5-point Harness Seat over 18kg

[kaspersmumanddad]

Hi, new here and really looking for some help.

Our son is 2 and a half and still too young for a car seat with a normal seatbelt but is now too heavy for his Britax-Romer Duo Plus which maxes out at 18kg (he's currently 20kg and growing fast!). We assumed we could just buy another car seat with a 5-point harness that is good for kids over 18kg but struggled so see anything. All of the group 1-2-3 or 2-3 seats out there say their 5-point harness is only good upto 18kg (some of the ones that were good upto 23kg have now revised this).

So what are those of us with toddlers the size of 4 year olds to do? Does anyone have experience of this? Have you managed to find a car seat that fits the bill... and what is the risk of having a kid in a 5-point-harness when they are over the 18kg limit? Are we just being overly precious and just put him in a stage 2-3 seat with a seatbelt?

Really grateful for any advice you can offer....

I think there is more risk of the harness failing when the child is over 18kg. I have a large toddler too and this wasn't something I had thought about. Will watch with interest.

There are 25kg seats available which you really need because he's too young for a high back booster.

Rear facing is still much safer so you could look at the Axkid Minikid, Britax Two Way Elite, Be Safe Izi Plus, Diono Radian 5

If you want forward facing, they can only be installed if you have isofix and top tether. Look at the Joie Bold and Excalibur Cosy and Safe.

Also, join the Facebook group 'car seat advice uk' and search for your car type. You will be able to see what 25kg seats other people have suggested for your car.

Sorry, also forgot to say that advice would be that he shouldn't go in that seat again. It's not been tested beyond 18kg (or if it has its not passed or not been published); therefore they've got no idea how it would perform with a 20kg child in the harness. The straps could snap upon impact so you really need to get a new one before he's in the car again.

I have a 4 year old sized toddler. He's in an Axkid minikid in one car and an Axkid Rekid in the other.

Thanks All - that's really good advice. Much apprecaited. @teaandbuscuitsforme we definitely want forward facing (he would have a panic attack if we put him in a rear facing seat after so long facing forward) so it's the Joie Bold or Excalibur Cosy and Safe for us. Cheers for the advice.