Car/booster seats

[NewBeginnings]

*Please be aware I am asking this for my son's safety as I genuinely don't know... so please no attacks etc*

DS's car seat is almost 2 and a half years old now... and with my car being stolen by the ex and not having one of my own since it's been in and out of cars. The bottom base support is now rippled and warped and the car seat doesn't sit straight anymore, it leans to one side iykwim, no matter what we do.

DS is somewhere between 12.5 and 13 kgs and is on the tallerish side of things.

I have a booster seat here (full back and side support) and a 5 point harness set up as well. It says on there that is is designed for children 14-29kgs though.

DS's head pops over the top of his car seat (which I thought was also dangerous :confused:) and he fills the seat out.

Is it safe for me to get rid of this car seat (which has to be done regardless as to me it's just not safe) and put him into the booster seat and 5 point harness set up, even though he is not quite the 14kgs as suggested?

Or should I be spending the money and getting another car seat (which I'd get second hand for hopefully a decent price as I just can't justify spending huge bucks on something which may only be needed for a few months).

Any ideas or suggestions or anyone in the know with the whole car seat thing?

[kezzaskids]

I would think that as it has the 5 point harness it should be ok, especially as your sons head is over the top of his car seat already anyway.

[MummyLicious]

I see nothing wrong with using a 5pt harness booster seat especially if the other one is stuffed!!!!

Can he fit in it alright, if so then why not.
If you're concerned then contact your local children's health clinic for their opinion.

[my_lot]

Child health clinics are good for a paper hand out and thats about it. Try the roads and traffic in your area or a child safe fitting station. Some big baby shops have carseat fitters on hand, the roads and traffic can give you a print out of every one of them in your area.

I dont see a 0-18kg carseat as a waste of money for a 2.5yr old at 13kg. He could be 5yr old before he reaches 18kg. The height may be more the worry. You say his head "pops over" the back, but are his eyes level with the top part of the seat?


What kind of booster and 5 point set up is it? do you mean a foam booster seat and then a H harness that bolts in and is used with a seatbelt? Thats a 4 point and there is nothing to stop a child sliding out under the belt, in one of those set ups. I think 2.5 is too little for that.


I think its better to get a 0-4, 6mth-4 or a 6mth - 7yr seat. All bolted in carseats with 5 point seatbelt on the baby/child.


i know your worried about the cost, but its your childs life....Accidents can happen in the shortest of trips..

Maybe you should use your upcoming BB to invest in a carseat that will last a few years. Shop around, go to a few baby stores and see if you can get an X display model cheaper. But second hand?? How will you know its history if you buy it from a stranger?

[Sheer Bliss]

Do you mind me asking what booster seat it is that has a 5pt harness, but ained at 14-29kg?? I didn't think there were any in australia like that?

We recently bought a hi-liner with a H-harness for almost 18kg/4yo DD. She fits in it great, and since DS is almost 14kg, we thought we could use it for him soon too....but that's not going to happen. I sat him in it, and it just doesn't look 'right' he looks no-where near as safe in it as he does in the maxi-rider (so he will move to that once the babies arrive). Even though he will be at the weight rating for it soon, he still won't use it.

He is still in his AHR convertible car seat - if he was in an older SNS wthout the AHR, he'd probably be too tall for it too, despite not being the 18kg. Th AHR convertible car-seat will cater for a taller child, so I imagine the AHR maxi-rider probably will too. That and the explorer are the 2 seats that i'd be looking at.

my_lot - the hi-liners (and a few others) have the antisubmarine clip between their legs, so when used with a H-harness are essentially a 5-pt harness, but not a true one. It's still not safe enough for my liking for DS, but great for almost 18kg DD.

[my_lot]

yeah tanya I looked at those seats before we got the maxi. It looked great and i will probably get one for the other car when the time comes.

Its the foam backed booster seat used with a H harness thats the worry with little ones. In some cases the fitters wont put them in and suggest using a low backed seat because the pressure from where the bolt in (such as hatch back) can cause strain on the tether strap in an accident, and break. That or the foam backed seat!:eek: