Hi Bonnie, I am glad to have found this site and your forum (got you via a link from car-seat.org forums!)
I am currently researching like mad what our next option for our dd is.  She is 2yold, very tall for her age and currently 14.5kg in clothes (do you weigh in clothes for carseats rather than naked?  I would have thought so...)
She is currently in a Safe n Sound Royale but looks to be fast outgrowing it in height.
We're looking at other options and whether or not to change now (possibly to a convertible harnessed/booster).
We've been looking at the Recaro Young Sport, looks like a lovely seat, plush, comfy, safe...and she could be in it now with the harness and then we could convert to booster once she outgrows/outweighs the harness.  But I am a bit bothered that it doesn't tether once it's a booster. 
Do boosters normally tether or not?  and if not, why?  It seems strange to me to have your child in something with only the seatbelt holding them and it into the car...if you kwim, doesn't the weight of the booster then contribute to the force on the child in any crash?
Obviously, at 2, she is several years away from booster mode, but the YS is a lot of money and we want to know that we will be buying something that will last her and be safe.
Presumable Recaro know what they are doing, but I can't help feel uneasy about the non tethering, particularly when I read that in the USA the YS *is* tethered.

Okay, question 2, can you help me find any info about what the European laws/standards are for carseat use particularly with harnessing FF past 18kg and also, why is it that here in NZ there is no recommendation to harness past 18kg when countries like the States are keener and keener to do so.

That's our other consideration you see, instead of buying a combo harnessed booster, to get a carseat that will harness her longer (presuming it goes higher in the slots) and then straight to booster from there....

Dilemma, dilemma!! and so much to consider, particularly safety of our precious one!

Your time and help is appreciated

Elaine 

Hi Bonnie! thanks for the reply.

I will check the links you have given - dh can read those, since he's the one that wants to know!

I kwim about it all being lengthy and confusing....I think that with the 'net you get a lot of info, but because different countries do things differently, the info can conflict      LOL

Yes, I am looking at the convertible boosters you have mentioned...trying to compare and research...it all takes time.

We are not in a huge hurry to change as she does still fit her Royale, but we want to be informed in our choice, so that's why I'm researching now. 

Re; YS, does the locking system come into effect even when it's being used as just a booster?  I've seen the locking clips (online Recaro manual) for when it's being used to tether the seat (and yes, we do have 3 point belts) but it doesn't talk about locking when being used as a booster.

We have a Baby on the Move in Hamilton (we are South of Te Kuiti) and we're going to be looking at YS some time in the next couple of weeks...but dh wanted me to try and find out now!! (men!  !! but it's all good, good to be informed etc)

Thanks!