Can we get a booster seat yet?

[fisiltoe]

ds2 is 7 months and is a big boy and his head and feet overhang his baby seat and he is over 20lbs, so can move up to a car seat.

But I don't want to buy another car seat when we could just get a booster seat for ds1. ds1 will be 3 just after Xmas. He is short but solid.

Is he ready for a booster seat?

no, at the age of 3 they should be i na high back booster at the very least. sorry.

Weight is the key issue plus whether he is likely to undo the adult belt. Minimum weight for most highback boosters is 15kgs/33lbs. dd is 4 and not near that yet but she is small. Average is around 3 1/2 years. There are a few marketed as suitable from 10.5kgs but these tend not to score well in safety tests.

ds2 at 20 lbs is ready for a forward facing car seat and if your ds1 is over 33 lbs he can get a high backed booster. Check out this web site for all the info you need

childcarseats

Were you thinking of the high back booster seats? I think they start at 15kg so if he is near to this then I would say he should be OK.

can you try that link again? it didn't work for me.

I will have to weigh ds1 - no idea what he weighs.

thanks

Is your ds2 sitting up by himself ok? Because that is more important than weight when moving him to a forward-facing seat (its about neck control / muscles). He doesn't need to move out of his baby seat until his eyes are level with the top of the seat.

The issue with your ds1 in a high-back-booster might be that he is short - the seat belt guide might be too high so it will cut across his neck rather than going over his shoulder. We have the Jane IndyPlus because of this problem (dd is 3.6 but small). And you do need to trust him not to undo the seatbelt.

Hi Fisil. Mothercare sells a Britax TrioHighback Booster seat. Your DS1 could use this, and then when he's big enough for just the booster you can remove the back.

When my DS (same age as your DS2 obviously) moves into the forward seat (just waiting for him to sit up -- the lazy bugger!), then I'm going to get this seat for DD, who will be 3 in march.

I think another factor with a booster that uses an adult seatbelt (rather than the 5 point harness) is that she could not be trusted not to undo whilst the car is in motion. So she is going to have to be locked into a five point harness for another year or two, I think.

agree fruitful. Tried dd in the Indy plus today and I'd say she was only just the right height for the lower shoulder belt guide and head rest. She's about 98cm tall .

its weight thats important. If hes not 15kg then NO hes not ready to be moved from a stage 1 car seat.

If hes 15kg them you could consider a high backed booster such as the Britax kid, Britax Highliner or maxi cosy rodi.... all did very well in the which car seat tests this year and are the 3 they recommended (along with one made by concord that ive never seen or herd of.).

Some did VERY poor including the graco high backed booster so i wouldnt bother with that one. the Britax trio also scored very poorly along with the Britax cruiser plus and Britax RANGER so i wouldnt bother with those either (they were all in the "car seats that they actively do not recommend and suggest should not even be sold section)

So in short IF he is 15kg then you can move him, ideally to one of the above high backed boosters, but if not then you will need another stage 1 car seat in order for your children to travel safely in the car.

(they didnt test the Jane, but as its ISOFIX i would imagine it would be ok!)

Booster seats alone are not recommended until they are 6 years or 22kg which ever comes LAST

Hi Nannl, so where is this scoring system where they rate the seats? I was all set for the Britax, but after reading your post I may have to rethink my plan.

Sorry i didnt make it clear.

Its all in the which magazine.
they do the car seat 'tests' and publish it every june!

i think you can get it online (google which? magazine and you should ge a link) nut if youns subscribe i think you have to pay a small fee to get 'into' the site.

We get the which magazine so i have it all (and all the tests from years back as well!)

Thank you all.

Absolutely no problem with him undoing the seatbelt. He just wouldn't (but I know I won't be able to say the same about ds2)! Ds1 is sitting up fine - he has been for months and is almost standing too.

I will weigh ds1 and look at the Mothercare one. And yes, their safety has to be my first priority. Hopefully the seats'll be reduced in the sales!