2.5 yo travelling overnight, which carseat??

[Coffeeonadrip]

Losing the will to live... hope you great minds can help.

My 2.5 yo is just under 15kg at the moment but she's quite chunky and wide in hips. We currently have a britax that reclines but it's only up to 18kg I think and she's already really tight in it - it's one of those deep bucket designs that hold you tight around hips. She doesn't particularly like it but if we're travelling for a couple of hours and I know she'll fall asleep I still put her in it. For every day use/nursery runs I have a basic straight backed carseat with harness. When she falls asleep in that, her head does drop to her chin which looks really uncomfortable.

Now the sticky point. We'll be driving to south of France next month, overnight.

I need a high back booster seat that she can sleep in, one that will not cause her head to drop forward. Maybe one that reclines (dont know if they exist!). Wide enough so she's comfortable and not too expensive as it's a one off trip so I can't justify spending a lot of money on it. With two cars we already have 3 car seats between us!

Is this all impossible?? Do you know a car seat that would do the trick?? Many thanks!

No, you don't need a HBB, she is too young.
She still needs a harnessed seat.

Britax is the brand, not the model - what is the model of the car seat you have atm?

Do you know what centiles she is on for height and weight?

PS

I suggest you check out the Facebook group "Car Seat Advice UK" as they have lots of knowledgable people who can advise.

Maybe you could get something like the Joie Stages which is about £130 and will last until she is 25kg / around 6yo.

We have a Cosy n Safe Excalibur. It's harnessed up to 25 kilos and a hbb after that. Our son is 3.2 and 18 kilos. It does recline and the head rest is great - his head doesn't flop forward at all when he sleeps.

They're only mature enough for a high back booster when they can be trusted not to fall asleep in it. Otherwise they can easily move so that the seat belt isn't in the correct place and if you were to crash they wouldn't be protected. She's also far too young and isn't likely to be tall enough to fit a HBB correctly even though so is 15kg (which is the minimum for a HBB - not necessary a weight to switch them over).

A 25kg seat would always be a better choice for children who are higher on the centiles. 18kg seats will be outgrown too early. Obviously rear facing is still far safer (recommend the Axkid Minikid or Britax Two Way Elite) or there are two forward facing options of your car has both isofix and top tether points (Joie Bold or Cosy n Safe Excalibur).

Do not buy a HBB

She's too young for it. Your best oprion is the harness to 25kg seats.

She is top young for a high backed booster. She still needs a 5point harnessed seat.

The Britax 2way Elite would suit. It declines quite far as it's standard fitting, wide around the hips and has the added bonus of being rear facing.

Reclines not declines bloody autocorrect

Thanks everyone. Yes definitely a harness. I'll have a look at the models you recommended. Many thanks again!