Hi, as the title says i am looking to find the best option for my 3yo ds who weighs 20kgs and is very tall. He is currently in a maxi-rider AHR, but apparantley these are no longer safe once they reach 18kgs. The suggested option is then to add a safe and sound harness to this, using the car's lap and sash belt, but this is a total PITA. Honestly, it is making me not want to go out anywhere as i hate putting him back in the car.
Is there any other option? I am more than willing to move ds2 into the maxi-rider and buy ds1 a brand new car seat if there is something less annoying and easier. Anyone have any suggestions?
wow -he is going to think N is a pipsqueak!!!!
no idea about car seats - sorry... we are in Safe and Sounds still.. I agree the harness looks BLOODY annoying
The maxi rider does go to 26kg but the 5 point harness is up to 18kg I think
Copy and pasted from a review site
5 point harness to 18kg and then adjusts to using lapsash belt Easy to install and adjust shoulder strap tightness
and this is what someone wrote at the bottom
I bought this carseat as I wanted a seat with a 5 point harness that then adjusted to using lap sash belt after 18kg. I really don't like the seat in booster mode and have purchased a SnS HiLiner SG instead. If I had researched more thoroughly I would have purchased another 0-18kg seat when needed and gone straight into a HiLiner rather than my thinking that buying one booster would do both functions just as well, it doesn't.
I would double check with the car seat laws.. but really if your child has outgrown the 5 point harness then it shouldn't be a problem.. (they are meant to be in a 5 point harness until 4)
I think it is meant to be used with a harness?? or so I thought. I haven't got that far with mine yet. and DD is still tiny so I think she will be in for a while yet.
I have a AHR booster for my son who is 5 and seems easier to use with a harness as I have used a harness in it for a friends DD who was too big for a normal 5 point seat (over 18kg) and it worked really well and easy to get her in and out of it..
My 20kg 4yo is in the maxi rider with the regular seatbelt and the anti submarining clip. We didn't get the harness as her eyes are already at the top of the seat.
But, that said I agree with Nics post. If I had known I'd just need the booster bit I would have bought just the booster that looks narrower and easier to use. But at the time we bought there weren't as many options availble.
We bought a Hi pod. It anchors in as usual and you use the normal seat belt in the car. I use this for my DS2 as he is solid. The sash that goes across can be put between the head rest so as it doesn't go too close to the neck area. Although by sound of it, you wouldn't have a problem with positioning of the sash.
My DS has been in caraway with no harness just seatbelt for about a year now. The ages are only a guide. Go by their weight and height, if they are too big for the 5 point harness then it's no problems. I had a police officer tell me this
i just wanted to update this thread for anyone who might be in the same situation and following the thread.
i ended up buying a safe and sound hi-liner and will be using it with the adult lap/sash seatbelt. we have not installed it yet- he is still in the maxi-rider with inbuilt 5 point harness at the moment, but will install it over the next few weeks.
i decided to go for the hi-liner over the infa secure booster seat as the hi-liner has the buckle and anti-submarine clip between the legs and the infa secure doesn't, even though they have the exact same safety rating.
Just wanting to let you know I had a similar problem, my now 4 year old was a bit over 3 and weighed 20kg he is acutally heavier than his older brother and nearly just as tall. I spoke to Vic Roads re putting him into a Safe n Sound Hi Liner as he had outgrown the inbuilt safety harness in the SNS, and due to having 3 seats across the back I couldn't use the seatbealt with the Maxirider because couldn't do the belt up.
I called Vic Roads to aske if I could legally move him up to the booster prior to the age of 4, and they said it was fine, as he was over the weight limits for and heigh for in built harness it was OK. I highly doubt a policeman is going to question you if they see a child is in a child restraint in a car, especially if it looks appropriate for their height and weight. But if I was questioned I was just going to state that Vic Roads said it was OK.
BTW I love the Safe and Sound Hi Liner, it is far better than the infa secure booster, just found it had more padding in the seat.
Thanks ladies! Will be in the market for another seat for DD2 soon so will check it out. She is a smaller frame and more wriggly/non compliant than DD1 so that may be the go for us.
What can I do if my child is too big for the restraint for their age?
The laws aim to cater for the majority of children, however there is a provision to allow a child who is too heavy or tall for the recommended restraint to use the restraint in the next age category.
Children aged up to four years will have to be secured in a child restraint with an in-built harness, while those aged up to seven years are required to travel in either a restraint with a harness or an approved booster seat
Child-restraint regulations are now based on a child's weight, not age, and will be replaced with more uniform laws.
All booster's go up to 18kgs....but what i did was i just used the normal seat belt....
What carseat for a 20kg 3 year old?
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just a break from threads that require my brain to work today. Kids asleep. And i find myself here..... 
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