Car seat for a 5 year old??

[mim1]

My ds is only 2, but I'm trying to plan ahead. Will he need a tethered car seat when he's 5 or just a booster with a standard seat belt? Given that there are very few cars with 3 anchor points and we want 4 kids I'm trying to work out our options so we can buy a new car.

Thanks.

[Chunkydunks]

I think the convertible boosters are good (maxi rider and the likes). We had a foam booster but always used it with a harness. I realised just how unsafe they are and went and bought a trek 8 (Infa's convertible booster although the 2009 model is called something else). DS is 5 and still in the built in harness. He's not far off needing the H-harness though.
With cars I thought a lot of the bigger ones come with more than 3 anchor points?? I know the Carnival and Tribeca do (the two we're looking at) do. You could also look at getting another anchor point installed if the car doesn't have enough.

[lovelymum]

I would look into a maxi rider type seat new car seat legislation is coming into effect this year that is making it mandatory to use appropriate car restraints until they reach a certain height/weight limit. My DS is 5 and he is in a maxi rider with the five point safety harness he is only 16.5 kgs so we have 1.5 kgs to go until we replace the five point in built safety harness with the "H" harness and car seat belt.

[mim1]

I just don't want to go to a really big car. I think there are only about 5 options for car seats with 3 anchor points that will fit 2 convertible seats & a maxi rider. My ds is already 15.5kg, so I guess he'll be well and truly over 18kg by the age of 5. Does a H harness need an anchor point?

[Chunkydunks]

Yeah they do.

[mim1]

So, a 5 year old (assume over 18kg) needs a booster with sides that has a H-harness anchored to the car? And yet there are virtually no cars with a wide enough back seat for 3 seats, let alone with 3 anchor points?

How do parents of 3 children cope?

I want 4 kids, but I didn't want to upgrade to a really big car/people mover right now as we only have 1 child and I'm not yet pregnant with #2.

[Chunkydunks]

They don't have to have the H-harness but it is the safest option. From what I've read of the new laws the boosters that are just the cushion (no back on them) aren't to be used until after 7.