Car Seat Techs - need advice

[adventure_woman]

This is mostly for carseat techs or those mom's who do extended harnessing....

I need to get another carseat (spare for my mom's car).

I have 2 DDs - DD#1 7 yrs, 55lbs, 49". DD#2 3 1/2 yrs, 39.5lbs

The spare in my mom's car for DD#2 is the Cosco scenera - which the weight limit is 40lbs. So, I have to get her another one (I like her having an extra seat, and don't want to have to move carseats around).

I still have DD#1 in a 5-pt harness (Graco Nautilus). I personally like it that way. I know that if we roll over, get hit by a semi, etc., she is always wearing her belt properly and I have no fear that she will be okay - at least that's how I feel.

I am debating if I should just stop being so paranoid and put DD#1 in a high-back booster in my car (I do have her in a low-back booster as the spare in my mom's car, but for everyday use, I like the extra protection). I could get DD#1 a high back booster and move DD#2 into her Nautilus for the spare and not spend as much to get another big carseat. But, will DD#1 be as safe?

Recommendations for what other seat to get?

 

[lauti]

1. Check the straps on your Nautilus. At that size she is likely too tall for it anyway. They need to be at or above her shoulders.

2. The basic recommendation is that past 6 years old and 40lbs a harness is not proven to be more safe than a booster. As long as the child knows now to sit properly of course or has no other special needs.

3. Your younger DD could very well be too tall for thr Scenara as well, check that too.

So, I would get a HBB for you older child and pass down the Nautilus. You could also convert the Nautilus to a HBB if she still meets the limits for that. Other seats to look at besides the Nautilus are the Britax Pioneer or Frontier. But I would only purchase a new harnessed seat for your youngest.

 

[supersnoop]

We used a Britax Frontier, which is good up to 58" and 90 lbs. It has a five-point harness, but also works as a booster. I don't remember the weight rating on the harness, but it was one of the best available when I was shopping. Keep in mind that you'll need to use a real seatbelt, not the latch system, to secure anything over 40 lbs. Some cars may be rated to 65 lbs. for latch, but the seatbelt will always be safer when installed properly.

 

[julieanddanny]

Totally a personal choice but I would be moving onto a booster for the 7 yr old and passing down the nautilus if the dates and weights are good.

 

[adventure_woman]

We actually have the Britax as DD#2's primary seat. The straps are still good on the Nautilus for DD#1 (and we are using the seatbelt - not the latch).

What HBB's are recommended?

 

[Jax1023]

I've seem the harmony defender suggested as an inexpensive but very tall harness to booster. It's 100 dollars at Walmart and has taller top slots than the nautilus.

I think at 7, it is safe to move your oldest to a hbb, provided she is 40 lbs and could sit properly 100 percent fl the time, including not slumping while asleep.

Reccomended boosters are britax parkway, graco turbo booster. But with these it's really about the best belt fit, so it's best to go to a babies r us or something and try your child in them to see where the belt hits on her.

 

[Bren's Mom]

I'm a CPST, I moved my youngest to a HBB at the age of almost 7 (about 8 weeks before his birthday) and about 48lbs. He had just completed first grade. I felt very confident in my choice.

We moved him to Diono Monterey boosters. I prefer a booster which LATCHes for everyday use. Ones that don't LATCH must be re-buckled each time the child gets out of it so it doesn't become a projectile. That's ok for a part-time car, imo, but for everyday a PITA.

I love the deep headwings and adjustable side wings, and deep seat pan of the Monterey. Ds finds it easy to buckle on his own.

The Graco Affix is also a nice HBB which LATCHes. Or the Britax Parkway SGL.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have a The First Years Compass Booster Seat for my 7 year old grandson, which I bought on Amazon. It was very highly rated by Consumer Reports. I like it because it's so much lighter than his old car seat and it folds for storage. It's very safe as well.

 

[Happyjen27]

If you cost average the price of another 5 point booster, I think you'll find over the 5-7 years you'll get out of it for DD2, it's pretty cheap to just do the next sized 5-point for her.

Always go with your gut, so you can live with yourself. I tend to frame it like this, for myself: Which scenario would give me fewer regrets? My hopes for you are that you never have to check the efficacy of either seat, but, which seat would give you no regrets? Probably the 5-point.

I have kids that are small for their age, so we were able to go with the Britax Pioneer-70 this summer for my 6 year olds (both are between 40-45lbs). I say "able to" because people with taller than average kids might have to do the Pinnacle-90 which is more expensive. The Pioneer is a 5 point until 70lbs. I think I was in middle school before I hit 70lbs, LOL. I'm sure I won't be able to 5-point them that long, but the Pioneer also HBBs to 100lbs. They were affordable at $175, free shipping from amazon. Well, affordable until one realizes that we needed 4, one for each kid in both cars. Even then, I didn't bat an eye. Rather spend the money than scrimp and feel like I didn't do everything I could to protect them, you know?

 

[MSSANDRA]

DS7 just outgrew his graco nautilus in height. He weighs less than your DD but is taller. We struggled with whether to look for a seat that 5 point harnessed to a higher height but in the end we decided to buy the gaco turbo booster. It fits him well and he even sleep fine in it. My biggest concern was being able to sleep in it as we travel 8 hours regularly to visit family. Only you can decide. Knowing that your little one could go into the current nautilus and then into the new 5 point harness might be a bit of an incentive to bite the bullet and buy a new 5-point seat for your older daughter

 

[pineappletreat]

This is mostly for carseat techs or those mom's who do extended harnessing....

I need to get another carseat (spare for my mom's car).

I have 2 DDs - DD#1 7 yrs, 55lbs, 49". DD#2 3 1/2 yrs, 39.5lbs

The spare in my mom's car for DD#2 is the Cosco scenera - which the weight limit is 40lbs. So, I have to get her another one (I like her having an extra seat, and don't want to have to move carseats around).

I still have DD#1 in a 5-pt harness (Graco Nautilus). I personally like it that way. I know that if we roll over, get hit by a semi, etc., she is always wearing her belt properly and I have no fear that she will be okay - at least that's how I feel.

I am debating if I should just stop being so paranoid and put DD#1 in a high-back booster in my car (I do have her in a low-back booster as the spare in my mom's car, but for everyday use, I like the extra protection). I could get DD#1 a high back booster and move DD#2 into her Nautilus for the spare and not spend as much to get another big carseat. But, will DD#1 be as safe?

Recommendations for what other seat to get?

Have you considered the Diono Radian RXT? We have one for DS(6) 49" and 50 lbs. It has a 5 point harness and can eventually change to a high back booster I believe (we haven't gotten that far yet). It's LATCH until 80 lbs and then seat belt until 120 lbs. Also it has a steel frame so it has a 10 year lifespan.

DD(4)'s seats are getting old since they were DS's first. I noticed that Babies R Us is having their trade in event again with 25% off of a new car seat with trade in and I was thinking of doing that.

A few things for you to consider.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Have you considered the Diono Radian RXT? We have one for DS(6) 49" and 50 lbs. It has a 5 point harness and can eventually change to a high back booster I believe (we haven't gotten that far yet). It's LATCH until 80 lbs and then seat belt until 120 lbs. Also it has a steel frame so it has a 10 year lifespan.

DD(4)'s seats are getting old since they were DS's first. I noticed that Babies R Us is having their trade in event again with 25% off of a new car seat with trade in and I was thinking of doing that.

A few things for you to consider.

A Radian is a convertible seat, and dollar for dollar isn't going to be the best choice since she will likely never use it rear-facing. If op plans to spend that much money, she's better of buying a Frontier.

But to reiterate what others have said, there is NO evidence to indicate that a 5 point harness is safer than a booster once a child is able to sit correctly, well over 40lbs, etc.

And just to clarify; the Diono Radian RXT has an *8* year expiration for using the harness, 10 years for the booster.

 

[adventure_woman]

Okay, this may sound really silly - but with the high back boosters with LATCH - are you using the latch PLUS the regular seatbelt for the child? (Just confused because I know that with the 5 points, you are only supposed to use 1 and not both.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Okay, this may sound really silly - but with the high back boosters with LATCH - are you using the latch PLUS the regular seatbelt for the child? (Just confused because I know that with the 5 points, you are only supposed to use 1 and not both.

Not silly! This is actually a pretty common question.

You are correct that you should not use both LATCH and the seatbelt to install a seat.

In the case of a booster (or a combination seat in booster mode), to LATCH the seat is to just loosely connect it to the anchors. The function of that is not to 'install' but rather for the seat to be prevented from becoming a projectile when not in use. Because a booster works only to 'boost' a child up to help the seatlbelt fit properly, and the seatbelt is what does the work here, it's ok to use both. It's also ok to disregard any LATCH weight limits because, again, those anchors aren't holding the CHILD in, just the booster.

So, yes, a LATCHable booster is connected to the lower anchors AND you use the adult seat belt to restrain the child.

 

[mum2simon]

Just chiming in to say we just moved our 50lb, 53" newly 7yo out of his 5pt into a hbb.....I wanted to cry....lol....but he was just too tall for the radian seat we have. I considered a frontier, but he is good about sitting and buckling correctly, so I just had to suck it up and let him grow up.

 

[Lisa71]

A Radian is a convertible seat, and dollar for dollar isn't going to be the best choice since she will likely never use it rear-facing. If op plans to spend that much money, she's better of buying a Frontier.

But to reiterate what others have said, there is NO evidence to indicate that a 5 point harness is safer than a booster once a child is able to sit correctly, well over 40lbs, etc.

And just to clarify; the Diono Radian RXT has an *8* year expiration for using the harness, 10 years for the booster.

I am not going to argue directly but check out Kyle David Miller foundation..,there is actually a lot of evidence a booster is less safe which is why many, many groups suggest a 5 pt to age 8 and 80lbs 4 ft nine...google it and many, many groups. Our pediatrician informed us 5 pt until they cannot fit it is best and in reality 5 pt is always safer. Just my opinion ..hit Ti say no evidence is not true.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Also, the LATCH system is only rated to 65 lbs total (child and car seat). That news just came out at the end of 2013. so for those of you with older children using 5 PT with the LATCH system, please be aware of your seat's weight with your child in it. In an accident the LATCH loops could snap if your child and the seat are over 65 lbs.

 

[adventure_woman]

Also, the LATCH system is only rated to 65 lbs total (child and car seat). That news just came out at the end of 2013. so for those of you with older children using 5 PT with the LATCH system, please be aware of your seat's weight with your child in it. In an accident the LATCH loops could snap if your child and the seat are over 65 lbs.

I had to laugh when this info came out. With all the carseats and manuals I have read, they all talk about the LATCH and basically say the same thing. Why the news just picked up on this makes me say

Thanks for all the advice/thoughts!