Outgrowing toddler car seat much too early. What next?

[LGBirmingham]

I'm feeling a bit miffed because I realised there is only one more notch on the headrest on DS's Maxi Cosi Mica. This seat was expensive when we bought it a year and a half ago. Has any else had one of these and found their child outgrew it much too quickly?

DS is only 2 and 3/4s and the seat is supposed to last until he's 4, I can't see it lasting much longer after his third birthday. He isn't a tall child either, usually seems to come in between 25th and 50th Centile. But admittedly his proportions are a long back and shorter legs.

I'm not sure he is ready or if it is even safe for him to go to a high back booster in the near future. Does anyone have any thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks

You can use it until the top of his ears are in line with the top of the car seat so you’ve probably got a while left in it yet

Join the Extended Rear Facing (ERF) Facebook group for advice about car seats based on age, weight and height.

We also outgrew a maxi cosi one and besafe aged 2- both were supposed to go to age 4 (although son is very tall and over a metre when he turned 2). The person above said about having until ears are in line with the top of the car seat, but the straps didn't go over his shoulders way before this and caused red marks/ cut in on the highest setting. We had to buy another seat. Can't remember which, but we had to try a lot in Halfords. I think it was a cheapish joie one!

Look for a 25kg/36kg extended rear facing seat, like the Axkid Move or Minikid, or Britax Max-Safe. They're designed to last to around 7 years or 125cm, which should definitely last you until he's 5+ and ready for a high backed booster.

Yes I read the thing about the ears too but also that the straps should be level with their shoulders, not below. The headrest sits directly on top of the shoulders to achieve the desired strap height. The straps would be much too low on his shoulders if his head was allowed to go that much out of the seat and I'm not sure how his body would actually fit.

I have a very tall son so moved mine into this when he was 3.5 ( my motivation was to give his toddler seat to the baby who had put grown his baby seat). It retained the 5 point harness as I didn't think he was ready for a belt across but was more affordable then another toddler type seat

https://www.halfords.com/baby-and-child/car-seats/baby-car-seats/joie-elevate-r129-group-1%2F2%2F3-car-seat---thunder-819454.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA--Motoring%3EChild+Seats%3EBaby+Car+Seats--Motoring%3EChild+Seats%3EBaby+Car+Seats--819454&$ja=tsid:|cid:17136607329|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:6822641816071212982|dvc:m|adp:|mt:|loc:9045343&gclid=CjwKCAjwpJWoBhA8EiwAHZFzfno81OQWxZI2OaRf2hXJtxWQNNIc1srrNEk03a5TJHUJEzETvaxROhoC8YUQAvD_BwE

DS is still under a metre in height. I think around 93cms, it's hard to get him to stand still enough for an accurate measurement. Perhaps Maxi Cosi are just small seats? Wish I'd known this when shelling out £300!

Well he’ll stop needing one at all if he grows faster so it will all come to the same end.

@Coffeaddict that looks a good compromise. It's basically a high back booster with a harness?

@Ohthatsabitshit very true, I guess we still have to shell out for the same number of car seats no matter how quickly he gets through them.

I had this problem with a long bodied toddler and got the Axkid (...something) which is on rails (££££). Can't remember model name. He's still using it now and has just started year 1. Other parents think I'm mad but I'm determined to get my money's worth and he is fine in it. It's also safer.

You are definitely not mad!! It's safer.