New child restraint laws question

Does anyone know under the new child restraint laws a child need to be in a forward facing seat till they are 4. The only forward facing seats that we can find go to 18kg. DS1 is currently 15kg at 2years old so i would expect that he would reach 18kg before he turns 4. My understanding is that the new laws are based on age rather than weight so what will we do when he reaches 18kg and is not yet 4? Is there a forward facing seat that goes past 18kg? We were going to get the maxi rider but have decided against it after getting some expert advice on it. TIA

We have Maxi rider AHR for DS1 he is about 13kg at 2 and 1/2 and it goes to 26kg.

Why were you advised not to get it?? when I researched on BB and reviews online it was safest option.

We have the Hipod, which goes to 26kg. I have a heavy boy and it's great for him (DS2). It also anchors in and you use your normal sash belt (the one in your car already). Like Feeb I have heard only good things about the Maxi Rider, I think on Choice that and the Hipod get rated the best?
We got it from Target during their sales.
I am pretty sure the new laws have variances in them that allow for Height and Weight.

we have the maxirider AHR. love it. great customer service with it, our foam broke they replaced it no questions asked.

there is the hi pod seats which go to 26 kilos.

We have the maxirider, whats wrong with it? I wonder why you were advised against it? seemed to be good when we bought it re safety requirements?

We have to buy another one and were going to buy the same, now you have me thinking! is the Hipod Senator safer?

DD2 was 16k at 2 years and we have her in a Maxi Rider. Best thing for her.

Jazz was the same, 15kg before 2 years old, so we bought her a Maxirider AHR that goes to 26kg. Everything I read and everyone I talked to recommended that one over others, so would be interested to know what expert advice you have?

There are others that go to 26kg. I figure if that doesn't last, theres something wrong :lol:

We spoke to the RAA in South Australia and they basically said that current research shows that they arent the best for kids DS's age as they are too wide for a child his age to get the full benefit of the AHR feature and too upright as he still sleeps in the car sometimes. Also as he is such a big kid by the time he reaches booster age the maxi rider will be too small anyway as it is on the smallish side for a booster so basically we will pay $300 odd dollars and then need to buy another booster to accommodate his height.

Curious too....the professional we got to install ours said that there was nothing close to it on the market, said it was by far the safest. So just wondering what the issue is too.

ETA - Just saw your reply - the maxi rider has three or four different positions when forward facing to allow for kids who still sleep.

the AHR can recline slightly.
My Dd has been in it for over 12 months she is a small child build wise, she has had no issues with it she sleeps in the car whenever we drive longer than 20 min. no worries.

the height of the AHR is greater than any booster seat when you have the AHR at full height.
we looked into this as DD1 is 95%tile in height she is as tall as the 4yos now and no where near going over it..

my kids sleep in the maxirider ok? Maybe read some more reviews on the hipod? because I read a few where they said their kids have been leaning forward when sleeping?

Man now im really confused :wall:

DD2 sleeps in her seat just fine. It's not as upright as DD3's seat, which is a HiPod. And isn't the MaxiRider one of the biggest seats on the market?

Hmm, never heard that, always thought they were the best for younger kids who were larger as they were wider, taller, but also have the inbuilt harness so they can stay in it for as long as they need, as well as being able to be used with a H-harness and some other stuff once they get to the right stage.

Jazz also sleeps in it fine.

I'd also like to know where you are getting a $300 Maxirider?!?!?! :o

I need to get DD1 a new seat, would love the maxi rider AHR but unfortunately, don't have the cash. What is the next best one on the market?

ETA I can get a maxirider 2 for $300

DS was/is big for his age but have found he has been between 15 - 16 kgs for a few months now. This is his first plateau too so just something to consider (he will be 3 in March) So we are looking at upgrading his seat from his current forward facing seat but I still want the protection of the 5 point harness and don't like the idea of just a seat belt. In my research of the convertible booster/forward facing seats is that the in build 5 point harness can't be used beyond 18 kgs either but you can buy a converter that converts the seat belt into a 5 point harness so you still get that safety aspect. As for brands I am currently looking at the Infa Secure range and have found they have very good reviews.

HTH

Thats a good point too kelebek. Jazz has been on her plateau for over 12 months now, wearing the same clothes since August 2008, and only just growing out of them now.

Hmmm. Just looked at the dimensions on the website and the Maxi rider AHR does extend higher than the booster. I wonder what this lady was going on about then? The AHR bit goes down a fair bit too so i dont understand why it wouldn't give the appropriate support for a two year old. DH said he is just going to baby bunting and buying it from there so we dont get the third degree lol. When i went to buy it yesterday they made me talk on the phone to a lady who specialized in child safety restraints but the one they got out was just the maxi rider not the ahr so maybe that makes a difference?

that will make a diffrence as the head support side impact cant move to suit the child height..

We have the Hipod. I wanted a 5 point harness seat, but our whole area was sold out (Coffs Harbour, Kempsey AND Port Macquarie!) & the Infa secure one we bought originally had been recalled.
I have the H harness to go with it.

That's what it'll be beautitude....the normal maxi rider rates only one star on the latest CREP (Child Restraint evaluation Programme) tests but the maxi rider AHR is a three or four star rated seat......so I would think that is where the lady has gotten confused with her info. If you go the maxi rider pay the extra and get the AHR oneI reckon

Just looked up the CREP scores for last year and the hipod senator rates the same as the maxirider AHR, so I think I will go down that route

Maxirider AHR it is then. Thanks everyone.

Oh, wanted to add two things.....the first is DD is 21 months old and in the maxi rider we still don't have it fully extended height-wise (and she's average height for her age), with one height position to go. The other thing is DD fit into the seat no problems in a hip dysplacia cast- her hips were splayed out as wide as they could go, and then surrounded by plaster. So not sure where the lady was getting her info from. Hope that helps.

i'm not too sure if you realise but the inbuilt 5 point harness can only be used until your child is 18Kg anyway. Then you have to use a H harness and a seat belt. (i'm not saying anything bad about the Maxi rider when i say that either.. i have one!) The new laws do make allowances for children whoa re too tall/ heavy for the seats in their age range too. My 6yr old DS is too heavy for a booster so he is now allowed to sit on the normal seat i have even checked with the police!
Hope that helps a little bit!!