Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

Original poster

First forward facing car seat for 5 year old

36 replies

meow1989 · 02/09/2023 19:22

Hi all, after advice and recommendations please.

ds is 5 and a quarter, and roughly 114cm / 22kg. Dh and I have elected to keep him rear facing as long as possible for safety reasons and we have an axkidd minikid 2 which technically would probably last us until ds is 6.

However, ds has started complaining that he wants to face forward, being uncomfortable in the seat and trying to twist round so I think it's probably time to get a forward facing as I think that would be safer than him being in the wrong position (the twisting) in a rear facing seat.

I'm a bit lost with forward facing, I know I need a backed seat as they're safer and I have isofix in the car for isofit but otherwise have no idea where to go! Please could posters advise as to what the safest next seat is or what I need to be looking for?

Tia

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Lavender2021 · 03/09/2023 07:44

Do you have a mirror currently? We use one for my daughter and she can see everything but is only 3 so doesn't have a choice/ notice people have different seats to her.

NameChange30 · 03/09/2023 08:51

mishmased · 03/09/2023 06:30

Besafe Izi fix is great or one of the britax Romer. They're easy to install as most of them are isofix. Get a five point harness that can be turned into a high back booster.

You don't need a 5 point harness for a 5 year old. Unless they have additional needs and won't sit properly with the seat belt.

KnittedCardi · 03/09/2023 09:26

These threads always make me remember having DD1 in the front seat of my 1968 MG roadster on a booster cushion. Things have obviously moved on 😂

mishmased · 03/09/2023 14:36

@NameChange30 I didn't say she needed one. It was a suggestion to get a stage 2-3 seat that can be turned into a hbb. A suggestion based on what I did with my older two now aged 10 and 8 and in hbb. The advice is to keep them in the safest seat for as long as possible. Like pp I suggested the brands I'm familiar with for ff-Britax and Besafe.

NameChange30 · 03/09/2023 14:38

It's actually not clear whether harness or seat belt is safer when forward facing. Rear facing with harness is safest. But for 5+ as long as they stay in the seat a seat belt is fine and there is no evidence to say that a harness is safer.

welshweasel · 03/09/2023 14:51

I would go for one with a crotch strap. The britax kidifix or the besafe izi flex are both excellent safe seats. It's safer for them to be using a seatbelt than a forward facing harness at that age. Obviously keeping them rear facing would be even safer.

Original poster
meow1989 · 03/09/2023 15:59

I think we have settled on the Britax romer kidfit I size just because I like the idea of reducing risk of abdominal injuries with the middle bit - theres no reason this should become an annoyance as he gets older should there?

The Cybex and Britax both had the same safety scoring on which and D's had a sit in a similar size one today

OP posts:
ribbonola · 03/09/2023 16:15

meow1989 · 03/09/2023 15:59

I think we have settled on the Britax romer kidfit I size just because I like the idea of reducing risk of abdominal injuries with the middle bit - theres no reason this should become an annoyance as he gets older should there?

The Cybex and Britax both had the same safety scoring on which and D's had a sit in a similar size one today

The extra crotch part is removable so can just be taken out if DS finds it an annoyance once he's older

TropicalTrama · 03/09/2023 16:57

mishmased · 03/09/2023 14:36

@NameChange30 I didn't say she needed one. It was a suggestion to get a stage 2-3 seat that can be turned into a hbb. A suggestion based on what I did with my older two now aged 10 and 8 and in hbb. The advice is to keep them in the safest seat for as long as possible. Like pp I suggested the brands I'm familiar with for ff-Britax and Besafe.

Are there even any seats like that where a 114cm 5YO would be within the harness limit? We have the Britax Advansafix for our toddler which is basically the Kidfix just with a harness option, and the limit on using it harnessed is 104cm. It’s also apparently safer, providing the child is old/tall/heavy enough (which OP’s DS is), to have them in a seatbelt than in harness when forward facing. Something to do with forces on the neck during a crash. If I were OP I wouldn’t waste my money on buying a stage 2 forward facing seat.

Also thanks @ribbonola good to know we can remove the crotch strap when we swap to a booster!

BertieBotts · 05/09/2023 18:53

Yes, Joie Bold would easily fit a 114cm child.

But I agree that OP's child is going to be safest in a high backed booster seat, and the Britax Kidfix seats are a good choice :)

@YesitsBess I have attached a photo example of a child older than 5 rear facing for curiosity satisfying purposes :) The seats designed for this can be fitted a little way back from the backrest which creates leg room.

First forward facing car seat for 5 year old
YesitsBess · 05/09/2023 18:58

That makes sooooo much more sense now 😂

I was kinda picturing a...bowl? With their legs up on the parcel shelf?! And I was wondering what they looked at on long journeys.

Thankyou!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page