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Original poster

My grandson is huge but not even 2 and a half years old yet.

17 replies

Marylou62 · 26/06/2025 17:21

My grandson is huge but not even 2 and a half years old yet.
He's 19.5kg and 97kg.
He's outgrown his Joie 360 spin and I need a seat he can easily get into himself as I'm really having trouble lifting him already..
I've looked at the Joie Elevate R129 but Halfords told me that the 5 point harness is only up to 20kg but the Joie site says up to 105cm..
Any advice or recommendations please?
I really want to have a 5 point harness for as long as possible.
And obviously I'd pay £100s for his safety but can't really afford to.

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Lavender14 · 26/06/2025 17:26

I have the same issue with ds who's the same age and a wee giant!

I got the Axkid Movekid because it'll go up to he's about 4 and is rear facing so still fully supportive in an accident and has great safety ratings. It was expensive but maybe you could find one second hand? The sides are very low so ds can climb in himself as I don't have a great back which makes a big difference and he seems to find it comfy.

Original poster
Marylou62 · 26/06/2025 19:24

Trouble is we've had to forward face because I'm very tall (6ft) and I have to put my driving seat too far forward to fit his seat if he is rear facing (I know this isn't ideal) he has a new brother who we've had to put behind the passenger seat because again the car seat takes up so much room..

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 26/06/2025 19:27

97cm!!

OP posts:
Mew2 · 26/06/2025 19:33

So have you looked at the safety distance to forward face- it's about 50cm from the car seat back- to the front seat back. It's actually often bigger than a rear facing seat.....
I would go to an independent car seat shop- and try some.... They often have better leg room and are slimmer than the forward facing equivalent. However the Joie bold may work- harness to 25kg (I believe the highest harness of a forward facing seat)....

Original poster
Marylou62 · 26/06/2025 19:52

We are going to one soon (my DD as well as she needs a new one too).

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 26/06/2025 19:54

And I understand your point about the distances but I can't physically drive with my legs so bent! So it's making the best decision for both of us..

OP posts:
Rowen32 · 26/06/2025 20:20

I find this strange as we have Axkid Minikids and they take up the same space as the 360 spin? We lost no leg room. They're good until 36kg..

BertieBotts · 26/06/2025 22:16

Rear facing would be ideal at 2.5, and the 36kg limit seats will last longest, but if you need a forward facing seat, there are a few which go up to 25kg without height limit - Cozy n Safe Hudson, Cozy n Safe Excalibur, Joie Bold R and Puggle Safe Fit & Grow.

You need to avoid the newer i-size versions of these seats because the harness limit is too low.

All the above need to be fitted using top tether and sometimes seatbelt AND isofix all at the same time - double check the manual, as it's not intuitive.

The 20kg limit will be too low. I wouldn't bother with the Joie Elevate.

BertieBotts · 26/06/2025 22:34

Also, if you are forward facing with not much space to the front seat, it's very important to ensure that the seat is fitted tightly and the 5 point harness is correctly adjusted, which means level with his shoulders, if he is between two slots choose the higher one - never twisted, and tightened properly each time, so it's good practice to use the little adjuster to fully loosen the straps before releasing them, and then lay them over the sides of the seat to prevent them being twisted under their bum. Then as you strap him in, make sure he's sitting properly with bum right to the back of the seat, not slouching, click the buckle in with it loose and tighten the straps off.

A lot of children when you buckle them in they lean down to see what's happening with the buckle and this pulls their shoulders forwards. You want to get him to sit up straight and lean back into the seat as you tighten the straps. Holding something up high usually gets them to look up.Tug the pads if the seat has pads down on his chest to get them comfy as well, if you have a Joie seat they tend to be very "sticky" on the pads so it helps to position them on the shoulders first before you start tightening otherwise they catch on the shoulders and go into a V shape which is not good.

It is possible to fit one of the 36kg type rear facing seats in the front seat or possibly in the centre if your car allows. However they are a bit more expensive than the forward facing ones (Britax Safe Way M is the cheapest at £170).

Original poster
Marylou62 · 27/06/2025 16:03

BertieBotts · 26/06/2025 22:34

Also, if you are forward facing with not much space to the front seat, it's very important to ensure that the seat is fitted tightly and the 5 point harness is correctly adjusted, which means level with his shoulders, if he is between two slots choose the higher one - never twisted, and tightened properly each time, so it's good practice to use the little adjuster to fully loosen the straps before releasing them, and then lay them over the sides of the seat to prevent them being twisted under their bum. Then as you strap him in, make sure he's sitting properly with bum right to the back of the seat, not slouching, click the buckle in with it loose and tighten the straps off.

A lot of children when you buckle them in they lean down to see what's happening with the buckle and this pulls their shoulders forwards. You want to get him to sit up straight and lean back into the seat as you tighten the straps. Holding something up high usually gets them to look up.Tug the pads if the seat has pads down on his chest to get them comfy as well, if you have a Joie seat they tend to be very "sticky" on the pads so it helps to position them on the shoulders first before you start tightening otherwise they catch on the shoulders and go into a V shape which is not good.

It is possible to fit one of the 36kg type rear facing seats in the front seat or possibly in the centre if your car allows. However they are a bit more expensive than the forward facing ones (Britax Safe Way M is the cheapest at £170).

Thank you for this..
I'm a stickler for car safety already but I've read this and will double check like I always do..
As I'm 6ft (and definitely can't afford to change my car) he's now forward facing. His little brother is behind the passenger seat because I can't physically drive if his seat was behind me.
I'm very lucky that I'm very very involved with my DD and GCs so we are always car hopping.. I'll pick them both up from the stables (half way) and bring them home and let her sort horse etc.
I'm beginning to realise it's going to be expensive but it's going to have to be spent!

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 27/06/2025 16:07

Rowen32 · 26/06/2025 20:20

I find this strange as we have Axkid Minikids and they take up the same space as the 360 spin? We lost no leg room. They're good until 36kg..

When he was behind the passenger seat it wasn't too much of a problem.. but GC #2 has been born so now new baby is behind the passenger seat as obviously he can't FF.
He will stay FF now but looking for a 5pt harness.. I'm looking at the ones recommended here..
Thank you

OP posts:
stichguru · 27/06/2025 16:25

Make sure that you have 55cms or more between the child's nose and the back of the next seat. You can get some good forward facing seats, but you must still have this "crash space" if the child is shot forward. If you don't have that, there is not enough space to legally and safely have a child in that position in the car.

Original poster
Marylou62 · 27/06/2025 16:43

stichguru · 27/06/2025 16:25

Make sure that you have 55cms or more between the child's nose and the back of the next seat. You can get some good forward facing seats, but you must still have this "crash space" if the child is shot forward. If you don't have that, there is not enough space to legally and safely have a child in that position in the car.

Thank you.. I'm going to check tomorrow when I have him.

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JustAnInchident · 27/06/2025 16:52

My son was (is!) a giant, v tall and broad so of course heavy for his age, and I had the same trouble. I got the cozy’n’safe Hudson mentioned by BertieBotts when he’d just turned two as he’d grown out of the joie ispin isize iwhatever one we did have and it’s doing him really well still now at 3.5y, and still massively over average for height and weight. The harness only goes up to a certain weight but it’s more than most and he still seems really comfy in it now, just using the normal seatbelt.

JohnTheRevelator · 27/06/2025 17:09

I did a double take when I read he was 97 kg! That's more than me!

Original poster
Marylou62 · 27/06/2025 18:28

JohnTheRevelator · 27/06/2025 17:09

I did a double take when I read he was 97 kg! That's more than me!

I know! And I couldn't edit again...97cm obviously and growing like a weed..
His weight gain has slowed a bit and after taking advice we've found a car seat with a 5 point harness up to 25kg which hopefully will see him until he's 3 years old ish...

OP posts:
Original poster
Marylou62 · 28/06/2025 07:19

JustAnInchident · 27/06/2025 16:52

My son was (is!) a giant, v tall and broad so of course heavy for his age, and I had the same trouble. I got the cozy’n’safe Hudson mentioned by BertieBotts when he’d just turned two as he’d grown out of the joie ispin isize iwhatever one we did have and it’s doing him really well still now at 3.5y, and still massively over average for height and weight. The harness only goes up to a certain weight but it’s more than most and he still seems really comfy in it now, just using the normal seatbelt.

As my grandson is not 2 and a half yet he really needs the 5 point harness for a while longer as I'm sure he'll be trying to wriggle out of the seat belt even though I'm very strict and it will not be loose! I've found a seat now, recommended by Bertie and hopefully the harness will see him until about 3yrs old.

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