Advice needed - baby car seat questions (merged)

BernadetteN

I'm not getting into the overweight/obese kids debate.

It is a fact that 24% of kids in the UK are now classed as overweight/obese and 5% are classed as obese (source IOTF 2004 stats) and the parents of such children need car seats for their children too. The group weighting for group 3 seats is up to 36kg which is only average weight for the average 9 year old of 135cm. Therefore, even children just a tad over the average weight (say 37kg) could now be thinking how do I get a car seat for my child? Britax seats are tested (as could other manufacturers) up to 45kg and this 45kg weight covers 99% of those children at an average height of 135cm (source UK centile charts) and only the heaviest 1% of children with a height of 135cm will not be recommended by Britax to use one of their regular seats. Therefore most overweight children and even most obese children can use Britax group 3 car seats, according to their recommendations.

dora37

BernadetteN wrote:

I'm not getting into the overweight/obese kids debate.

It is a fact that 24% of kids in the UK are now classed as overweight/obese and 5% are classed as obese (source IOTF 2004 stats) and the parents of such children need car seats for their children too. The group weighting for group 3 seats is up to 36kg which is only average weight for the average 9 year old of 135cm. Therefore, even children just a tad over the average weight (say 37kg) could now be thinking how do I get a car seat for my child? Britax seats are tested (as could other manufacturers) up to 45kg and this 45kg weight covers 99% of those children at an average height of 135cm (source UK centile charts) and only the heaviest 1% of children with a height of 135cm will not be recommended by Britax to use one of their regular seats. Therefore most overweight children and even most obese children can use Britax group 3 car seats, according to their recommendations.

I don't think anybody (me included) was entering into the overweight/obese children debate......as you had quoted Lil_me and then replied with obese in the reply, it just seemed rather insensitive!

TICTAC_3

I have today (13th Sept) been out to buy two car booster seats from Halfords having left everything until the last minute as usual! I bought 2 "GRACO Junior Plus" seats that have the booster seat and the side impact protection. My son 9yrs and only 130 cm tall loves his new seat especially the two cup holders that are built into the base. Halfords have slashed £30 off the price of this seat making it £39.99 -
I never really saw the need for the booster but if research has shown that they work, for the sake of £39 quid I am not prepared to risk.

tiff

Does it have to be a booster seat with a back to it, or can it be just the base?

squibbs25

I took my son out to choose his booster seat in the school hols. After looking at several he chose one in Woolworths,(ladybird own make) it cost £10, it is very padded and according to him 'really comfy'. It is red and black and looks 'kool' . His little sister (3) and two cousins (7 and 4) think its 'wicked' too as they have both used it aswell. So much so they all want the same.

Squibbs

jellyhead

tiff wrote:

Does it have to be a booster seat with a back to it, or can it be just the base?

it can be just the base, it might depend on their age. i think children under 4 years old need a proper seat but after that you can use the base. i could be wrong though.

tiff

My daughter is 6. I've managed to get one from freecycle, hopefully it will be ok, was when she was 4/5.

PabloNeruda

I cannot find one for love nor money. They have been flying off the shelves everywhere apparently, as the law kicks in tomorrow. The worst thing is, those in a 2-car home will have to get 2 per child if one parent does the morning run and the other sometimes picks them up in the afternoon. :mad:

tiff

Ask at school, ask friends and family, put a wanted ad on Freecycle, look on Adtrader, Loot, Ebay etc. Check Halfords, Woolworths, Argos, Tesco, Mothercare etc. You will fine one but it might not be as cheap as you want.

lil_me

ToyRus, ASDA, Discount Motor Stores also worth a try.