3.5yo 18kg no isofix. What do you recommend?

[Caitmous]

We've only recently got a car so I feel a bit bamboozled by the reading I've been doing about car seats. DS is 3.5years and 18kg. He is fast outgrowing the interim car seat we inherited so I need to get my head around what to buy next. The one dsis recommended - Kiddy Cruiserfix - is £170 and we can't afford that.

As far as I know our little Kia Picanto doesn't have isofix.

The Britax Adventure Group 2-3 Highback Booster is well-recommended on Amazon and £40ish. But I'm not sure what the difference in price accounts for?

Is it worth paying the extra?

Thanks in advance.

Bump

Anyone.....? Boring thread but I'm v confused!

How old is your kia Picanto? Mine is 11 years old and has isofix fittings although at over 18kgs they aren't that necessary. Are you looking for rear facing or forward facing?

All cars produced after 2006 should have isofix points. Go and have a dig around - they just look like 2 metal loops. Nothing fancy.

Personally car seats are one area where I couldn't look myself in the mirror if something bad happened because I'd saved on a cheaper car seat. I don't say this to guilt those who can't afford to buy the safest model. But you should buy the best you can afford. If you think that your child will be in this car seat until 12 years old, then £170 over that period of time sounds good value compared to the stage 0 and 1 car seats. I am massively biased though as I own the kiddifix pro, your DSIS recommended. It has fantastic side Impact protection in the event of a crash. Having held the britax/ maxi cosi equivalent ones- they don't feel anywhere near as substantially built.

Good luck in your decision.

Car seat purchasing is bloody confusing, you have all of my sympathy.

This might help in terms of the things to look for.

Price doesn't necessarily mean better - you want to see crash test results and European standards compliance.

As far as I'm aware you can't use isofix over 18kg.

Hi we have here britax evola 123. The head rest goes up so it grows and the five point comes off so it can work with adult seat belt. Easy to get in and out car plus easy fit too. Getting another for ds2.

Over 18kgs the isofix fittings will stop the car seat becoming a projectile in the event of a car crash when a child is not in the seat. Saves you having to remember to belt in the car seat even when the child isn't in it.

Britax seats don't have an expiry date (they confirmed this in an email to me).

My niece is in a Britax Evolva (used without the harness because she's over 18kgs) that was bought for my son 7 years ago. I'm still using a Britax First Class at is over 9 years old.

Recaro Nova or the Cybex. Both excellent reviews, side impact protection, enclosed head protection. We opted for the Nova but DD is older than your DS.

Isofix only goes up to 18kg, depends if you want to forward or rear face?

Oops, missed that this had already been said, sorry,

So grateful for all of this - thank you. Feel a lot clearer.