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Original poster

Car Seats DD approaching max weight but only 2.4

69 replies

Paddlechick666 · 18/02/2008 13:18

We have a maxi-cosi tobi and xp for DD who is 2.4 and 17.5kg and tall!

I see the max weight on these seats is 18kg but the next stage is considered for 4yrs+

Anyone got any advice on how to proceed?

Am worried about moving her up into a seat that purely uses the adult belt as she's a little monkey and will soon be able to un-click herself!

TIA

OP posts:
bozza · 18/02/2008 13:20

Could you get one of those seats that has a removeable harness, so it is the shape of a high back booster but also has a harness for younger children eg Britax Evolva 123?

SpacePuppy · 18/02/2008 13:26

We're currently in a similar situation, ds is 2.2 and although only 15kg he is quite tall and the top of his head is almost sticking out, which means we'll have to replace ours after 13 months use! We have the Mothercare seat that can be used with a five point harness and later a seat belt until you can change to the booster, however, it does not tilt which means ds can't nap in the car!

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 18/02/2008 13:27

excellent! thanks for that, it looks just the ticket.

i will go check it out at the shops next.

Cheers
;-)

OP posts:
bozza · 18/02/2008 13:28

My DD (3.9) naps in her Britax Evolva (we have the 23 which means it doesn't have the harness but in effect very similar seat). It has a very supportive headrest that comes right round the sides. I agree thought that you would struggle to get one that reclines

TheFallenMadonna · 18/02/2008 13:29

The 5 point harness in a Britax Evolva is only for up to 18kg as well I think.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 18/02/2008 13:30

spacepuppy, dd hasn't had 2 years out of the Tobi yet and she went into at the earliest opportunity due to having grown out of the rear facing one.

I was hoping to get another year out of the car seat and the travel cot which she is also too long for now!

I like the look of that Britax but will need to see it in the "flesh". I don't want to be buying yet another one and I think the 2-3 has better looking side impact protectors.

I like the re-cline function, she's still one for a nice car-nap.

OP posts:
bozza · 18/02/2008 13:31

Is it? I didn't realise that never having got to that point with my two before they were old enough to be trusted with the adult belt. The only other thing I can think of is some sort of locking mechanism on the seat belt to make it harder to undo. I wonder if yurt might have something like this for her DS.

sazm · 18/02/2008 20:57

yep,im sure on,most boosters with harnesses,the harness is only suitable upto 18kg??

runnyhabbit · 18/02/2008 21:02

We were in this dilemma until we saw this on offer in Halfords here

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 18/02/2008 21:06

runnyhabit, that looks good too.

apparently my cm has already moved her up into a larger seat

apparently you can get a clippy thing from mothercare to stop a child from operating a standard car seat.

i am liking the britax evolva 2-3 as dd is very tall and the side bar head part seems more solid.

i will have to go to the shop to view it tho.

OP posts:
biglips · 18/02/2008 21:12

best to go to Mothercare World if you can as they have a huge selection. I had this problem with my DD too when she was your DD's age (she is now 3.4 yrs old)...the Mothercare assistant told me to keep her in her carseat (with 5 harness) till she was 40lb. it was tough as the straps on her shoulders were behind her shoulders abit. i went back when she was 43lb and tried all the carseats inc Britax Evolva 123...we found another prob....she got very broad shoulders and she couldnt fit in any of them so now she is in a booster seat as she got the height and weight of a 4.5 yrs old

sigh!

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 18/02/2008 21:18

hmmm, i'd say dd is about 2lb off 40lb!

not sure about height as we never go to the HV anymore lol.

will keep researching it.........

OP posts:
biglips · 18/02/2008 21:27

good luck for finding one

sazm · 19/02/2008 16:16

the mamas and papas one done badly in the which tests,as i was looking at it too,but it doesnt say what weight you can use the harness upto,i think on most of them the harness is just upto 18kg,
our britax evolva 1-2-3 ultra arrived yesterday its great although it doesnt have much of a recline its fine for my dd(nearly2) to nap in,its well padded and supports her well,the sidewings are adjustable too which is good,and my 3 and half yo still fits fine in the harness,infact we are now looking to buy one for him,

biglips · 20/02/2008 09:37

Most of the harness ones are for up to 18kg as i was told.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 22/02/2008 09:57

well i've subscribed to Which to get some more info.

also hunted out dd's red book and established that she is average height/weight for a 3 - 4yrd old child.

i am considering the Maxi Cosi XR, Britax 2/3 Ultra and Britax 2-3 which all come out well in the tests.

XR is most comfortable and lightest at 4kg but doesn't score as well as the either Britax in the forward crash rating.

Apart from that they seem much of a muchness.

I really want to have a look at them in RL tho and get dd's father and my DM to try them out in their cars.

The days of buying 3 seats are over! One that can be easily switched between cars will have to do!

OP posts:
Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 22/02/2008 09:57

oh and going on the calculation in the red book dd's adult height will be 6"

OP posts:
VanillaPumpkin · 22/02/2008 10:11

There is a thread with all the Which results on, but search isn't working. I will try to link later.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 22/02/2008 10:35

thanks Vanilla.

MN seems a little under the weather today, it was offline before 6am and MN Local threads have vanished!

OP posts:
tab · 23/02/2008 08:51

Hi Paddlechick. Im having similar dilemma, faced with possibly having to buy new car seat for 2 /1/2 yr old in order to squeeze more kids in. He is tall too and weighs 15.8 kg. If you look at the next stage high booster seats, a lot of them start at 15kg. Ive been assured by two Halfords stores (and speaking only to the special child seat person) that its the weight that's important in the booster seat stage and if they are fairly tall there's no reason for them not to move up. If you could check the shoulder strap position before you buy then you should be ok. Some of them are more comfy - ie recline a little. Hope this is helpful.

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 23/02/2008 08:56

Hi Tab

Thanks for the info. DD is definately over 15kg.

I had a look in Mothercare and Halfords yesterday. Neither had the Rodi XR which is a shame, it is the one I am leaning towards.

The Britax seats aren't particularly well padded plus the back is fixed to the base which means that at some stage a booster cushion will be required. The Rodi back detaches leaving the base for a booster cushion so should be the last time I have to buy anything!

There's a difference of about £40 in price tho and a booster cushion certainly isn't the equivilant of a £40.

I like the comfort factor and the recline feature as dd is still inclined to have a nap in the car so...........

Decisions, decisions!

OP posts:
VanillaPumpkin · 23/02/2008 09:08

I still can't link to the thread, but know you shouldn't get the Mamas and Papas one. It did not do well at all .
We were researching this. We have the Maxi-Cosi Rodi XP for dd1 and were wondering if the Britax would be better. I have decided that we will get the Maxi Cosi XR again, partly because I have a thing about the girls being in the same seats too based on safety research I can find...... I would love to get the Isofix one but it is so expensive and in my head if I have that for dd2 I have to buy it for dd1 as well.....

Original poster
Paddlechick666 · 23/02/2008 09:35

NP Vanilla, I can't actually figure out the difference between the XP and XR!

I don't have iso fix so it's not a question I have to agonise over. It's very very expensive tho and a great deal heavier I found out yesterday.

I am agonising over the question of compromising forward crash rating over comfort tho.

Which? Are confusing me now tho. Both maxi cosi xp and xr score below the britax evolva on forward crash and things like fitting and instructions but they score higher overall!

I don't get it!

I have discounted the Britax Ultra as the head cushions are quite chunky and I think dd's head would be a bit squashed.

I have gone from leaning towards the XR to the Evolva now

Saving £40 helps too!

OP posts:
Nemoandthefishes · 23/02/2008 09:52

We have a maxi cosi rodi xp for ds and it is great. Also have a britax evolva 2-3 again a great car seat, well supported and comfortable for napping children.

VanillaPumpkin · 23/02/2008 11:50

The only difference I have been able to find is that the XR has a bit where the neck is, on the back, so that you can plug it in to / attach it to a head rest bit on a seat in the car. The XP just sort of sits in using the belt. (The plastic seat bit doesn't hold it in IYSWIM). Incidentally we have never used the recline function for the XP, and in fact I have only once got it to work . I wouldn't buy it for that reason.
What is the material like on the Britax? The maxi cosi Black reflection was a horrid sweaty type material so we got the Harry which was velvety at the top and nice material on the rest of the seat.

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