Car Seat Safety Techs - need advice

[adventure_woman]

My DD is almost 6, 55 lbs and around 46" I think? Anyway, I have her in a Britax Frontier and my spare seat for my mom's car and DHs car is Graco Nautilus. I like them both, I am hoping to keep her harnessed for quite a bit longer - I just think she is so much safer.

Now onto my question.....Since she is getting older, and may/will be riding in a friend's car at times, should I break down and buy a booster for her to use in those instances? Is it safe enough? If I should buy a booster, what kind would you recommend? High back? What kind? (budget minded too if possible). I know her 2 seats now will turn into boosters, but I don't want to monkey with the straps, etc when I'd have to put them back.

So, am I being too overly cautious? (For example, her friend is going to be picking her up every Wed night to go to a church group - just let her ride in the booster?)

Thanks for the advice for a paranoid mommy!

 

[Swimalie]

I have a 7.5 year old son who is about 50 inches tall and 48 lbs. He is also in the Frontier's 5-pt harness. This past summer we flew across the country for a vacation. In order to not have to lug the Frontier, we bought a no back booster just for the trip. I am a bit fanatical about the 5-pt and hated that he was not in it during the trip. If you can find a way to get a 5-pt to your friend, and it will make you feel better, I say go for it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I am not a tech, but very much a safety seat police. DS is almost 6, 50 lbs and 48 inches. He rides in a graco nautalis and we use the 5 point harness 95% of the time. He does occasional ride in the bio-mom's car using a high back booster with a seat belt, and has a few time ridden in a cheap backless booster which we bought during a crazy emergency when we were stranded without a car seat (long story). Anyway, I would not be ok with him routinely ridding at night in a backless booster but neither would I expect a parent to have to install my 5 point harness into her car every trip either. I would use the GN as a belted booster in her car. We have done this a few time and were very pleased how well it fitted and secure it held. I would ask the person driving what they prefer and while I would not compromise for less than you are comfortable with, the person may prefer to install you 5 point for her own safely sense.

 

[adventure_woman]

I am the exception with all moms around here w/ the 5-point harness. DDs BFF (the one she'll be riding with weekly) has her DD in a booster (and she is very tiny...39 lbs still!). DD has ridden w/ them before in their extra booster and I did feel nervous - but I just don't know if that is just me being neurotic (which I will be the 1st to admit to).

 

[trinchick]

Also not a tech, but here are my two cents for what they're worth...

I'd rather send her with a backless booster than with a full car seat that is not properly installed. I'm always more concerned about getting the installation right than getting the best seat. I don't think I could depend on another family to carefully install a full seat in their car.

The only down-side to this is the potential for the child to no longer wish to be harnessed. This happened with us. DD7 is still harnessed in a Nautilus in our cars. This summer my cousin would occasionally pick up dd at camp (her kids were in the same camp), and DD would use my cousin's backless booster. DD had never previously complained about the harness, but having used the booster, she was no longer thrilled with the full harness. We explained safety rules etc and she now does grudgingly use the Nautilus in our cars, so no long-term harm.

 

[adventure_woman]

The only down-side to this is the potential for the child to no longer wish to be harnessed. This happened with us. DD7 is still harnessed in a Nautilus in our cars. This summer my cousin would occasionally pick up dd at camp (her kids were in the same camp), and DD would use my cousin's backless booster. DD had never previously complained about the harness, but having used the booster, she was no longer thrilled with the full harness. We explained safety rules etc and she now does grudgingly use the Nautilus in our cars, so no long-term harm.

DD has been asking a lot of when she gets to sit like her friends. I also explained how my job is to keep her safe and I just feel she is so much safer with the harness. She hasn't asked in a while, maybe because everytime I have to stop quickly or we see an accident - I remind her - THAT is why I KNOW you are the safest you can be! (I don't see anything wrong with scaring her just a little!)

 

[Gorechick]

I had my twins in backless boosters when they were a little over 6 and never felt that they were unsafe.

 

[julieanddanny]

A high back booster doesn't mean they are any safer. The 'cheap' Graco backless actually has among the highest safety ratings for booster seat.

I opt for the Graco backless in a heartbeat with a child that age and size.

 

[adventure_woman]

I had my twins in backless boosters when they were a little over 6 and never felt that they were unsafe.

I just wanted to say hello to a fellow person from Kzoo!!

 

[dhardawa]

If she will sit properly in the booster, it is completely safe. Keep in mind, European countries have the best safety records when it comes to child passenger safety and they go to a booster at about 40 lbs. Finding a higher weight harnessing seat is very difficult and often requires importing one. They have done research and found that, when used properly, a booster is very safe.

At her age/size, I'd go with something like a Graco Turbo Booster. I'd get a high back one. A high back booster offers more side impact protection, plus you can remove the back down the road.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

We had good 5 point harnesses for our kids until they got too tall for them. Once they were 'legal' in a booster though I did use those for grandparents, etc. As someone else pointed out, a 5 point harness seat is great but if it doesn't get installed correctly it is going to do less good than a regular booster seat.

As a side note, we never had a problem with either of our kids complaining about the harness after riding in the booster. I think they just figured that was their 'special' seat for special outings.

 

[loricdietzel]

I am not a tech either and think maybe a high back booster since it is most similar to what your child is used to. We have a high weight seat so my dd can stay in a five point harness for a long time, too. Please note that the LATCH system cannot support these seats as a child grows older. In general, the LATCH system is only designed to hold 40lbs (may vary based on vehicle and often the info is in the car owner's manual) and after that a seat belt must be used to secure the seat in place rather than the LATCH system. Just sharing as most people do not realize that.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

My oldest is almost 8 and he is in the Turbo Highback booster seat. It is one of the safest and it gets great ratings. He has a regular seat belt with it of course but the seatbelt is positioned correctly. He will not get a backless booster until I have to.