Car seat question about 5 point belt to 25kg

[Mmr224]

We have had our two children in Joie I spin 360, mainly rearward facing, until they maxed out on height at 4 and 5.5. We then moved them both into Joie Bold R, which has a 5 point belt to 25kg. We do regular long journeys on single track roads and motorways, and one is quite small and has complex health needs, so I'm keen to keep them in 5 point belts for a while yet.

One of the car seats was in an accident in a family members car (child not involved), and now needs replacing. I was going to get a Bold R again, but noticed Joie are advertising a new seat which is also 5 point belt to 25kg, and then becomes a booster. I wondered if anyone had used or seen this one or knew where to see safety ratings? It's called Joie i-Irvana™ Max.

Or does anyone have other recommendations for a suitable seat? Price is a factor too, but I can stretch a bit for the right seat.

Ideally isofix, we can do top teacher or leg style seats. Looking at max price under 200 if possible.

Bonus points if someone finds one which could also be belt fitted safely in the front passenger seat with airbag switched off, to allow us to occasionally get 3 adults in the car with 2 car seats. awe have an estate car and can't fit 3 car seats or a person and two car seats across the middle.

I don't think this exists though!

@Bertiebotts I think you have given.me good advice in the past when considering car seats.

I think our childminder got a Graco slimfit R129 for quite an adaptable seat to fit different needs. I don't know what weight it harnesses up to though.

Just also thinking if you had a belt fitted one, you might not need to put it in the front if you belt fit it closer to the door in the back, then it might allow an adult to fit?

We have an estate (A6) and can fit an adult in the back with two ERF belt fitted seats but one of them gets pushed over closer to the door to do this.

Just checked and it was a Graco extend r129 which having had a look don't think it would be what you need.

@lochmaree thank you so much for replying. I don't think this one will work but appreciate the thought.

The other seat we have is isofix, and annoyingly, because of the placement of the isofix points in the back, they are out a fair bit from the side of the car, so no space between for an adult or teenager, and the isofix impinges on the middle belt if you try to fit a belt fit seat beside one of the isofix.

We've just done the MOT but I think we will need to change cars next year or 18 months anyway, so worth thinking about cars in advance since we are going to need seats or boosters for a while years.

Hi, the i-Irvana max is quite new, so no ADAC test on it yet, and does seem to have the 25kg/125cm harness, which is a good thing. It's one of only three seats I know of with the R129 rating and 125cm limit forward facing.

Another poster @fakeflower has recently bought one so perhaps she can give you her review?

Hello! Just I’ve bought the irvana max and love it. The print instructions I got say the straps go up to 25kg (the ones on the website were confusing) and my 4.5 year old fits it easily with growing space.

its actually more narrow than a regular high back booster. It uses isofix and top tether. So would only work in front seat as a booster.

my only complaint is the buckle design is a bit harder to slot in than our other joie seat. It has a decent cup holder and everything else looks ok

Thanks so much for the feedback both. I was considering buying a new Bold but now not sure if we should go for the Irvana instead. I liked having both children in the same seat as it was only one type for grandparents to learn and the kids were comfortable, but makes sense to look at what else is available. The older child is quite dinky and in and out of hospital often, so I like the extra security of having them in a 5 point belts if we have to travel when they're ill. They're both still under 20kg now.

@BertieBotts please could you tell me what the other seats are that you know of going up to 25kg? Any help greatly appreciated 🙏🙏

The Joie i-Irvana max as said above.

Joie Bold R - has to be the old R44 version, not the R129 / i-Bold.

Cozy n Safe Excalibur (not i-size)
Cozy n Safe Hudson (not i-size)
Enfasafe Event fx (if you can still get this anywhere)

Maxi Cosi Beryl, but it's expensive, doesn't convert to high back booster and hard to find.

Thank you so so much @BertieBotts 🙌🙌 do you have a preference from that list? Why is it so hard to pick something so important?¿? Wish we had more guidance on it.

Probably the Joie i-Irvana Max would be my recommendation because it meets the newer regulation and therefore it's easier to use and the criteria it needs to meet in crash testing is slightly stricter.

If it's too expensive and you're on a tight budget, probably Cozy n Safe Hudson.

Honestly, any car seat that meets a decent legal standard, used properly that fits your child correctly is a LOT better than nothing. The differences between different models are not as big as you'd think, and I think we can overthink this

If your child/budget/other things will allow for rear facing, that makes a bigger difference but if they are older, then forward facing is a good option as well.

A 1000 thank yous @BertieBotts i will get the joie irvana. Would you mind/would it be OK if I sent you details of DS for you to make a recommendation? Im needing seats for 2 kids so irvana for one and then something else for younger.

Yes no worries. Make sure it is the irvana max - the one without "max" in the name isn't extended harness, it's only up to 105cm/21kg.

Thank you @BertieBotts 🙏so... 16months, 89cm, 15kg. What seat would you recommend? I'm at a loss!

Hi @Mmr224

did you go for the Joie I-Irvana Max in the end? If so, are you happy with it?

I was literally about to click ‘pay’ for the Joie I bold and then saw this thread that the new I bold doesn’t go up to 25kg!

my older child has the CozynSafe Hudson, which is fine, but I’ve read some things lately that make me think that maybe it’s not the safest anymore, so wanted something a bit newer for my youngest.

thanks

@JM376 jumping in here so hope you don't mind. I got the irvana Max and I am ever so pleased with it. @BertieBotts told me to make sure and get the one listed as "max" as there is a version without "max" that goes to 21kg only I think.

Really great seat 👍

Oh that’s brilliant, thanks very much! Thought I better get in there quickly as it’s Black Friday, so I’ll order the Irvana Mac now.

thank you x

Sorry Smiless I didn't see this message before. This is the younger child? If it's not too late, I'd probably go with a rear facing seat like Avionaut Sky or Axkid Minikid, or something cheaper like Joie Spin 360 and then they can move to the extended harness seat later on when their sibling has outgrown it.

Please can I jump on this thread... @BertieBotts does the irvana max recline? My 2 year old still naps in car and head flop freaks me out. He's 18kg and 94cm was 2 at end of January. I was looking at a bold r or i-bold? Thanks xx

Hi @iwood89 the i-bold will be no good to you as the height limit in 5-point harness mode is limited to 105cm, and weight 22kg. If your LO continues on the same centiles he will probably hit these before he is 4. The Bold R is OK as it is 25kg with no height limit, but it doesn't have much of a recline and does need to be reinstalled to use the recline, because of the seatbelt and tether fitting.

I don't think the i-Irvana max has a recline. They are really designed for older children, I think.

Cozy n Safe Excalibur i-size might be worth considering, this one is up to 125cm/25kg like the Joie i-Irvana Max but it does have a recline and looks a bit deeper in the side wings, so might suit a 2yo better.

Would you consider a rear facing seat at all? The recline on those is much better than the forward facing options. Britax Safe Way M is around the same price as the i-Irvana max, and it goes up to 125cm and 36kg so will last you much longer. The 25kg limit seats might only get you a little bit past age 4 if your DS stays on the same centiles.

As general advice - double check where your seat's shoulder straps are and whether the headrest is in the right place, their shoulders need to sit under the headrest in the seat, and straps need to be about level with their shoulders, or slightly above for forward facing. You can often move it up and down by squeezing a button on top or behind the top of it. Head flop at this age is usually caused when the straps are too low down behind their back rather than a lack of recline, it sort of pushes them forwards out of the seat. Try to get him to stretch out and lean back so his shoulders are touching the seat as you tighten the straps, as well. As he's 18kg already, it might be that he is right at the limit of the seat you have currently which can also make it tricky to get a good fit, but check whether the headrest and straps adjust together, as they often do.

This is a good guide to how to tighten the straps which works for any 5-point harness. It's a good idea to loosen the straps when you take your child out as it means you get a snug fit every time and also prevents them from getting twisted as you can lay them over the sides of the seat, meaning you're not digging around under their bum for the strap.

@BertieBotts thanks for your response, I really appreciate it. He's already forward facing as he got sick rear facing unfortunately 😞 He's definitely reached the harness limit on his current seat (Joie i-spin 360 and cybex sirona) these have quite good recline so head flop not but just really paranoid about it for future seat...

I've never heard of the cosy n safe brand, will take a look thank you.

So if recline isn't something to worry about, which FF seat do you recommend? I suspect he will stay on high centiles, he's got long body and short legs it would seem 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you xx

I think the Joie i-Irvana Max is probably the nicest/best designed of all the extended harness seats out there at the moment.