Car seat for a 20kg 3 year old

[MayMay19]

My son is about to turn 3 and tips the scales at 20kg. So according to all of the car seat 'rules' he is too heavy for a 5 point harness, but he just seems too young to put in a high back booster with a seat belt. I had ordered a Joie Bold (harness up to 25kg) but it requires seat belt, isofix and top tether fitting, and we don't have a top tether fitting, so that is having to go back. Short of buying a new car (which we can't afford), i don't know what my options are. Does anyone have a 3 year old in a high back booster with seatbelt. I just think he needs to be restrained, and i don't see how he wouldn't slip to one side in a high impact crash? any experience/thoughts would be appreciated.

My 3yo DSD was in a high backed booster with a seatbelt and always seemed quite comfy.

As far as i'm aware there are 3 car seats that will forward face to 25kg with a harness but none will do so without a top tether. I guess the only options if you can't get a top tether retrofitted are get a rear facing seat or a HBB.

Two way elite

incarsafetycentre.co.uk/product/2-way-elite-cosmos-black/

Axkid minikid

incarsafetycentre.co.uk/product/minikid-black/

We used kiddy car seats for dd. They use a seat belt. Group 1/2/3. You can use the pad infront for a while and remove when your 3 yo is taller.

This is the one dd has. There are now more expensive updated versions. She's 145ish cm and still just about fits in it. She's broad shouldered. www.pramworld.co.uk/kiddy-guardian-pro2-silverstone?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7IO_vZ_M1gIVLRbTCh2acA4oEAQYAyABEgJI5vD_BwE#fo_c=743&fo_k=85848967d7b2c4b6de77b115c57c51cb&fo_s=gplauk

Was just about to recommended the two way elite by Britax - I have a big 2 year old and I was planning ahead for something that will last as long as possible and got this

We had great advice from the in car safety centre in Milton Keynes - they also have one in Essex. Can you get there?

John Lewis etc were clueless on car seats

You can only use the kiddy shield to 18kg. Also be aware that the two way elite, when forward facing, now has a harness weight limit of 18kg.

I thought most kids were in a HBB when they were 3? DD was just over that when she had to move into one and we never had any issues. To be honest, it was harder for her to fiddle with that belt than he old five point harness.

Advice is that ideally all children should be harnessed & rear facing until 4, longer if possible. Legally they can be in a HBB from 15kg and no minimum age limit.

My little girl is 3 and 3 months in a joie spin 360 almost at 18kg iv got a joie stages also it says up to 7 but says use high backed booster at 18kg so is this a requirement or advise as Halfords told me Kew her in the harness for as long as nothing about weight harness limit they looked at me like I was mad I’m very paranoid for her safety xxx

Both are harnessed to 18kg only, Halfords are not the best for advice. In car safety centre are very good at advising by email.

@Njgsummer

My little girl is 3 and 3 months in a joie spin 360 almost at 18kg iv got a joie stages also it says up to 7 but says use high backed booster at 18kg so is this a requirement or advise as Halfords told me Kew her in the harness for as long as nothing about weight harness limit they looked at me like I was mad I’m very paranoid for her safety xxx

The limit on the harness is 18kg. You should keep her in it until 18kg, but you can't use it beyond that as it isn't tested and may fail in an accident. Keeping her in it until 18kg is using it as long as possible.

If you want to keep her in the harness longer you'll need another seat I'm afraid.

Halfords are a bit hit and miss for car seat advice, sometimes they get it right (use harness for as long as possible) and sometimes they get it dangerously wrong (acting like there's no harness limit).

Get an Axkid Move or Minikid or a Britax Maxway Plus.

In terms of HBB then one like the Britax Kidfix III S would be a good option due to the additional crotch guide to stop her submarining in an accident.