Booster Seats

[WDWorBUST]

I need a booster seat for the "very" rare occasion that I need to take DD (age 4 - 42lb - 42") in our truck. I have a Regent in one car and she still fits in her Marathons in the other two. We would rather not have to move her seat for the once a month (maybe) times that she would be in the truck with us. BUT...I want the safest booster possible while keeping in mind that for quite some time it will only be used on the rarest occasion so I don't want to spend a fortune on it either. Are the Graco Turboboosters good seats? I might break down and purchase a Compass or Britax Parkway if they are significantly superior. I just don't want to spend a lot more money on another seat since I have bought a seat strictly for travel this year (almost $150) and the Regent too ($200 on sale) but it would be so much more convenient....so hit me with those great DIS opinions!!

 

[all4fun]

I've read good things about all the boosters you mentioned. I believe the TSIP in the Parkway is better although some kids *may* find it too confining. it's a really personal thing so you may want to find one and try it out. FYI they are being clearanced out right now because Britax is discontinuing them, so if you like the parkway you should snap one up while they're still available. This is one of the tallest HBB's so it will last the longest height wise. I've read it's good for slender kids. The cons would be it doesn't fold or become backless so it might not be the best choice for travel and once it's outgrown by height, it's outgrown. The Turboboosters go backless and they are an inch or two shorter from what I understand.

hth!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I use the backless graco turbo booster for my dd7 (ariel for my car and princesses for dh's and anyone she goes off w/) I also have high back graco booster that my dd used when she was younger its not the five point but it was the same disney princess print.

This the one that my dd used but it didn't have the 5pt harness on it and the princess print. I have two of them and I like they way I was able to adjust the seatbelt strap over her since she is very petite.
http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber=8686ROS&CategoryID=1

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

all4fun~ I recently read in another carseat thread that the regent isn't approved for flight travel I also just ordered the Britax special needs seat for dd4 so is it all Britax seats or just the regent and possibly the special needs seat that arent approved for air travel.

 

[all4fun]

all4fun~ I recently read in another carseat thread that the regent isn't approved for flight travel I also just ordered the Britax special needs seat for dd4 so is it all Britax seats or just the regent and possibly the special needs seat that arent approved for air travel.

The Regent is not airline approved and since the Traveler Plus (SN seat) is a beefed up Regent (essentially) I would guess it isn't airline approved either. The other Convertibles - Marathon, Decathlon, Boulevard, Roundabout are airline approved. They are also coming out with the Frontier but I never got an answer as to whether that is approved for airline use or not.

If you need a travel seat, have you tried her out in the Graco Nautilus? It has 18" top slots, 65lb limit with the harness, and converts to a decent booster seat. It is airline approved in harness mode, and there is a regular here who recently posted pics of it in use on a plane, so it fits well in airplane seats. You probably don't want to have to buy yet another car seat I know - but just a thought.

hth

 

[Liltx]

You could use the Graco Cargo but only as a belt positioner. I am not comfortable with that for my dd who just turned 5 so she sits in a Marathon and a Radian 65. I would say that if it really is that rare that I would continue to move one of the other seats. Graco (triumph I think) also makes a new extended harness seat but it is still pricey.

Monica

 

[bumbershoot]

I was going to suggest the Graco Nautilus as well. Obviously you are like me and like the harness, so you might as well stick with what's working!

 

[mdhkitten]

My dd, 3, recently outgrew her carseat and I needed a booster, but was determined to keep her in a 5 point harness as long as possible. I went to www.car-seat.org, where all of the certified carseat specialists (I guess that's what you call them) are, and they praised both the Regent and Nautilus. The Regent was WAY too big for my car, so I went with the Nautilus. So far, so good! This thing will last her forever it seems! LOL The only bad part is that it isn't very easy to find (at least it wasn't a couple of weeks ago). They were on backorder online on sites that did carry them, and only WalMart actually had any in stock. Unfortunately not all of them carry them, and those that do have VERY limited stock. When I got mine, I had to drive to a WalMart that is 1/2 an hour away, and they only had two of them. Good luck with your decision!

 

[jessica52877]

I was going to suggest the nautilus as well, it also becomes a booster and a backless booster. I specifically bought one for airline use and DS5 loves it!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Are the straps on the Nautilus as high as the Regent. Flying on a plane is far and few between so I am in no need to run out and buy one tomorrow but we maybe flying to mexico next june for my cousins wedding and also to new york. Truthfully I don't mind buying and would do it in a heart beat b/c you just never know but my dh would kill. He's already to the point where if I don't start getting rid of some of the things we do have he's going to blow a gasket so its time to call my local kid to kid shop and make some money. I did just give away a cosco scenera when we got our regent and I trashed two of them one was past it use by date and the other had about three or four more months.

To the OP sorry for taking over your thread w/ my questions.

 

[WDWorBUST]

To the OP sorry for taking over your thread w/ my questions.

No problem

I agree the Nautilus is a great seat....but it doesn't really gain me anything over my marathons except that it does convert to the booster. I bought this seat
http://www.albeebaby.com/sagopobocars.html
for travel but it absolutely has to have a place to hook the tether strap. Well our car and truck she NEVER rides in are a '91 and a '97 and neither of them have it. And she's definitely not ready for a backless booster (which that seat does convert to) I really want something "easy" but safe to use in those instances when necessary without having to pull and install seats. Maybe it's just me but I hate to install using a seatbelt and although we can still install using LATCH in our Jeep we don't have LATCH in the two vehicles in question. Since I purchased the new Regent my dad installed one Marathon in his truck, one Marathon is in my mom's minivan, and then the Regent is in our Jeep.

I am definitely more comfortable with a harness.....but the few instances that she would ride in either vehicle would be to the grocery store - maybe 10 - 12 neighborhood blocks away - or Lowes which is a couple miles or so, but it's all in town city streets with low speed limits (like 30) AND more importantly short trips in the car that I feel confident she would sit properly for. So although I appreciate that a harness is best and totally AGREE that a harness is best, at this point I really am trying to find the "best" high back booster. (I hope that makes sense)

Thanks!

 

[jessica52877]

For those of you looking at the Nautilus I wanted to add that the big benefit for us is that it does not sit on a huge base like the marathon's do. When you put my son (45 inches tall) in in the boulevard or the marathon (or like, como, etc) he sits up too high and his head is less then 2 inches from the ceiling. The top slots are also higher, 18.5 inches).

 

[WDWorBUST]

So does anyone have any input on the "best" high back booster seat?