subject: When Can I Move My Child To A Booster Seat? [print this page] A common question among parents is at what stage can you move a child from their infant child seat (Group 1) up to a booster seat (Group 2-3). As children grow at rapidly different rates, it can be difficult for child seat manufacturers to answer this question using age alone.
In addition, many parents often mistakenly believe that it is a child's height that is the main thing to consider. While height and size are certainly important, it is actually your child's weight that is the critical factor when deciding whether to move them to a booster.
Generally speaking, you can move your child to a booster seat once they reach the minimum weight specified by the manufacturer. For 'Group 2-3' seats (which make up the majority of boosters) the minimum weight bands are around 15kg-18kg.
However, many Group 1 child seats allow your child to stay in them until the weight of 18kg. You can see that there may be a 3kg overlap where your child can sit in either a Group 1 or a Group 2-3 seat. In this situation, it's advisable to keep your child in their Group 1 seat for as long as possible, provided they haven't exceeded the weight allowance and haven't become too big to sit in it comfortably.
It's easy to see how all of this can be confusing for parents. A great solution is to buy one of the modern Group 1-2-3 combo seats, which can be used for weights between 9-36kg, or from the approximate ages of 9 months to 12 years. While offering fantastic value, these seats can be adapted to suit your child's growth, saving you having to go out and buy a new seat every time they outgrow the old one.
To remain safe, always refer closely to the manufacturer's guidelines when deciding whether a seat is suitable for your child. If in doubt, it can help to talk to an expert. Many child seat retailers will offer free advice, particularly when buying a new product, so it can be a good idea to take advantage of this when shopping around.
The best retailers will also install your child seat into your car, so you can be sure that it's fitted professionally. Some may also offer you a demo so you can place the seat into the car correctly every time - this advice can prove invaluable, as a wrongly fitted seat will put your child at risk.
