Can anyone point me in the direction of comprehensive car seat/booster safety information?

[MadamAntlers]

I have a nearly 4 yr old who is currently in a Britax Renaissance seat. She is about 14 kg and the age/weight limit for the Britax seat is described as "9kg/20lbs to 18kg/40lbs (approx. 9mths to 4yrs)".

I also have a 2 yr old DS who is also in the same model of seat.

I'm pg and am looking at the possibility of squeezing three into the back of our not very big car (Seat Leon), rather than having to buy a new car.

I need to find out

a) whether the weight limit is more important than the age limit on DD's current seat (I would guess that it's safer to keep her in her current seat after she turns four as she'll still be well within the weight limit).

b) whether booster seats with backs are as safe as proper car seats.

TBH I don;t trust the Halfords or Mothercare staff to have sufficiently thorough knowledge. Does anyone know if there are are ever road safety workshops or whatever?

yes it is weight which is more important than age . I believe the benefits of a harness are still there beyond 15kg(minimum for a highback) but very few use a harness beyond 18kg. Some councils and ROSPA do roadshows from time to time.

Car seat safety site

weight is more important. As long as she is not too heavy for her seat which she isn't and her eyeline is below the top of the set back she is in the safest seat.Plus at the moment she isn't heavy enough anyway to go in a high back booster. Is the 14kg clothed or naked?

I have just got a new car seat for my 3.5 year old, she is quite tall and clearly to small for her old maxi cosi tobi. We have now just bought a maxi cosi rodi xr, apparently one of the safest on the market.

I felt the same about mothercare and halfords, who basically could tell us nothing really. We were in John Lewis the other day and the woman was showing this seat to another couple - she sold it to me!!! She was throurough and explained in detail the differences. She said she was happy that DD was big enough for the new seat. The maxi cosi says its from 3.5yrs, but it really is the weight and height that are the important factors. The age range is just a guide. I was very impressed by her knowledge and how she didnt just steer us towards the most expensive seat.

The maxi cosi says it is for age 3.5 btw. Most say from four but we would be changing anyway - some four year olds might not be big enough. Its not about the age.

HTH

The lady in JL told us that booster seats position the child so that the seat belt is in the correct place, across the shoulder and across the pelvic girdle - not across the stomach and around the neck, which is where it would be without the booster. It is recommended, but not law (yet) that children have a booster WITH a back to it as this provides extra impact protection and comfort.

I would spend as much as you can afford. The only thing i would say is - if you are wanting three car seats in the back of your car you need to check that you have three point harnesses is it. Most car seats wont work with a lap belt and boosters definately wont.

Thank you all - that's really really helpful advice.

We do have 3 x three point seat belts in the back, but I think we're going to have to bit the bullet and get a bigger car. DD is such a shrimp and I just won;t have peace of mind if we hurry her into a booster seat.

Thanks again...I knew you lot would come up trumps.

oooh, the excitement of trailing around car showrooms We had to get a new car when we had DD, we couldnt get any car seat to fit it (the seat belt just wouldnt go round any of them ), it was a huge gas guzzling jeep which we could hardly afford to run so glad we got shot.