Halfords child seats

wurley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2LFo8vVi04

linzz_2

Lyndsay_21 wrote:

just bought 2 britax hi-liners for my 4yr old and nearly 3yr old (to use later), just wondered he is 13kg now age nearly 3 i shouldn't think it'd take that long for him to put on the extra 2kg but should i wait till he's 4 or wait till he's the right weight to use the hi-liner???

plus really peed off as i paid £72 for my 2 hi-liners didn't realise they where cheaper at argos!!

Best to go by weight rather than age as that's what the manufacturers do.

If you haven't opened the boxes, just take them back and buy them from Argos! That's what I would do!

deanos

Yes seats are tested by weight not age

MINCER_2

deanos wrote:

Yes seats are tested by weight not age

As I understand it, the seat belt only seats (not the 5 point harness ones) quote the age because that is round about the age from which your childs chest should be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the single belt in a crash. Obviously some disagreement between manufacturers - some say 3 years and some 4.
Just don't be tempted to move them up as soon as they hit 15kg's if they are under 3 or under 4 if that's what the manufacturer says.

deanos

I aggree, our daughter is nearly 4 but is very small framed and i feel it appropiate for her to still be in a 5 point harness

littlesos

MINCER wrote:

As I understand it, the seat belt only seats (not the 5 point harness ones) quote the age because that is round about the age from which your childs chest should be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the single belt in a crash. Obviously some disagreement between manufacturers - some say 3 years and some 4.
Just don't be tempted to move them up as soon as they hit 15kg's if they are under 3 or under 4 if that's what the manufacturer says.

You have to go by weight though. My 3 year old weighed 18.5 kgs which means she was too heavy for her 5-point harness seat (18kg) and we had to get her a booster seat. Please don't exceed the weight guidelines as the webbing and fixings are not designed to hold forces in excess of the weights specified.

ioscorpio

Booster seats in Netto for £2.99

pennypuppy

sorry does that mean my 4 year old is legal and safe on a booster seat or does she need the high back seat (thinking of when mum collects her)

RufusA

pennypuppy wrote:

sorry does that mean my 4 year old is legal and safe on a booster seat or does she need the high back seat (thinking of when mum collects her)

A booster cushion (backless that just has the lap part of the belt threads through) is usually rated group 2/3 and is therefore appropriate for children over 15-18kg (approx 4 years). From a legal perspective a child over 3 must have "appropriate" child restraint, and a "group 2/3" rated booster cushion would meet that criteria and be lawful.

However IMHO these do not provide a very secure fit for smaller children, and provides minimal protection in a side impact.

Personally I would suggest that any child who hasn't reached Group 3 size or is slim framed (i.e. under 22kg) would be much better off with a high backed booster seat where the shoulder strap is guided in to the correct position, with cushioning around the head to reduce neck injury.

The following site has some commercial bias (they are trying to sell you Concorde car seats) but the crash test video on there clearly shows the difference betweeen a high backed and cushion only booster:

Safe Family Driving site

Also don't fall in to the error of thinking a journey is only short and at low speeds therefore it doesn't matter too much. Most accidents occur within 1 mile of home, and you can't predict/prevent drivers around you from speeding! The above crash test is a side impact at only 15mph!

However whatever seat you choose make sure you understand how to correctly fit it, and just as importantly your mum also understands how to fit and check it (before each journey).

HTH - Rufus.

MINCER_2

littlesos wrote:

You have to go by weight though. My 3 year old weighed 18.5 kgs which means she was too heavy for her 5-point harness seat (18kg) and we had to get her a booster seat. Please don't exceed the weight guidelines as the webbing and fixings are not designed to hold forces in excess of the weights specified.

If you think that the straps are suddenly going to fail for the sake of half a kilogramme, then you don't understand the safety tolerances on these seats (and no I'm not suggesting you put them to the test, by leaving your child in the seat until they leave home), but use a little common sense.

My son was also over 18kg at age 3 and I struggled to find him a suitable hi-back booster (most say age 3 and a half or 4), but I did (Concord Lift -suitable from 3) and I was still a bit worried about the strength of his chest.

So all those people who say - go by the weight, are wrong! and all those people who say - go by the age, are wrong!
You go by the weight AND age - that is why they bother to specify both.

Of course if you've got a very heavy child under 3 then you've got a value decision to make.