Car seats when child reaches 18 kilos?

[Hayls]

I'm confused by all the information! Can anyone tell me what type of car seat a 3yo who weighs 18 kilos should be using? We have a Britax First Class and Britax Freeway (?- I think that's what it's called.) I'm not sure if she should still be using them or not- should she be in a stage 3 one now? If so, recommendations much appreciated.TIA

18kg is the usual maximum for a Stage 1 seat but the dilemma is that a 5 point harness is recommended until aged 4. There are a few seats around with harnesses for longer (Britax Elite is one , up to 22kg iirc) but from 18kg a high back booster (Stage 2) is the norm. These use the adult belt to hold both seat and child, ok as long as they won't fiddle with the buckle or take their arm out.

Thanks Lizs, I'm still confused as most high back boosters seem to say from 15kilos and age 4. Dd is 3.4 and 18 kilos so I'm not sure where that leaves her! I think it looks like we'll have to ditch the First Class and Freeway, which is a shame as they're pretty new. So am I correct in thinking that they can stay in them until 4yo provided they don't exceed 18 kilos? What happens in the months between reaching 18 kilos and 4 years

Many people just move them before 4, once they reach 15kg , weight counts more than age, as long as you can trust them. My kids are smaller than average so not been an issue for us in fact we have the opposite for dd who is almost 6 and still hovering on 15kg.

That helps, thanks very much. so what do you reckon is the best option then?

Which ? rate the Maxi Cosi Rodi, Britax Hiliner and Evolva 2/3 plus a couple of others I can't recall, If you search MN on "Which?" someone listed the latest recommmendations a week or two back.

Thanks Lizs, just had a look at that and am now on the right track so tank you

one the child over 18 kg they are NOT SAFE in (most) group 1 car seats...

they use ages as a GUIDE but its weight that is most important.

therefore you need a group 2 car seat.

Britax highliner or the maxi cosi ones do very well in independant crash tests.

(the graco one does NOT so dont get that one )