Car Seat Strap Height

DD1 has a turn-a-tot, it's forward facing and she is not quite 2.
She is by no means a tall girl BUT the straps on her carseat are currently level with her shoulders (even though she is partially reclined and sits lower in the seat) and that is on the highest hole.

The recommendation with her carseat was that the straps ARE NOT to go below her shoulders.

I had on FB that i am going to buy her a new seat and quite a few ppl have asked why, i have explained my reason and a friend said that Vic Roads advise that the straps can go 1cm BELOW their shoulder.

So what is correct, i mean there is really not going to be any harm in buying her a new seat with a higher weight/age range aslong as the straps fit her ok now.. i'm confused.

I'm actually confused as to why she's not fitting in this seat as it is, she is just over 11 kg and is only average for her age in height so by rights she shouldn't be out of it yet... :wall:

The instruction manual with our seat says no - the straps cannot go below the shoulder. Always follow the manufacturers instructions as each seat is different.

I think my seats also mention something about coming from below the shoulder... I'll see what I can find but it sounds familiar.

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The correct height for the shoulder straps is very important for the optimum performance of the restraint. The shoulder straps must be positioned no lower than 25mm below the top of the child’s shoulders. If the harness straps are more than 25mm below the level of the child’s shoulders then the child is too large for the restraint and should not be used

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Taken from Infa website ( my son's carseat).

It's possible that all seats are different though.

thanks so much everyone, i can't find the manual for mine but remember it suggesting NOT to go below the shoulders, i guess they really are all different.. SUCKS though really they should all be the same height/weight with the same recommendations... it's so damn hard to know whats right for our kids.

With all mine which are safe n sound, says not below for rearward and no more than 25mm below for forward. Maybe google it.

Both my carseats are mothers choice and go safe and both of them say that the straps are not to go under their shoulders at all. The carseats law in qld says that 25mm below shoulders means that the seat is too small but I'll be following the manufacturers guidelines.

What are you meant to do then if they aren't meant to go in a booster seat until they are 4??

The laws say if they grow too big for their seat then they should go up to the bigger one, even if they are under the stated age.

safe and sound recommend not having the straps 1 inch lower or higher than the shoulders

with some of the seats if they are too big for the H harness you can buy another type for them OR they are allowed to move up to the next size.

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What are you meant to do then if they aren't meant to go in a booster seat until they are 4??

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what do you mean???
my DD1 went into a maxi rider whichis a type of booster seat at 2.3

I just bought DD1 (21mths) a Maxi Rider, it gets fitted Monday, it is meant to suit kids until 18kg with the normal H harness, you then buy another harness once that doesn't fit and the headrest extends to match their height.