Over 18kg toddler, non-isofix

[Secondtimearoundmum]

anyone able to recommend a car seat for a toddler just about to break the 18kg mark (but only 85cm tall!)

car does NOT have isofix. Needs to have 5 point harness and as much side protection as possible…

it’s for MIL so only really used for little local trips places in London so don’t want to spend a fortune but do want him safe!

we have a britax advansafix in our car, so looking for something similar, but I don’t think it can be belted until he is taller??

Joie Elevate R129 Car Seat - Shale – Mamas & Papas UK

How old is he? Yes he needs to be at least 100cm to go into a HBB with seatbelt. At least 3 as well, preferably over 4.

You will struggle, honestly, to find a good seat. The Joie Elevate R129 might work. Rear facing would be more secure but can be expensive. You could look at Joie Every Stage R129 or Graco Slimfit R129 - those are RF up to 21kg/105cm and then change to forward facing high back booster.

18kg and 85cm is a very unusual combination, sorry to ask but are you sure both measurements are right?

It might also be worth double checking for isofix - if the car is 2013 or newer, then it will definitely have isofix and top tether. If it's ~2006-2013 then it will probably have isofix but it might not be clearly marked and might not have top tether (which you'll need for anything similar to the Advansafix). Late 90s-mid 00s is could have it, might not, probably won't be easy to find.

He’s 2.5 and yes, he’s very short and fat.

he’s currently 17.1kg so I’m just thinking in advance as 2nd baby is due in a couple of months and I won’t have the headspace!

He will (hopefully!) have grown a few centimeters by the time he hits 18kg but his height sits between 9th and 25th centile depending on growth spurts

Ah OK - 17.1kg is not so incongruous :)

It's fairly likely you'll have another 6 months or so at least (children tend to grow in spurts) but I can see how it makes sense to get it sorted before LO arrives.

I think you will want to aim for the 21/22kg limit on whatever you get. I'm not keen on the fitting of Joie Elevate so I would prefer the Every Stage or Slimfit (you will need the R129 versions) but if you don't want rear facing, then Elevate (Or Graco Eldura looks similar) does have the benefit of a 21.5kg limit and is belt fitted.

I have used Britax Two Way Elite non-isofix seats for years, with multiple kids.

Belt fitted
Rear facing to 9-25kg
Forward facing 9-25kg (though please don’t forward face at 9kg )

I have used these rear and forward facing in so many different cars. They are really versatile as they have alternative belt routes too.

Thank you - I’ll look into them all :)

I would happily keep him rear-facing but MIL is NOT going to be persuaded. So I’d rather him be in the safest forward-facing option, than in a less safe ERF seat that she won’t use properly.

I’ve already had to argue that just because the car seats says up to 4 years old, it doesn’t matter if your grandson weighs the same as a baby hippo. even if he’s only 2.5

Not wanting to hijack the thread, but looking for advice on a seat belt fitted car seat that can be used in the front or back seat for a 3.5 year old and a nearly 5 year old, currently around 100-104 cm and 17.3-17.8 kg.

We've transitioned both kids recently from Joie i-size spin seats to Joie Bold Isofix with top tether and seat belt fitted, on either side. they don't fit side by side. This works well for us in pen car, but with our estate car, we can only get 4 in the car. We are in the car a lot, and travel on both motorways and bad roads in rural Scotland. The smaller child has a significant chronic condition which means we are happier if possible to keep them in a 5 point belt for as long. as possible abd I'm not sure I'd trust the younger one yet not to undo a seatbelt on a high backed booster.

We are increasingly having an older child in the holidays, no longer using a booster but too big to fit between the 2 car seats. Can anyone recommend a seat which might do for up to 22 or 25 kg seat belt fitted which grandparents could use in thier car on the back and we could use in front passenger seat so we could put one person on either side in the back and Bold in the middle?

The Two Way Elite isn't available any more and the version which could use the harness forward facing to 25kg was discontinued in 2017 unfortunately.

@Mmr224 I think Cozy n Safe Hudson is the slimmest 25kg seat but if you could do rear facing, you'll get longer lasting safety unless you're willing to look into additional needs harnesses - you could contact a SN seat provider.

Hi OP,
If you want to keep your child rear racing, then your mother in law shouldn’t have a say in this.

@FamilyAreEverything i know, but there’s a bit of compromise everywhere.

he’ll be FF in our car (when he hits 18kg) cause whilst I’d ideally ERF, I just couldn’t justify the cost. But it was easier to find a FF toddler seat I was happy with because we have isofix.

also, MIL is TINY (and old) so she does really struggle getting him into a rear-facing seat. As she doesn’t have isofix, spin seats are out. There is no way she is going to be lifting him up to 25kg into a ERF seat. And because he is very young (and … strong-willed) there is no way he’s climbing in himself!

and the reality is that she maybe takes him out once a week max in the car, a short 5
minute pootle to the park or library.