My son is 2.5 and 35 lbs. He is in a Britax Roundabout. With winter coming I know the straps will not buckle with his winter gear on. My DH adjusted the straps but they are still a tight fit now wearing summer clothes. What other option do I have for a seat? My 4.5 yo is in a Graco booster but he is too small for that. Will I have the strap problem with other seats too?
First, I agree that you don't want anything too fluffy between the harness straps and the child. Here is a link w/some information and links to safer winter wear (site owned by a CPST):
http://www.carseatsite.com/babycenter_links.htm#Cold Weather Links
I don't know what else to suggest other than warming up the car first and having kids take their coats off before strapping in. If you live somewhere like the pp where the temps drop well below zero, then one of those
automatic starters for the car might be something well worth investing in, espcecially if your vehicle has to be parked outside, or not in an attached garage.
Anyway on to car seats - If the top of your 3.5yr olds shoulders are past the top harness slots, or the tips of his ears are past the top of the shell, then he's outgrown his RA by height and needs a bigger seat. There are actually a few other options for keeping him in a 5pt harness quite a while longer. The Britax Regent is one - it has 20" top harness slots, 80lbs weight limit. Lasts most kids till 8, child probably will still need a booster in the car after this is outgrown, to get them to the point where they pass the
5 step test.
Britax also makes the
Marathon/Decathlon & Boulevard which all go to 65lbs f/fing, the MA/DC have 17.5" top slots, the BV's are 17". There's also the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (FPSVD) which is based on the MA/DC shell, same size seat, same harness height, but goes to 55lbs instead of 65 - its basically a dressed down version made for FP by Britax. They are discontinuing it due to low sales so you can pick one up for $130 now (may want to check w/the retailer on the Date of Mfgr if you want to make sure you'll get most of the 6yr lifespan out of it). You can pretty much only find these online now.
http://www.albeebaby.com/fiprsavodeco1.html (grey and black w/red trim)
http://www.albeebaby.com/fiprsavodeco2.html (red and black)
There is also the
Sunshine Kids Radian65 which has 18" top slots. This seat does have install issues w/certain vehicles so it's best to try it out first if you can (and if you own a Toyota, I've read don't even bother because for some reason this seat almost always doesn't install well w/the seatbelt in these cars - fyi you can't use LATCH after the child weighs 40 or 48lbs depending on the car).
Another option might be the Cosco/Safety 1st Apex65, 65lbs weight limit, 17" top harness slots, boosters 40-100lbs. Makes an OK but awkward booster due to it's width. It also
requires the support of a tall seatback or flat/adjustable headrest. It's outgrown by height when the tips of the childs ears go past the top of the
vehicle seat. The
Signature-Biltmore version here is selling for $80 and has EPP foam in the headrest (not all of them do).
hth!
