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Hi all,
I am a bit stuck with this one. I looked already on the RTA website but it only says when children are 4 they should be in a booster seat. My DD3 is only 2 but already 15.5kg and her shoulders are above the straps in her baby seat. Do you think it would be ok to put her in an approved booster seat or is there something inbetween that I don't know about lol. Thanks for any info
The Safe 'n' Sound Maxi Rider is the 'in between' seat. It's good from 9kg to 26kg and comes with an in-built 5-point safety harness which is rated to 18kg. After that you can use it with an H-harness or the car belt (dependent on child's height) although I don't like the way the car seat belt fits over the seat, it doesn't sit properly on the shoulder. It bolts to the car like a reversible baby seat. The Maxi Rider reclines slightly if your DD often sleeps in the car.
S'n'S also make a Hi-Liner which also bolts to the car and is used with a special H-harness which threads through the shoulder holes. When the child is too tall or heavy (above the highest shoulder height or >26kgs) the Hi liner is used with the car seat belt and has a shoulder guide and anti-submarine clip as well as an adjustable height head rest. It does not recline. Infa Secure make a similar seat but I can't remember the name. Both are top-rated by the latest ICEP testing.
If your DD is short and solid I'd look at the Maxi Rider. If she's tall and thin, look at the Hi Liner. If she's average I'd probably get the Hi Liner with the harness as she will fit in it for longer. She shouldn't ever need another seat as the Hi Liner will grow with her. My DS is 5 and 18kgs, in a Maxi Rider. My DD is almost 8 and 20kgs and in a Hi Liner (she's small for age!).
I am in the uk now so my ds can go in a booster chair with the seat belt just to hold him in, and the chair just free (not bolted). I don't like it at all as he will still fall asleep in the car and flop forward. Doesn't seem safe at all to me, so I'm getting his maxi rider sent over from oz. He still fits the 5 point harness, and the car seat belt can be used to hold the chair in place. He is 20kg so a big kid. They don't make anything with a 5 point harness here for his size, which is just annoying!
So my point in that waffle is to get a maxi rider. Quite expensive, but worth it.
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We had the same prob and went for maxi rider. DD was over the top of the seat at 2.
The maxi rider has both the harness and the seatbelt options. We only went to the seatbelt a few months ago as after 20kgs the 5point harness isn't guaranteed safe. It's also still bolted to the car which as someone who has been to many many prangs in my time, I far prefer.
I had a similar prob as baby #4 is on the way we wanted to put our 3yro twins in boosters but the lady at baby bunting explained even though they meet the weight guideline that the seat manufacture provides (14kg+) the law clearly states they must be 4. Unless they weigh greater than the baby seat limit (which I think is between 18-20kg depending in the seat). So we had to bite the bullet and go for the maxi rider which was much more $$ than we budgeted for but I would never forgive myself if something happened not to mention the legal charges they can bring against you!
I should probably jump in here with my question.
DD is 3 and weighs about 18kg - she's in a birth to 26kg seat, but she's as tall as most average size 5 year olds. Should she be in a booster?
Here is a summery of the national laws regarding restraining a child in a car. Can't do quotation as I'm on my phone, but can paste the info.
* Children younger than six months must be secured in a rearward facing restraint.
* Children aged six months to under four years must be secured in either a rear or forward facing restraint.
* Children aged four years to under seven years must be secured in forward facing child restraint or booster seat.
* Children younger than four years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows.
* Children aged four years to under seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in a child restraint or booster seat.
So to answer the PP question, a child under 4 still needs to be in a child seat.
HTH :)
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thanks ladies. I ended up getting a seat from BigW of all places. It is the infa secure Odyssey booster seat with the 5 point harness. It was only $238 and the reviews I read had buyers going back to get more for other vehicles (either grandparents for 2nd vehicles). I'm hoping she likes it when it comes off layby lol
We had the dame dilemma and ended up getting the sane seat for dd1 at 3. The law has allowances for when they are too tall for the sears they can move up to the next option.
I am pretty sure the rule is when their eyes are level with the back of the seat they are too big.:
