Car Seat 9 months - 11 years - recommendations?

[FrayedKnot]

We need to get a new car seat for DS (2.2), but don;t want to get a 9 month - 4 year one as he is already quite big for his age and I think he will need a bigger one before he is 4.

I've seen one or two which span 9 months - 11 years - any recommendations?

The 9mnths-11 ones are generally thought to be poor safety wise - see last year's Which ? report which is due to be updated shortly. How heavy is he ?

ive got the mothercare one (red one) with the integrated 5 point harness. £59.99

\link{http://www.nsc.ie/RoadSafety/Publications/File1,4364,en.pdf\2005 Which? report summary}

I don't know how much he weighs, my guess would be around 13.5-14 kg.

The thing is the Which report doesn;t list any of the 9mo - 11 yr seats.

But DS isn;t big enough yet for the 15kg+ seats.

The ones at the bottom under "Car seats to avoid" are pretty much all 9kg to 11 years(weight category 1,2,3) ones , only the Recaro Start Plus in the same age/weight range is rated as ok and that is over £200 apparently (though I've never actually seen one anyway)

We've recently purchased the \link{http://www.mothercare.com/invt/lx1441&bklist=\Britax Evolva}from Mothercare for our 2.5yr old. It was the only one of their range that fitted in our two cars. It can recline slightly and we've been happy with it so far, it's not mentionned in the Which report, probably 'cause I think it's new, I think I remember it having a good rating on the "what to buy" section of this website though.

am sooo glad i read this! was about to buy a graco junior plus (they are on sale EVERYWHERE) Asda sellign them for £30, halfords and mothercare for £39! but it came out as car seat to avoid!!

will go for a britax high liner instead, came out one of the highest and on sale in halfords for £39!

\link{http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10151&productId=222727&categoryId=31489\highliner}

jstbcs, Buy the highliner in Tesco Extra for £22 (-as per the other thread!)

I've just read LIZS' link and my sister has the concord that's listed. It's great because once my neice grows out of the car seat, the seat comes away to be used as a booster. With the new regulations coming into action from September regarding booster seats, this is great. She either got it from Mothercare or the Great Little Trading Company

You've not really got much choice as regards car seats from 9months to 11 years, but here goes.
Britax Evolva (this has an integrated 5 point harness which can then be removed as the child gets older and is really quite padded for the younger child). Have a look at this
Mothercare Advance/Olympus (maybe not suitable for a younger child as the shoulder level must come up to the headrest). Have a look at this (Also comes in red)
Fisher-Price Three Stage Booster seat (with adjusta-fit system and can convert to a booster seat for an older child). Have a look at this
These models will all need to be tested in your car to make sure they are compatible. Although in my opinion you are better off going for a forward facing car seat from 9mnths to 4yrs and then going on to the next stage when your child is old enough.
Hope this has been of some help to you.

FYI the Recaro Start Plus is made for children with special needs and is actually over £600