Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

Car Seats/Booster Seats dilema......

31 replies

HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 19:55

ok - so we might be going to Zimbabwe in May with the boys. DS1 has a (backless) booster seat - so no problem there - easily transportable - but DS2 is still in his massive carseat.

He's 14kgs (or was 2 weeks ago) - and 2yrs old. Obviously there's no way we could take the big britax out with us - so I was thinking of just getting a booster seat (like DS1's) just for while we were out there. Car seats are a very rare phenonmen out there- and I know for a fact that none of DH's family have any - and the chances of the car hire places out there having any that are 'safe' (ie not just been reused after being in an accident) are slim. There's no WAY I would let my boys in cars for any distance in Zim without carseats of some description - I saw far too many horrific accidents out there when I lived there, but would a low back booster seat actually do any good????

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 22/12/2005 19:57

we have a britax ranger(i think thats what its called) for our 2.8 yo. hes been in it since he came out of his rearward facing seat.

Its a high back booster seat that u can take the back off

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:00

We've got the Graco for DS1 - and if we do buy another booster seat for this trip will probably get the same one (as I really like it - especially with the cup holders - shallow I know LOL). Obviously once we came home again he'd go back in his proper car seat until he was big enough for the booster........but will it actually protect him if he's not really big enough for it (or perhaps he will be by then - who knows )

OP posts:
MerlinsBeard · 22/12/2005 20:01

sorry, just re read ur post and i actually didn't reply to what u asked!!!

no idea on LOW back boosters, sorry

Hulababy · 22/12/2005 20:02

We have the Jane IndyPlus booster seat. It is an isofix seat but can also be used as a normal one. The instructions actually say it can used from 9 months - we used it from about 2y10 I think.

bobbybobbobbingalong · 22/12/2005 20:02

In NZ it's considered okay to use a full booster (made of polysterene and not tethered) from 2 or 14kg. They say 3+ for the little non backed ones, but a friend uses one in her dh's car as it will go in his boot 99% of the time and be used for journeys of less than 2km (why they don't walk is beyond me, but another story)

I would buy a cheap one that goes to 18 kg. That is what we use in dh's car and take on holiday. It is from the UK and was around 30pounds. We bought it in the UK when over for a holiday and brought it back.

In short I would use a non back booster for ds who is nearly 3 rather than lug a massive seat, but that is in NZ. There are more accidents in developing countries because of poor roads and so I would want a safer seat than I have at home - not a less safe one.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:02

lol - I did wonder Monster when I read your reply - but didn't like to say anything

OP posts:
Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:06

Thing is £30 is almost as much as we payed for DS1's Graco booster seat - so I'd prefer (if possible) to buy one that DS2 will then use properly when he's a bit older. I really can't take a massive car seat out with us - for a start it probably wouldn't fit in most of the cars - whereas at least the Graco booster fits in practically any car. Oh god I'm confused..

OP posts:
NannyL · 22/12/2005 20:11

Ok, he will probaly be 15kg by May so should be fine in a high backed booster.

Please bear in mind that the
Britax kids
Britax Highliner (has cup holders as well)
Maxi cosy rodi
and Concord 'something' did VERY well in the which reports and are the safest high backed boosters that they recommend

The Graco one
Britax Ranger
britax cruiser plus
Meggy combi
and some otehrs I forget did VERY poorly in the crash test and which? even were included in a section of 'bad' car seats that they absolutley do NOT recommend (tho are safer than no car seat at all)

santabops · 22/12/2005 20:12

We have a booster from Mothercare with extra 5 point strap thing, but it was £50. Ds has used it since 18 months as he was too big for his other car seat. Has been good and will adapt to normal booster once he is a bit older.

FairyTaleinNewYork · 22/12/2005 20:14

nannyl, can u find out any thing about the Concord Trimax Rival, i want know if the hatness can be used till child is older.

MerlinsBeard · 22/12/2005 20:17

have u alink i can follow to read about those crash tests that u mentioned? surely if the seats were not recommended at all they would b discontinued?

FairyTaleinNewYork · 22/12/2005 20:21

mumofmonsters its on the which? site, but u have tp pay to read them i think.

MerlinsBeard · 22/12/2005 20:21

ty FTINY....will stop hijacking now

FairyTaleinNewYork · 22/12/2005 20:23

its alright i'm hijacking too lol.

sorry QoQ. get the britax kid ;) kiddicare have it cheap.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:23

NannyL - a highbacked booster would be just as difficult to transport as his current car seat would be !

Yes I'd read the reports about the crash tests before buying - but still opted for the Graco .

OP posts:
Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:26

Fairy - which Britax one??

OP posts:
NannyL · 22/12/2005 20:27

mumsofmonstors thats EXACTLY what which? said in their article.

They had pointed out the safety problems before (most of them in 2004) and are annoyed that they are still for sale.

The do meet the MINIMUM uk standards tho so can continue to be sold.

A few years ago they tested a mothercare (daytona) seat that was so dangerouse they gave it 0 points (the only thing ever in its history i think to score 0) they said any baby travelling in it in a crash would almost certainly be killed or at least have a badly broken neck!

that one was discontinued i think and at the time (about 4 or 5 years ago i think) mothercare refunded anyone who had that article and same car seat.

It was so dangerouse they suggested NOT EVEN using it to drive to buy a new seat! (oh and the oictures of the crash and crash test dummies were schocking)

In fact until this year all the mothercare seats did appaulingly bad, so i personally would never use one!

FairyTaleinNewYork · 22/12/2005 20:30

sorry its the hi-liner thats 42.99.

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:31

So - that being said and all that - what should I do - Basic question is this

Would a backless booster seat for 14/15kg 2yr old child be safer, or more dangerous, than no car seat at all for him?

I know they say that a badly fitted carseat can be more dangerous than no carseat so I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
NannyL · 22/12/2005 20:32

Ive got the highliner for my 5 year old charge! we both love it!

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:32

Oh - and I should perhaps have made it clear that if we do get the booster to take with us it "will" be the Graco (although that Britax does like nice ) as all hell will break loose if DS2 has a different car seat to his brother......

OP posts:
NannyL · 22/12/2005 20:35

i would say a backless booster MUST ne safer than no car seat at all (as im sure you almost cant fit them wrongly), and really all they do is align the belt correctly across the pelvis to help stop the horrific back and spinal injuries that can happen with an adult seat belt on a child.

that said IF your not in a crash (and you probably wont be fingers crossed) you wont be 'needing' it anyway and if you are and hes injured then youve got to live with that.

Britax say they are suitable from 15kg so i would go with it and hope for the best!

FairyTaleinNewYork · 22/12/2005 20:36

if you take the graco with no back them take the strap to adjust the seatbelt with you.

TroutSprout · 22/12/2005 20:39

Britax kid...got it for my 2 year old...lasts up to 11 years of age...very good...from Boots

Original poster
HRHQueenOfQuelNoel · 22/12/2005 20:40

The strap on the Graco is permanently attached so we don't need to worry aboutt that.

I guess at least we won't need to worry about buying the booster when he's properly old enough.....and I wish the police helicopeter would stop flying backwards and forwards over my house.....and hopefully we won't be driving too much out there (says she wishfully think)./

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread