Should a 7 year old still be in a car seat even if they're 135cm tall?

[24carrot]

Hello, my DS is 5.5 and 123cm tall (98th centile). Looking at his chart, at the rate he's growing he should hit 135cm when he is 7. The govt says children should stay in a car seat until they are 135cm or 12 years old, whichever comes first. But is 7 still too young? I'm asking because am expecting DC3 and we could get by without changing our car for a while longer (Audi A6) if the eldest comes out of the car seat in the next couple of years. What do you think??

If he's 135cm before age 12 then he won't need a car seat anymore . I don't understand really what the age 12 has to do with it as I'd have thought it should just go by height as it's a safety issue.

DS is 7 and 136cm, he is on a booster seat with no back. He still seems to small for no car seat at all.

Too 😬

I think it's to do with their level of development, or risk of injury in a car crash.

Ds is 10, he is taller than 1.35 but all legs, so as his body is relatively short the belt still isn't low enough at his neck/ shoulder - we found this a useful guide, it's a 5 point check based on what is safe..

thecarseatlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/screen-shot-2014-03-08-at-2-17-42-pm.png

Thanks so much - I guess we'll just have to see when the time comes but that picture is so useful Spink, and makes a lot of sense. Of course they will all be built differently, even at the same height. Better start investigating a new car at least then! My husband will be happy...