Anyone have carseat for older kids?

[ireland_nicole]

Another very, very, very happy Britax Regent owner; I've never seen or used a more secure, comfortable seat; because my kids are very small for their age, my 9 year old and 7 year old comfortably fit in them with plenty of room to grow. DD is 48 inches and 50 lbs and DS is 44 inches and 44 lbs.

 

[SarahKate]

Hi all,

OP here. I had gotten busy this week and just got on the thread and there are lots of great responses! Thanks everyone.

From reading all your posts, the Regency is probably not for us since the weight max is 80 lbs. DD is already getting to mid-60's so we need something w/ 100-120 lb. max.

I'm thinking that the Graco Nautilus or Britax Parkway is going to be the best choice for us. The Graco gets really awesome reviews both on Amazon and Wal-Mart and we can find it close to us. The Britax gets great reviews but unfortunatley no place around here sells it!!

I also appreciate the poster who sent the link to that 5-question thing re: when it's ok to move them out of the booster. While I totally agree that kids NEED to be in a safe booster til the appropriate time, there can be such thing as being in a booster too long......I'll definitely be testing this out w/ my DD to make sure we handle things appropriately.

 

[jessica52877]

DS6 is 50 inches and 50 lbs and has a regent and a nautilus for the other car. I prefer the regent but the Nautilus is still great. I am not sure I'll like it for a booster but that is a ways away. I had a Recaro Sport and LOVED it but it only harnesses to 40 lbs then becomes a booster. I have not used it as a booster but I have held onto it because some day I might. The vivo is the same I believe minus it never harnessed. The side impact is awesome! It is like the child is in a cocoon. Recaro is a major manufacturer of racing seats and in the seat business. I like that.

 

[laughinplace199]

DS8 has been in a Britax Parkway for 4 years now and he thinks it's a very comfy seat.

I have to do some more research now though. DD10 is in a Britax Starriser, which is about to expire. DS8 has 2 years left before his Parkway expires. DD10 is petite and probably needs a booster for at least one more year. Maybe I'll get her a new one and then pass it on to DS when his seat expires.

 

[AQW]

I *love* the Britax Regent. Both of my kids have Regents in my van - DS is 7½yo, 50" tall, 62 lbs and DD is 4yo, 43" tall and 34 lbs. I wouldn't use any other seat as my primary seat, I LOVE the Regent so much.

I need a booster for DS for my mom's car, so I just ordered the Monterey. If it's a good fit for us, I'll order another in a few months as his seat in Daddy's car is close to expiring.

 

[natnelliesmom]

We have two Sunshine Radians. We love them! They are comfy and have a high weight limit. We also have a Sunshine Radian 80 convertible seat. That's great too. They are heavy seats, but are made very well.
Our Safe Kids car seat installation expert loved these seats- she couldn't say enough about how safe they are.
When in doubt ask an expert! Take your car over to your local installation expert (look online for locations- or call your local police/fire station). They will be able to look at your children's height/weight and your particular vehicle and tell you exactly what will work the best and be the safest for your individual situation.

Good luck- and way to go for wanting the safest option for your child! Too many people go with the seat with the coolest cup holder... not the one that works the best for their child!
-Sarah

 

[momma_mouse]

Hi all,

OP here. I had gotten busy this week and just got on the thread and there are lots of great responses! Thanks everyone.

From reading all your posts, the Regency is probably not for us since the weight max is 80 lbs. DD is already getting to mid-60's so we need something w/ 100-120 lb. max.

I'm thinking that the Graco Nautilus or Britax Parkway is going to be the best choice for us. The Graco gets really awesome reviews both on Amazon and Wal-Mart and we can find it close to us. The Britax gets great reviews but unfortunatley no place around here sells it!!

I also appreciate the poster who sent the link to that 5-question thing re: when it's ok to move them out of the booster. While I totally agree that kids NEED to be in a safe booster til the appropriate time, there can be such thing as being in a booster too long......I'll definitely be testing this out w/ my DD to make sure we handle things appropriately.

Just keep in mind that the 100-120 pound weight limit is with the seat as a booster. She will not be able to be harnessed at a weight that high. Honestly, at 60ish pounds, you would still get a lot of use out of a Regent. The Nautilis is a good seat, but she will not be able to be harnessed it it for very long . You will soon have to use it as a booster. At her age, there is nothing wrong with a booster, (although a 5 point would still be great!) I just wanted to throw that out there.

As fas as Britax not being in a store near you, there are lots of websites who are constantly running sales on them and they offer free shipping as well. PM me if you want some places to check out. I bought 2 of our 3 Britax seats online and my brother and SIL just bought one for my niece from a place I recomended.

Also, I don't think there is such a thing as being in a booster too long. (well, obviously a 15 year old in a booster has been in one too long, but you know what I mean) If the child is still within the weight and height limits of the seat and does not pass the 5 point test, I would not take them out. I just witnessed a car wreck yesterday where they were going around a bad curve. Their brakes locked and they flipped the car twice and landed off the road, down a small embankment and in a corn field. All 3 occumpants had on their seatbelt. However, all 3 had bruising from the belts. One of them also hit her head. She at the very least had a concussion. She was taken away completely imobolized on a backboard, in a neckbrace and taped down. I used it as a teaching aid for my daughter (who keeps asking to move to a booster) and my step son (who does not ride in a booster with his mom) on the importance of being buckeled and riding in the propers seat. Had my step son (who is 8) been in that car and not in a booster, he would more than likely has some internal injuries.

The seat belt does not fit across his hips if he is not in a booster. It also goes across his neck, not across his shoulder. The booster is to boost the child up so that the seat belt will lay where it is supposed to lay on the body. Seat belts were not designed for children. They were designed for adults. If you want a seat belt to propery fit a child they have to be in a booster. That is the point of the 5 point test. If your child does not pass it then they need to be in a booster. Your child may get some comments but I would rather that than have to live with the fact that my child was injured, or worse. My DD will be 6 next month and is still in a 5 points. No one has said anything yet, but I'm sure the day is coming. I will just be teaching her how to respond. She knows the importance of being secured safely.

I also wanted to add, if you're going to go with a booster, the Graco Turbo Booster is a also a good seat. You don't always have to spend a lot to get a good seat. There are some seats out there that are good and not exxpensive. The Natilus is an exaple of that as well as the Turbo Booster. For younger children, the Cosco Scenera is also a good seat.

I hope that helps. Check out car-seat.org for lots of good info. There are also a lot of techs over there who are always more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

 

[momma_mouse]

Was it Dana's review?

Yes it was Dana! I'm on another board with her and she posted her review there also. I'm glad she did because now I'm having second thoughts about it. I had waited on buying a booster since hearing about the Parkway. I loved/love the idea of the anti-submarine clip on the Parkway especially since I'm not sure my DD would stay sitting like she is supposed to in a booster. Since it's release though and Dana's review, I am not too crazy about the SIP being less. I can get the Recaro a lot cheaper and it has awesome SIP. Decisions decisions...

 

[dhardawa]

I also like the Sunshine Kids Monterey, because of the way it expands. (by the way, this is a great "brand" if that's what you're looking for. They also make the Radian, which is a great car seat!)

I have to disagree with the bolded part. Sunshine Kids also makes the Mighty Tight which is a very dangerous belt tightening product. They know of the dangers and the damage the device causes, but they don't care because unsuspecting parents will still buy it and they make money off of it. That alone will stop me from ever buying a Sunshine Kids product.

 

[dhardawa]

There is the new Parkway SG. I was just reading a tech review of it yesterday and she's not sure about it. The side impact wing are smaller then the old Parkway. I've been told by the same tech that the Recaro Vivo is a great booster. The Graco is a good booster also. That being said, my 46 inch 43 pound almost 6 year old is still in a 5 point harness. She is in a Regent 100% of the time. We are looking into a booster for when she goes with grandparents (since the Regent is big and hard to move and then if the grandparents have to switch cars they can not re-install it) house. I'm betweeen the Recaro and the new Parkway. I'm hoping to find a Parkway in store so I can try her out in it. There have been some complaints of it being uncomfortable due to the slide guard. I would much prefer to have the slide guard though so I hope she likes it ok.

Hey, that is my review! ETA: I desperately wanted to love this seat. I love the idea of the anti-submarine clip and I expect it does a good job there, but when you put a child in the seat and the first words out of her mouth are, "This seat is really uncomfortable, these straps are cutting into my inner thighs," that is a bad sign.

To the OP, my top booster recommendation right now would probably have to be the Recaro Vivo. Emily has one for Grandpa's van and likes it. The old style Parkway is very nice too, but you will be getting an older seat. If you're looking for a backless or have time to wait for a high back, I highly recommend the Clek seats too. My daughter uses a Clek Olli as her main seat in my car.

Is there a problem with the Turbo Booster making you want to replace it?

 

[momma_mouse]

oops, dbl post

 

[momma_mouse]

Hey, that is my review! ETA: I desperately wanted to love this seat. I love the idea of the anti-submarine clip and I expect it does a good job there, but when you put a child in the seat and the first words out of her mouth are, "This seat is really uncomfortable, these straps are cutting into my inner thighs," that is a bad sign.

To the OP, my top booster recommendation right now would probably have to be the Recaro Vivo. Emily has one for Grandpa's van and likes it. The old style Parkway is very nice too, but you will be getting an older seat. If you're looking for a backless or have time to wait for a high back, I highly recommend the Clek seats too. My daughter uses a Clek Olli as her main seat in my car.

Is there a problem with the Turbo Booster making you want to replace it?

LOL! So you DIS, too! (BTW, thanks for the review!)

Yep, I waited for that Parkway and doubt we will be getting it now. I'm hoping to stop at a BRU on the way home from Disney and check it out, but the Recaro is looking better.

 

[SarahKate]

Hi all,

OP here. Just reading thru all the updated posts. We aren't planning to harness DD at all.....it seems like most seats have a 65 lb limit on that. Mainly, I'm looking at these "older kid" seats for a couple reasons....one, having something to lean her head on during longer trips. Two, I like the idea of side impact protection.

I really don't have any complaints at all about our Turbo Booster - it is the backless kind and it does it's job. I also know it's highly rated. We're just thinking of taking some trips over the next few years and I like the idea of having something more substantial.

I looked at the Recaro online and there's no place around here that sells that brand or the Britax we'd be looking for. If we do end up upgrading, we'll likely go w/ the Graco Nautilus which gets really great reviews and is in our price range too.....plus, it's easily obtainable.

Thanks again for all the great reviews - this has been a very useful thread and I hope others benefit from it as well!!!

 

[kohlby]

I actually would not suggest the Britax Regent unless you measure her torso and try it out before buying it. Seeing how you're not considering a 5-point harness, you won't have to go through that trouble. My oldest is 6 years old 48" and 55lbs, yet his torso height is too tall for the Britax Regent. (He outgrew the Britax Marathon right before 3 due to that tall torso). The Regent goes up to 80lbs, but he's too tall in the torso even at 55lbs. He's in a full back booster since right before he turned 6 but he likely won't get more than another year out of it, due to torso. I can't remember the brand of the booster. I just wanted to warn you about kids with very long torsos!

 

[Cedarmom]

Hi all,

I looked at the Recaro online and there's no place around here that sells that brand or the Britax we'd be looking for. If we do end up upgrading, we'll likely go w/ the Graco Nautilus which gets really great reviews and is in our price range too.....plus, it's easily obtainable.

Thanks again for all the great reviews - this has been a very useful thread and I hope others benefit from it as well!!!

Hi! If you aren't planning on using the harness, I wouldn't bother with the Nautilus. Part of what makes that a good choice for people is that you can harness, then take out the harness to use it as a backed booster, and then take off the back and use it as a backless. If you buy it when your child is say, 4, you probably won't have to ever buy another seat.

However, since you aren't going to use the harness, getting her a high-backed turbobooster is a good, readily available (and much cheaper!) option. You can also get the Sunshine kids monterey or the Britax Parkway SG (or any of the others mentioned) online. Most of the online stores offer free shipping.

 

[momma_mouse]

Hi all,

OP here. Just reading thru all the updated posts. We aren't planning to harness DD at all.....it seems like most seats have a 65 lb limit on that. Mainly, I'm looking at these "older kid" seats for a couple reasons....one, having something to lean her head on during longer trips. Two, I like the idea of side impact protection.

I really don't have any complaints at all about our Turbo Booster - it is the backless kind and it does it's job. I also know it's highly rated. We're just thinking of taking some trips over the next few years and I like the idea of having something more substantial.

I looked at the Recaro online and there's no place around here that sells that brand or the Britax we'd be looking for. If we do end up upgrading, we'll likely go w/ the Graco Nautilus which gets really great reviews and is in our price range too.....plus, it's easily obtainable.

Thanks again for all the great reviews - this has been a very useful thread and I hope others benefit from it as well!!!

I agree with the PP, I really don't think the Nautilus will be a good seat for your DD. You can get a high back Turbo Booster for as low as $35 up to around $60. It has side impact protection and will giver her a comfy spot to rest her head. Also, check out www dot albeebaby dot com for Britax and Recaro seats. They are always having sales (Recaro seats are on sale right now) and often have free shippping also. Both myself and my SIL have ordered from there. We both had the seats 2 days later. Hope that helps!!

 

[cktrotter]

Britax Regent!! =)

 

[CLR4321]

I would go with a Britax anytime. My DS5 rides in a basic Graco backless booster right now, but we still have the Britax Marathon for if we take long trips in the car. My only regret was that I didn't buy the Britax in the first place (I bought a Graco Snugride infant car seat before he was born and the Britax when he was 4 months old). I would suggest looking at this chart http://www.britaxusa.com/uploads/cms/file/BritaxProductComparison_Download_030309.pdf to determine which would be the best option for you. If you want one that only goes to 65 lbs, I do recommend the Marathon. I have also heard good things about the Boulevard, which is similar but has a few extra features. Britax is know for being the safest car seat in the world and also for their comfort. The only con I can say I encountered was how heavy and "clunky" they are. That comes with the safety though. They are a pain to move around, but IMO it is worth it.

 

[mom2val]

Our dd is 8 years old and 4 ft 6 in. She weighes 58 lbs. She LOVES her Britax parkway. She has been in it for 4 years. She loves being able to lean her head against the wings when she is tired.