Harness 4 year old - New Zealand

[Unregistered]

My daughter has just turned 4 and is approaching the weight limit of the harness in her car seat/booster (18kg, I think thats 40lb). She's a wriggler and often sleeps in the car so I want to keep her harnessed. She has been complaining that her current seat is uncomfortable and she is very restless in the car, so I want something comfy.

We're going to try out the Brio Zentro in the next few days, it's a 2 hour drive to see/buy it. She may be too tall (1m, and 37cm/14.5" torso)? But if so I may still get one for my 6 month old. I'm also unsure if she will be happy to rear face again, she has been forward facing for 2 years. She says she wants to but may change her mind when she tries it. Since she is almost at the ff harness limit it wouldn't make sense to get it for her if she doesn't rf.

As far as I can tell the only other option over here is the Evenflo Triumph Advance. The only place I could find that sells them is online (winkalotts) and when I rang up to ask about them she said 'those are just for babies!'. They are listed as 'Evenflo Triumph Advance LX' 'Evenflo Triumph Advance DLX' and 'Evenflo Triumph Advance Premier' with ff up to 22kg, rf to 15kg.

She did agree that they were 'a bit' taller than the other seats but said they wouldn't be suitable past age 3. I asked if they were different than the US ones then, because I'm sure I've seen photos of people's older kids in the ETA on here, and she said yes they were different (?!). It seems unlikely that Evenflo would make a different seat just for this single distributor in the small NZ market, anyone know if she's right? Any Kiwis bought or seen Triumph Advance from here? It looks like a great seat but I don't want one that's too small.

Also I saw some post saying NZ is getting the true fit soon, anyone know when and where?

Or any other ideas?

TIA

Jo

[delgirrrl]

Hi Jo, I haven't seen the EFTA over here, but I can't believe they'd be doing a 'special edition' for the teeny weeny NZ market! Maybe you could speak to winkalotts about buying it and if they'll take a return if it's not suitable?

Good luck! It's a real hassle in NZ (or even worse in Aus) to get decent weight seats :(

[ketchupqueen]

I doubt they're that different... In fact, I think they're the same. The top harness height on the ETA is 17.5 inches and it goes to 50 lbs. (about 22 kg.) Just because SHE has never seen a child older than 3 in one (I bet she thinks a 4 year old should be in a booster) doesn't mean it can't be done; torso height and weight are the most important measurements so if she "runs small" she should be fine. (FTR, my taller-than-average almost-5 daughter has a 16.5 inch torso and would fit that seat; my taller-than-average and longer-torsoed-than-her-sister has a 16.25 inch torso and would fit that seat but not to the same age my eldest would. It really is all down to the kid's individual build.)

[finn]

We have a Brio and for the most part love it, once you get the hang of it it is very easy to install :)

I'm not sure where you are but your more than welcome to come and look at my brio.

I'm not sure if you've seen this http://www.babyfactory.co.nz/products/group/31/page/1/style/70050/ but it says it harnesses to 25kg, could be a typo though but you could call baby factory and ask.


I have seen a couple of true fits for sale on trade me recently for about $300.

[Adventuredad]

The Britax Two-Way (http://britax.se/twoway08.htm) might be an alternative for you. It's a great combination seat and the only ECE R44 seat which can handle forward facing to 55 lbs (25 kg) in a harness. It's a popular set with foreigners. It can of course also handle rear facing until 55 lbs.

Seat shell is about 5 cm higher than Brio Zento. The seat may also be used as Zento as a high back booster with a set belt until 55 lbs.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for the replies. I got winkalotts to measure EFTA and she came back with a harness height max of 44cm (about 17-17.5") so it must be the same.

Thanks for the offer to see your brio finn, I'm in Central Otago, probably not near you. I rang Baby Factory and it's a typo! On your thread I see you got your seat sent from US. Can I ask how much postage was? Assuming it would be about the same cost as the seat. If it's do-able I might be better with something that would fit for longer, like a Graco Nautilus, or something pink like regent madison or radian princess/malibu.

Adventuredad, thanks for the suggestion of the two way. Would I have to get it sent from Europe? I couldn't read the website.

Jo

[finn]

Bummer about the typo, I thought it was too good to be true. I'm in wellington.

I got a Maxi Cosi Priori sent over, it was $199usd for the seat and $100usd for shipping, so it ended up costs $500nzd which isn't too bad for a car seat. If I was getting another seat from the states I would probably go for a radian because they are small but have reasonably high rear and forward facing weights.

[Adventuredad]

You would order it from Sweden. If you need assitance please send me a PM or email
Thanks for the replies. I got winkalotts to measure EFTA and she came back with a harness height max of 44cm (about 17-17.5") so it must be the same.

Thanks for the offer to see your brio finn, I'm in Central Otago, probably not near you. I rang Baby Factory and it's a typo! On your thread I see you got your seat sent from US. Can I ask how much postage was? Assuming it would be about the same cost as the seat. If it's do-able I might be better with something that would fit for longer, like a Graco Nautilus, or something pink like regent madison or radian princess/malibu.

Adventuredad, thanks for the suggestion of the two way. Would I have to get it sent from Europe? I couldn't read the website.

Jo