When can we ditch the car seat?

[lightupthetoys]

Source of so much stress as DC can get his arms out of the straps (I know there are various safety devices aimed at preventing this and none have been effective.)

When can he go into a booster seat?

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules

Thanks but I’m still a bit confused by the difference between a car seat and a booster. When can he go into a booster with a seatbelt? It doesn’t seem very obvious from the link but I may have missed something.

Booster seats are group 2 on that link. Minimum weight 15kg.

How old is he?

How old and how tall?

He’s 3 and a half next month. I’m not sure how tall fairly average.

Not old enough or big enough for a high back booster yet.

From toddler car seat to booster seat (earliest)
We at BeSafe advise you to keep your child rear facing for as long as possible or at least until the age of four. Therefore, we recommend you to move your child to a booster seat only when all three of the following conditions are met:

1. Your child should be at least four years old
2. Your child has reached the minimum requirement of the seat (15kg when approved to ECE R44 or 100cm when approved to UN R129) – this is legally binding by the regulations
3. Your child has the mental maturity to sit still in the high back booster seat. When leaning forwards a lot, your child is outside of the seat’s protection zone, so the seat would not protect your child as intended.

https://www.besafe.com/gb/safety-tips/tips/when-to-change-car-seats/#

Sob. When does this happen? I’ve seen boosters saying that they can be used from 3 and a half.

I know rear facing is best but we haven’t done that since he was around 15/16 months.

My twins are 3 1/2 - they are 95cm and need to be 100cm for the seats I've seen (and that's the shortest - most day at least 105cm plus) - so I'm expecting nearer the end of the year before they can go in a booster

I've seen it recommended to stay rear facing even at that age.

Mine are 8yrs old and still in 5point harnesses.

Won't your son still unclip himself from the seatbelt too?

If he can get his arms out, the harness height might need adjusting. Have you tried a higher setting?

I don’t know @kindlemanic . I think the safety straps are a bit of a challenge in a way - he doesn’t try to unclip the actual car seat so I don’t think so.

I’ve tried everything, I think.

Is there anything here that you haven't tried?
https://incarsafetycentre.co.uk/collections/additional-needs
I advise giving ICSC a call, they're very knowledgable and helpful.

Thanks - no additional needs were aware of: just going through a challenging time with following instructions 🙄

(Eye roll aimed at DS. Not you!)

Yes but if you click on the link it has loads of accessories for car seat straps and buckles to stop kids getting out. As you can imagine it is a common problem for children with additional needs, although of course non-disabled children can escape too!

Thank you - I understood what you meant after I posted 🤦🏼‍♀️ for some reason I thought it was a checklist for additional needs! Sorry - brain isn’t working.

Most of those probably aren’t applicable. The problem we have is he can always get his arms out of the straps and once he does he’s on the loose which is dangerous to him and everybody else in the car. I managed to get one of those Houdini straps which stopped him doing this but now he’s worked out how to unbuckle that. So not sure if there’s anything which can help?

How would moving to a booster seat that just uses a normal belt help, if the issue is him climbing out of a more difficult 5 point one?

I think because he sees the car seat as restricting / restraining him. He was the same with high chairs as a toddler and just refused to go in them.

Obvious question but is the harness actually tight enough if he's escaping?

We have a 5 point ERF seat. Same age child. But they couldnt easily get their arms out?

If they're not mature enough to understand 5 point is for safety i'd be cautious about a seat belt option. But maybe it's worth trying?

I guess you have to weigh it up. An unsecured child is more unsafe than a child secured. So if a seatbelt high back booster will mean they're secured thats better than what you've got. Try it and see? Maybe the change alone will improve things.

But i'd also check harness is tight and work with child on not doing it, as challenging and frustrating as that is.

What about a Cybex car seat that has the impact shield? He wouldn’t be able to escape that and then it turns into a normal seat when he gets older?
https://www.cybex-online.com/en/gb/p/CS_GO_Pallas_G_i-Size_EN.html

An unsecured child is more unsafe than a child secured. So if a seatbelt high back booster will mean they're secured thats better than what you've got. Try it and see

This is largely my logic. I know ideally he’d comply but he just doesn’t and it worries me. Some journeys he’s fine and others he isn’t fine and it’s dangerous for everyone.