Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Shopping

From everyday essentials to big purchases, swap tips and recommendations. For the best deals without the hassle, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Flip

Original poster

Car Seat Dilema. Your Advice Needed Please!

16 replies

mumatuks · 30/01/2006 09:29

Hi there,

Please bear with me whilst I get all this down, I'm confusing myself at times!

Ds2 is rappidly outgrowing his baby car seat. Ds1 is 2.4yrs old and in a Britax First Class Car seat. This can be a rearward facing one, and when I tried DS2 in it, he looked pretty comfy!

So where do I go next? I can put DS2 in the britax but what do i do for DS1? I could buy another Britax or similar, but it doesn't seem much point as DS1 is looking like he won't be in it much longer.

I should at this point say that although DS1 is only 2, he weighs 31.2kg / 2.4 stones and is tall for his age. Looking around at car seats that puts him in the catergory for the 4-11 yrs car seat. Do I get one of them for him?
We do have a britax Trio that we took on holiday last year, but that has been slated ion safety crash tests and I don't want to use it!

I guess I'm asking, does he need a "proper" car seat e.g the first class or will a bigger booster do?!

Thanks for reading, I know its a long post!
All advice greatly appreciated.

OP posts:

Enid · 30/01/2006 09:32

my brain has been slightly melted by all those facts and figures

I would put ds1 in a maxi cosi priori until he is 4 ish, then a booster if he is tall enough

Or you could try him with the maxi rodi (a booster with side impact protection)

I would feel uncomfortable putting a two year old in a booster alone however big he was.

Original poster

mumatuks · 30/01/2006 09:35

Thanks enid, Its done tHe same to my head!

I have looked at the maxi cosi seat in the past and it looks good.

I have a feeling we'll be off down to mothercare today to see what fits!

OP posts:

LIZS · 30/01/2006 09:41

He's still not yet 15kg so would not out him into a booster seat even wth back just yet. Britax Elite goes up to 25kg with a harness so may be a possible alternative, but don't think was included in the most recent tests.

vickiyumyum · 30/01/2006 09:43

car seats go by weight don't they? when we took ds2 for a new car seat as at 2.6 he was squashed into his maxi cosi priori, we went to see what else they had that would fit him better and because of his height and weight they recommended the maxi cosi rodi or the britax kid (?) we went for the rodi as the britax one had quite big wings on teh head rest and so made movement to look out of the window restricted.

Original poster

mumatuks · 30/01/2006 09:44

Sorry I realise I've made a boo-boo! I did mean a booster seat with the back, like this one?

Sorry for confusion!

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 30/01/2006 09:47

I think you have to be 15kg to be in the Britax Kid/Maxi Cosi Rodi.

We put ds in a Britax Kid when he was 14.5kg because when we weighed him in the shop when he had his clothes and shoes on, he was 15kg but then he was already 4.

I would be really hesitant putting a 2.4yr old in one of those high back boosters because they have to understand that they can't wriggle around and take their arms out of the seatbelt and I doubt many 2 yr olds would manage that. It's also hard for them to sleep in those seats if they want to.

I'd have him in a proper seat till he was a bit older to be honest! (I know what a pain it is!).

vickiyumyum · 30/01/2006 09:50

mothercare do a booster with teh back on that has a removable five point harness as well as being able to be used as a booster when he is older. i think it was called the sp, you can see it if you go through the mothercare link above and click on boosters in the carseat section, it is about £60.

Original poster

mumatuks · 30/01/2006 09:52

Looking at what you pay for the bigger seat, they are all roughly £100 ( i know there is no price on your childs safety, however I can't afford much more than £100 on a car seat!)

I like the look of a the bebe confort one that widens at the wings with your childs growth. We really do seem to be squashing DS1 in his seat what with all the winter clothing!

OP posts:

Original poster

mumatuks · 30/01/2006 09:54

Thanks VYY, I found it. It'll be one I ask for when I got down there later today, as well as all the others that people have recommended!

thanks all for your time. I'll report back later!

OP posts:

NannyL · 30/01/2006 09:59

vickiyumyum that mother care car seat did really really badly in the independant tests do, just like the Britax trio did!

Personally would not put a 2 yearold in seat that didnt have a 5 point harness... would prob go for the Britax one with a harness that goes up to 25kg / 6 years. Children are strapped in much more safely when in a 5 point harness than a seat belt

Original poster

mumatuks · 30/01/2006 10:16

I've decided on a 5 point harness one, probably like the one we've got already, or a newer version of it.

Thanks all.

OP posts:

Original poster

mumatuks · 31/01/2006 12:00

Just to let everyone who kindly responded to my garbled message yesterday how we got on.

The woman in Mothercare was uselss. Told me that DsS1 could go in a high back booster (one of which NannyL pointed out was terrible (thanks for that) When I mentioned DS2 going in the group0/+1seat she started getting a bit snappy saying he couldn't forward face until he was 9 months old and 20lbs. I pointed out I would have it has a rear facing seat ,(and that he was already 20lbs at 7 months old-the little porker!)
Anyhow came away without a seat and will keep it as is for now, but when I do get one they will both have 2 5point harness ones!

Many thanks for taking the time out to help me. x

OP posts:

Goddess21 · 08/02/2006 16:28

Personally i would go for a Concord Lift Evo .. I
have used them for two of my 'big' toddlers ..(they are now 8 & 6 and still in them !)
They have the proper adjusting headrest that if your child is about 20" Bum to top of head when seated & is over the 15kg weight then it will fit perfectly until they are 10/11 Years.
(did you know the law is changing in May this Year & ALL children under 4' 5" will have to have a booster seat of some description ! (approx 10-11 years )

Lmccrean · 08/02/2006 17:42

Does anyone know if the Britax Hi-Liner has a removable back?

NannyL · 09/02/2006 21:56

The Britax highliner does NOT have a removable back...

it however is suitable to be used with the back until 36kg / 11 years so is MUCH safer than a booster cushion alone for an older child!

1980cat · 09/02/2006 22:17

I have two of the beb confort ones (really liked the first one so bought a second for my sisters car, although her doesn't rear face but is slightly bigger and fits a bit easier in the car). I got it orginally as at nine months dd still wan't heavy enough to go into a forward facing seat but getting too long and was really uncomfy in her first stage car seat. So I needed a bigger seat that would still rear face and the bebe confort seems to be one of the few car seats you get that have any padding at all. Every other one I saw just felt solid and really hard for a little one to sit one for a long car journey. I've been really pleased with them and the adjustable sides are pretty handy with big coats.

The only thing I'm not sure about is how long it will last as it's not the biggest and doesn't look like she will be able to fit it when she is four, despite not being the biggest of children.

Flip