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Original poster

From car seat to booster style seat - when?

14 replies

MaggieW · 16/03/2004 20:51

DS is 2 and tall - weighs 16kg. He currently has a Maxi Cosi Priori which is great. I need to decide whether DD - 9 months - goes into this seat and whether I buy a new booster for him. Are they suitable for 2 year olds - how do the seatbelts work ie do they go across the chest? Any advice please?

OP posts:

twiglett · 16/03/2004 20:55

message withdrawn

Coddy · 16/03/2004 20:57

as late as poss

they really miss their old seats and their heads loll fwds as they nap

prettycandles · 16/03/2004 20:58

A backless booster isn't really suitable for a 2yo. We put our tall 3yo into a Britax Cruiser and put the baby into his previous carseat. The Cruiser is a booster with a back, but all in one piece, and it's better than a plain booster because 1) it gives him sideways support and protection, and 2) although he's held by the ordinary 3-point seatbelt, the belt passes through a clip at his shoulder that both positions the belt safely and locks it off so that he stays in the seat.

Coddy · 16/03/2004 20:59

we have one too

would deffo get tha if anything
boosters not comfy at all

prettycandles · 16/03/2004 20:59

Oh, and keep them both in the seats they've got for as long as possible. 9m is really too early to go into a forward facing seat.

Momp · 16/03/2004 21:00

DD went into a booster style chair (ie booster seat with back attached) when she was about 2 yrs.

The seat is a Britax Super Cruiser, and the seat belt does go across her chest and rests into a clip.

The clip is not that secure though, so if your DS likes to mess with stuff it may be a problem until he gets used to the new seat.

Coddy · 16/03/2004 21:01

I out my baby into the maxi cosi at 5? months he awas too big for the baby one

prettycandles · 16/03/2004 21:01

Yes, Coddy, that is a problem. When ds falls asleep in his cruiser he looks so uncomfortable - and probably is, because he doesn't sleep as well as he used to in the car. What he needs is an elastic band across his forehead, to hold is head back!

Eowyn · 16/03/2004 21:05

I've been meaning to ask this for ages, my dd is nearly 4 & getting the straps done up on her seat is a bit of a pain sometimes. I wondered if there was a legal requirement that they are in a proper seat up to a certain age. Hers converts to a booster seat only for up to age 11 ! which I cannot imagine...but wonder if the boosters described here would be safer than just a seat bit.
Anyone know what you are supposed to do?

Clayhead · 16/03/2004 21:06

dd (26 months) has a Britax Trio (you need to click where it says Trio) which is excellent as is is similar to a booster with a back but it also has a 5 point harness, which you can remove when she gets older. She can sleep in it fine. It's slightly dearer than some other models but it really is a good seat.

smellymelly · 16/03/2004 21:07

DS went into a booster seat with a supportive back, ( has head rests - graco junior) at the age of 3 was not ready any sooner, they hold the seat belt in place quite well.
Also tried him on a booster cushion with no back in our 2nd car with a seatbelt strap to hold it?? not happy with it at all, he just looked so unsafe, and he slipped the seatbelt off all the time. He is 4 now.
I think the big companies like graco and britax, and councils do not recommend the backless boosters really until kids are 6 or 7.
so we got a 2nd graco junior plus for the 2nd car, it is much better.

Bozza · 17/03/2004 10:52

We have two car seats on the go for DS. Since he only tends to do short journeys in my car (so generally doesn't fall asleep) we got him at age 2 a Graco Sterling seat which is similar to the one Clayhead describes. It can be used in 3 ways:

with high back and 5 point harness
with high back and adult belt (with seat belt adjuster)
as a plain booster cushion.

The instructions on our car seat say that it shouldn't be used with adult belt until child is 15kg - but you've already hit this mark. Personally would be looking at this because your DS is heavy so buying another Maxi Cosi would be a bit expensive for a few months. Could you keep your DD in in her baby seat for a bit longer or is it getting a bit small?

SoupDragon · 17/03/2004 12:19

DS1 went into a high backed booster which has a 5 point harness at 2 1/2. It can also be used with just the adult belt when he's bigger.

Personally, I wouldn't consider anything other than a 5-point harness at that age. We only moved him from his up-to-age-4 car seat because we wanted it for DS2!

Original poster

MaggieW · 18/03/2004 12:47

Thanks for all your advice. I wasn't going to put him in a backless booster seat - he's far too young for that. DD's too big for her seat so hence the need for decision. I've just seen that Maxi Cosi have launched a new seat which is a full booster which reclines...has anyone tried it?

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