Can anyone help RE Booster seats - with pictures

[DuelingFanjo]

because I am being a bit thick.

DS is in a forward facing seat but in the next six months or so will be over 16kg and if his growth spurt continues then he will be over the top of the back of his existing seat (Well he is now but not by much)

I did find some handy pictures RE height online but can't find them now.
Also need to see a picture of the best style of Booster... should it ideally have a harness or do I use the car seat-belt?

is this the right thing?

here

Oooh hang on this thread is useful.

It depends on weight. Most harnesses in those seats go up to 18kg then you remove and use the adult belt instead.

What age is he? that seat you've linked to doesnt look that good and doesn't have decent straps. He should really stay harnessed until 18kg. You could get a group 123 seat that would harness until 18kg and then used with the adult seat belt afterwards

We used an Evolva 123 seat for ds which was good

He's just over four and we're not getting a booster seat yet but I think we probably should once his ears are level with the sides of the one he is in now, is that right?

Just wondering which ones are the safest at that point?

A friend has given me one but I am not sure if it's the safest option as it may not have a harness.

I would just go for a normal high backed booster which uses the adult belt. I'm not sure a harness adds much at four years old TBH.

And I definitely would not get a Kiddicare one because they are awful quality.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00AE2OO0Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1426177016&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&keywords=britax+evolva+123&dpPl=1&dpID=418mDUT9SGL&ref=plSrch
I have the britax evolva on sale from amazon

The thing is even if he's not quite 18kg if his ears are reaching the top of the seat, most harnesses will be too small in the shoulder department anyway. Unless you get a harnessed to 25kg seat, which you could if you wanted to, but IMO it's not necessary. (And I am totally pro rear facing as long as possible etc.)

Thank you for the links and the advice. :)

A child who is 4+ years is just as safe in a high back booster as in a harnessed seat. There is no research, stats, data or real life experiences showing harnessed kids to be any better for older kids.

Sweden, who is 30+ years ahead pretty much all countries in car seat safety (including UK) recommend not to place any older kids FF in a harnessed seat. A favourite high back booster is Britax Adventure which is light weight, comfortable and cheap.

If you still prefer a FF seat with harness then Britax Two-Way is the only one with the higher 25 kg limit. Evolva will only last to 18 kg.

Sorry but I found most of that confusing.

So high back boosters are just as safe for 4 year old's as a harnessed seat? That would depend on the 4 year old's weight though?

When we switched from rear facing we put DD into a Cybex - they have won loads of safety awards. Their website is here and you can buy them at Kiddicare or online. It's a great seat and really easy to switch between cars, plus it will last until she is 12.

what's the great big thing in the front of the Cybex?

The Cybex for younger children have shields instead of harnesses - not something I've ever thought a good idea. The cybex for older children (3-12) use the adult seatbelt, not a padded shield.

Impact shields also only go to 18kg, so no use to you anyway.

There is research that says that a harnessed seat offers no greater protection than a high backed booster seat after a certain age - Freakonomics it might be in? It might be that the stats show that but of course a seat of a lower stage offers more protection than the next ones up.

It does depend on weight - in Europe children must weigh at least 15kg before they can use a booster seat as they are not tested below this weight. Also maturity of the child - if a child stays in harness straps but escapes from a seatbelt, then the harness is safer.

AH right - my son does tend to get his hands out, however tight we have them. He always has and I am not sure if it's just because he is quite slight. However he knows it's not safe and very rarely does it and if he tries he usually asks permission ('No!). I think, when we do go into a booster, I would like to try without the harness but want to do whichever is safest really.

He might conversely be better in a booster because it doesn't feel as constricting. And if he moves around but sits back the seatbelt should still fit around him, rather than being slack.

This was my thought. He basically only ever asks when he wants to reach for something he's dropped.