is safer.

Thanks everyone. What age should she start using it? Four years or just when she hits 18kgs?

comtessa I think its the weight thats more important than the age.

You can use booster seats from 15kg. A harnessed seat is better until 18kg if you have the option but if not 15kg and 3 years is fine.

The weight is much more important than the age IMO. My just turned 4 yo is 18kg and has one of these for holidays, quick trips in grandparents car etc. Not sure how I'd feel about him using it at 15kg though, the heavier the better.

I'd say yes, in your circumstances, your DD would be ok on a Trunki. Provided she can be trusted to sit still!

I've only just moved my 8 year old off a high backed booster. I wanted him in the middle of the back seat (we have 3 kids, he's the oldest) in order to separate our two DDs who were constantly fighting in the back! Anyway, with DS (who is 132cm tall) on a HBB in the middle the headrest was completely blocking my view out of the back window. But with just a regular booster the seatbelt was in the wrong position - I think this is the bad design of the middle seatbelt in our car (Peugeot 5008) - it comes down from the roof too far forward and at too steep an angle. He now sits on a Trunki as his day-to-day seat because it has a shoulder guide that pulls the seatbelt down into the correct position. The only other one I could find with a shoulder guide was the Graco one and it's too wide to work with two other child seats (another HBB and a Britax Multi Tech ERF).

Also, the Trunki is really 'thick' so it lifts your child up much higher than all the other boosters. So although your DD won't have the side protection of a HBB you can be sure that the seatbelt will be across her thighs and over her chest, not neck, so she'll be as safe as she can be for your infrequent car journeys.