booster seat recommendations?

[javaj]

3yo DS is getting too tall for his car seat, and I'm looking for booster seat recommendations. We have Britax and Cosco car seats and I just really loved our Britax while we just tolerated the other car seats. I don't know if brand/style/model matter as much with booster seats, so let me know if you don't think it matters as much. If you like or dislike your booster, please tell me what kind you have and why you like it (or dislike it). Also, if anyone can point out any good sales or deals, I'd appreciate that too.

Thanks!

 

[Eeyore1928]

We have a Britax too and love it. I am looking into boosters and found a Britax one at Target.com. It may be worth a look. Also looking at the Princess one by graco I think.

 

[Colinsmom]

Are you sure that your 3yo is mature enough to sit properly in a booster? I'm not sure that I would trust mine in one (he's a good boy and listens well, but this is such a safety fundamental). There are some great harnessed seats from Britax like the Marathon, Decathalon, Boulevard and Husky, and they would keep your DS so much more protected than a booster.

www.cpsafety.org has a booster checklist but doesn't get too far into how they must sit properly (straight, no leaning over, no moving the seat belt) for the booster to protect them. Even a child sitting perfectly in a booster is less protected than a child in a 5pt harness.

 

[Brina]

personally, at 3 I would be reluctant to move to a booster. We have some for carpooling, and most of the kids I know do not sit in them properly at that age.

Britax makes two seats for larger kids - one, the marathon (also in a similar version called the wizard) has a maximum weight of 65 lbs and 48 inches. It looks similar to the britax roundabout, only bigger. It can be used rearfacing or forward facing and is airline compatible. The other is called the husky. It has a maximum weight of 80 lbs and height of 53 inches. It can only be used forward facing and cannot be used on an airplane.

These two seats are much safer options than a belt positioning booster. My two 5.5 year olds are using the Britax Marathon.

 

[javaj]

This is exactly what I was wondering after researching this afternoon -- whether to get the Britax Marathon or Wizard instead of a booster!

DS is 40.5 inches, but his torso is long, so his shoulders are definitely past the top harness level on both his Britax Roundabout and Cosco Summit. But he's only 34.5 lbs! The Summit is a combination, so it could be used as a high-back booster, but he has really outgrown the Roundabout. Before spending the $$$ for the Britax options though, I would like to try to find a combination seat that can be used with the harness for past 40 inches, but can be used as a booster eventually. There are only a few mentioned on the AAP site -- I'll have to research those.

 

[CharlesTD]

We use Evenflow and Fisnerprice in one car and Graco and Fisherprice in the other car. Here are some links to the seats we use.

http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=8674BUZ&CategoryID=1

http://www.evenflo.com/pr/bo/prbo_bigkidlx.phtml

 

[gonemousin']

We have the Graco turbo boosters. We picked this model specifically because it lets the seatbelt glide smoothly through the positioner. Many kids will play with the seatbelt (or lean forward accidently) during the car ride, so it is VERY important that the belt is free flowing at the shoulders and able to retract back into place if this happens (clear as mud?!). I completely agree with the other posters about making sure your child is mature enough to sit in a booster. We moved my DD into a booster at age 3 1/2 because she had maxed out the height and weight limit of her carseat, but she was also extremely mature and responsible for her age, and we had no transition issues.

 

[munchkinsmom]

We use the Graco Turbo Booster and a Fisher Price Safe Embrace High Back Booster. Our DD finds both of them very comfortable. We just switched our DD to a booster seat not too long ago (she's four, about 41 inches tall and about 40 lbs.).

Unfortunately, the Fisher Price Safe Embrace High Back Booster isn't available anymore. They discontinued it a couple of years ago, but I bought one back then and put it away for the time when my DD would be old enough to use it. Nice thing about this booster is that it's in one piece, so it's easy to switch for carpooling and such.

Toys R Us had a sale a couple of weeks ago where they took $10.00 off any booster 49.99 or more. I don't know if they still have the sale, but you might want to check it out. That where we bought our Graco Turbo Booster. My DD likes this booster because of how it fits her well and the ease of the seatbelt movement, like "gonemousin'"talked about. I've also noticed the belt return to its position easily when she leans forward. She like the cup holders too!

HTH!

 

[Colinsmom]

This is exactly what I was wondering after researching this afternoon -- whether to get the Britax Marathon or Wizard instead of a booster!

DS is 40.5 inches, but his torso is long, so his shoulders are definitely past the top harness level on both his Britax Roundabout and Cosco Summit. But he's only 34.5 lbs! The Summit is a combination, so it could be used as a high-back booster, but he has really outgrown the Roundabout. Before spending the $$$ for the Britax options though, I would like to try to find a combination seat that can be used with the harness for past 40 inches, but can be used as a booster eventually. There are only a few mentioned on the AAP site -- I'll have to research those.

My DS is 42" and still fits in the Marathon, which technically goes to 49" (more if kiddo has long legs like mine, less with a long torso like yours). He can still ride in his Roundabout but I've moved him out of it because he's getting too close to the upper limit. Check out the Britax Husky - it is good to 59" or something like that; you'd probably only need a little $20 booster when he outgrows that! There aren't really many combo seat options that are good for tall, skinny toddlers like ours - one company was working on a less expensive seat with higher limits recently but it keeps on failing crash testing (yikes!!).

 

[R4racing]

My 6yr old rides in a Graco TurboBooster in both our vehicles. She really loves it, and they come in so many different cover choices, including Buzz and also the Princesses. My 2 1/2yr old has a Britax Marathon and she loves her seat. We also have a Graco Cargo that is the younger DD's 'back-up' seat. The Cargo is capable of being used with the carseat harness or a seatbelt, but I must say I was not impressed with how the belt holder worked on it and that is why the 6yr old does't use it as a belt-positioning booster. For a 3yr old I think that the Marathon or Husky (I think the new Husky has a different name) would be your best/safest option.

 

[tlbwriter]

This is exactly what I was wondering after researching this afternoon -- whether to get the Britax Marathon or Wizard instead of a booster!

DS is 40.5 inches, but his torso is long, so his shoulders are definitely past the top harness level on both his Britax Roundabout and Cosco Summit. But he's only 34.5 lbs! The Summit is a combination, so it could be used as a high-back booster, but he has really outgrown the Roundabout. Before spending the $$$ for the Britax options though, I would like to try to find a combination seat that can be used with the harness for past 40 inches, but can be used as a booster eventually. There are only a few mentioned on the AAP site -- I'll have to research those.

If you're looking for a good booster, you probably won't be happy with a combo seat (the ones that are used with the harness and then as a booster). They suffer from "jack of all trades, master of none" syndrome. A dedicated booster such as the Graco Turbo Booster or Evenflo Big Kid works much better as a booster. I'd go with a higher-weight harnessed seat (like the Marathon) until your child is emotionally mature enough to use a booster, and then get a dedicated booster.

 

[shelly3girls]

I honestly would feel uncomfortable putting a child that size in the true boosters. We have the Graco CarGo which is a convertable seat which I used as a booster starting at age 3 and around 40". I felt this fit DD properly. She was very secure in it. DD also felt very comfortable in this seat.

That said, I feel more comfortable with the Britax booster now that she is 45". The Britax is the only booster that has been tested and approved for side impact car crashes (according to Consumer Reports). If I had to do it again I would probably buy the bigger Britax carseat then move to the Britax booster when he outgrew it. If cost is a constraint I would definitely buy the Graco again.

 

[DisneyTarheel]

We are happy with the Britax Parkway Express booster.

 

[surfgirl]

Here's another vote for the Britax Marathon -

we moved our DDs into them last year (5, 3 1/2 yrs.) -- I just feel that they are incredibly safer than using a booster. (Hopefully, the safety of the car seats will never be tested). While they think boosters are a fun treat in g'ma/g'pa's car (easier to install) once a month, they don't complain. I think my 5 yr. old will love not having a buckle between her legs....

I realize significantly more expensive, but that's one thing I was willing to pay for...

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

My DS3 is 41 1/2 inches and weighs 46lbs. He is in the Britax Husky.

Lori

 

[javaj]

Thank you so much for all the input, I really appreciate it.