OT booster seat questions

[ptmmg]

I know this off topic but I just wanted some input please
DD 5 is currently in a Britax Marathon although it says it goes to 65lbs she is getting very uncomfortable in it especially in the crotch area. she is also right at the limits at the straps. My ds 3 will be moving from his roundabout to her marathon. DD is about 45lbs and 45 inches
I know that height and weight wise she is ready for a booster but I just really would like to keep her in a 5 pt harness longer.
Yesterday we went and tried the cosco apex but that too seemed too tight in the crotch area with not a lot of rooom for growing. My other considerations are the Britax regent but I heard it was really big. Also without dd getting in to try it I am unsure (can only get it online) the other carseat I would be able to get on line is the safeguard go. I am uncertain about the teathering with this particular seat.

I have considered the Britax parkway or the graco turbo but boosters seem so unsafe because they are not attached.

any suggetions any car seats you love that I have not mentioned any advice PLEASE
thanks Tammy

 

[mhm]

We were recently in a very similar situation recently. My dd4 was complaining that the straps on her Britax Marathon were hurting her neck. I thought she was just being whiney, but I looked closer and they were leaving red marks through her shirt, even though they were not too tight. While she is tall, she is no where near the height or weight limits of the seat. She's got a swimmer's build--tall, very broad shoulders, long torso, and tiny bottom. I thought about a Regent, but she would still end up needing a booster eventually. I started looking for a combo 5-point/booster, and only found one that would still accomodate her weight in a 5-point (Cosco Apex). We looked at other boosters, and most were too narrow for her shoulders. We ended up buying the Apex, but when we got home and started setting it up, it turns out she is too tall for the 5-point. We are pretty much stuck with a booster. For our younger dd (3 months), the Marathon will expire before she's ready for a booster, and seeing as she's taller than our older dd was at the same age, I think we'll get a Regent (unless they've come up with something even better) when the Marathon expires.

 

[wrighter]

When my DD1 outgrew her infant carrier, we took our DS3's Marathon and put her in that. Our plan had been to put DS (who is tall for his age) into a booster of some kind. However, the "blinders" on many of the good quality boosters blocked his peripheral vision and made him carsick. Literally. I won't bother with the details - but we quickly realized we'd need something other than a booster.

It's not an inexpensive option, but we have been VERY pleased with the Britax Husky. DS has been in it for almost a year now and has lots of room to grow. I believe it goes up to 80 lbs and has a five point harness. It is a big seat - if you drive a small sedan type car it might not fit. But in our minivan it works just fine and I feel so confident knowing that he is safe back there. Let me be clear - this is a BIG SEAT. Our friends call it the "Archie Bunker chair." But I know he can stay in it for years to come.

Good luck! Happy shopping!

 

[all4fun]

Car seats are outgrown by height when the shoulders go past the top harness slots, or the tips of the ears go past the top of the shell. Height limits on seats are based on averages and overall height can differ because it depends on torso height, not overall height. The shoulders need to be at or below the harness slot in F/fing mode because if they aren't then in an accident, the harness can compress the shoulders and spine. Not good. Of course, never use a car seat over it's stated weight limit - those are set in stone.

Many kids outgrow car seats by height before weight. It's a pretty common misconception I think for parents to think that their kid will be in a harness car seat until they reach the weight limits. Unfortunately that is often not true. For instance, my ds outgrew his 40lb limit seats by height when he only weighed about 27lbs!

The Britax Husky & Regent are the same seat. Britax just changed the name from Husky to Regent a couple of years ago.

The reason the Cosco Apex fits the same as the Marathon is because they have about the same height top slots - approx 17". Even though both seats have a 65lb limit in the harness, they are typically outgrown at age 5 or 6, around 50-55lbs (avg size kid). The Regent has 20" top harness slots, and an 80lb limit, and typically lasts kids until 8-9yrs old.

The only other seats on the (U.S.) market currently that have taller top slots than the MA & clones are the Sunshine Kids Radian -$180- $200 (18" top slots, 65 or 80lb limit), and the Safeguard Child Seat $449 (19" top slots, 65lb limit).

I think the Regent is probably your best bet, unless you can wait until May. Recaro will be introducing a new convertible to the market that will harness to 35lbs r/fing, 70lbs f/fing and has 19" top harness slots. The seat is supposed to sell for $219 and $259 (the more expensive model has SIP "wings" like the Britax Boulevard).

Hth!

 

[Zoesmama03]

I think there is one that goes to 53" but I don't remember which one now but I'll look it up.


I have a tall 41 1/2 inch DD who is 3 1/2 and not ready for booster atleast to me. Plus she just got to 35.6 lbs. Its state law that kids need to be in harness until 40 lbs.


I'm looking to the the Radian 65 or 80(haven't decided) by Sunshine Kids Inc. They have one that goes to 65 lbs and one that goes to 85 lbs. Both I believe go to 49" but doesn't the marathon go to that too or am I mistaken? If so she probably wouldn't be that comfy in it either. But I have heard from other marathon owners that the crotch on those is not as roomy as the roundabout or Husky ones.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Oh currently we have the Alpha Omega and so far she still fits in it with some room on the strap so maybe more length in legs, because its supposedly 40 inches and she's past that. She has the crotch at the slot closest to her still so I'd be able to move that forward to give more room but she just doesn't need it, we moved it once but it was too loose that way.


Hope you find an arrangement and for keeping her safe to 5. You have done great even if you have to move to booster. many of my friends move there at 3 and I feel sad and worry about them. I'm anal about carseat stuff and see how "loose" so many people have their kids strapped in. Whenever I go out with my best friend and her kids I like to buckle them in and tighten it up really good. Only aspect that I worry about with sending my dd with her and I usually install her carseat in her truck beforehand.

 

[all4fun]

Oh currently we have the Alpha Omega and so far she still fits in it with some room on the strap so maybe more length in legs, because its supposedly 40 inches and she's past that. She has the crotch at the slot closest to her still so I'd be able to move that forward to give more room but she just doesn't need it, we moved it once but it was too loose that way.

FYI: All the Cosco/Safety1st/Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 seats (like the Alpha-Omega) have short top harness slots - and the top harness slot is actually the 2nd from top position. The very top position is just to move the headrest up for BPB (booster only) mode. I just wanted to mention it because I had an AO for my ds and the instructions on the seat were not very clear. It is molded into the plastic on the back of the shell next to the top slot ("-->booster use only") but it's hard to see... That very top slot isn't reinforced and if you use it w/the harness, in an accident it can pull right through the shell. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of that! My ds outgrew is AO by height at 34mos of age. He was about 36-37" at that time I think, but his shoulder were past the top harness position on that seat so we had to move him into a seat that had taller top slots. I ended up buying him a Boulevard so I could keep him rear-facing longer since he was only 27lbs at that time (the BV has a 33lb r/fing limit).

I think there is one that goes to 53" but I don't remember which one now but I'll look it up.

The Regent has a 53" height limit.

Height limits have a little wiggle room though because kids have different torso sizes. Car seats are outgrown f/fing when

• the top of the shoulders go past the top slots, or
• the tips of ears go past the top of the seat shell, or
• or the weight limit is reached.

I'm looking to the the Radian 65 or 80(haven't decided) by Sunshine Kids Inc. They have one that goes to 65 lbs and one that goes to 85 lbs. Both I believe go to 49" but doesn't the marathon go to that too or am I mistaken? If so she probably wouldn't be that comfy in it either. But I have heard from other marathon owners that the crotch on those is not as roomy as the roundabout or Husky ones.

The Radian 65 and 80 are the same shell - the 80 has more padding and the same height top harness slots. IMO buying a Radian80 w/b a waste of money of unless your child is in the higher percentiles for weight and will pass 65lbs before their torso is 18" (top harness slot height - listed for both seats on www.skjp.com).

The Marathon has 17.5" top slots so it's actually slightly shorter than the Radians.

I have a tall 41 1/2 inch DD who is 3 1/2 and not ready for booster atleast to me. Plus she just got to 35.6 lbs. Its state law that kids need to be in harness until 40 lbs.

Good for you! 4yrs & 40lbs is a bare minimum recommendation for moving up to a booster seat. Keeping kids in a 5pt harness for as long as they fit in one - hopefully to age 5 or 6 minimum, is actually what car safety experts recommend. Most 4yr olds are not mature enough to stay seated properly 100 percent of the time in a BPB.

BTW, I'm not a cpst, just a passionate car safety advocate. The above info is just information I've gleaned from spending hours on car safety sites and forums. Just thought I'd pass on what I've learned!

hth.

 

[ptmmg]

thanks everybody!! I am bwtween the Britax Regent now and the safeguard go now!

 

[all4fun]

thanks everybody!! I am between the Britax Regent now and the safeguard go now!

The Go has 17" top slots, like the Marathon. If it's between those two, then I'd get the Regent.

Here's a review of the GO if you're interested:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=5970

Hth

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

My DD6 used this Graco high back booster starting @ 41/2 I always felt very safe with her in this seat. We started using it for the same reasons she out grew it the 5 pt booster she was in and of course we had to get it b/c it was princess.

I recently purchase this booster seat at target it was on clearance for 17.41.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

BTW, I'm not a cpst, just a passionate car safety advocate. The above info is just information I've gleaned from spending hours on car safety sites and forums. Just thought I'd pass on what I've learned!

Can you give me a good site on info about the Recaro carseat my dd3 is disabled currently she weighs 32lbs. I have checked out the Britax special needs seat and to me it is exactly like the Regent but I don't think that either will offer her what she needs. Since she doesn't walk I am aftaid that she will start gaining more weight at a faster rate I really like the decathlon but its limit is 65lbs and the the recaro is 80lbs.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...-9657758?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000AHPMDI

 

[all4fun]

Can you give me a good site on info about the Recaro carseat my dd3 is disabled currently she weighs 32lbs. I have checked out the Britax special needs seat and to me it is exactly like the Regent but I don't think that either will offer her what she needs. Since she doesn't walk I am aftaid that she will start gaining more weight at a faster rate I really like the decathlon but its limit is 65lbs and the the recaro is 80lbs.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.htm...-9657758?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000AHPMDI

Actually that Recaro has a 40lb weight limit with the harness. It has 18" top harness slots. After the shoulders are past the top harness slot OR the child reaches 40lbs, then you have to convert it to a belt positioning booster seat. The Recaro YS is an awesome seat but I don't think it's what you are looking for. ETA: THIS SITE has more info about the RYS.

The Regent goes to 80lbs and does NOT convert to a booster. It has 20" top harness slots. Those extra couple of inches can give you years of growing time.

I'm not really familiar with the Britax special needs seat - I've heard they are expensive but sometimes insurance will cover the cost (or part of it). Have you spoken with your dd's drs about this? Maybe they can help. Check w/your insurance provider though - it might possibly covered as durable medical equipment.

I also highly recommend www.car-seat.org as a resource. Their are some really helpful techs there that know a lot more than me that might be able to give you more helpful tips.

hth!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

I'm not really familiar with the Britax special needs seat - I've heard they are expensive but sometimes insurance will cover the cost (or part of it). Have you spoken with your dd's drs about this? Maybe they can help. Check w/your insurance provider though - it might possibly covered as durable medical equipment.

I also highly recommend www.car-seat.org as a resource. Their are some really helpful techs there that know a lot more than me that might be able to give you more helpful tips.

hth!

The special needs seat looks exactly like the regent it just has a built in head support. The last time I looked at them they were around 500 dollars. DD3 is 32 lbs and 34 inchs. She has become steady in her weight for the past year so thats a good thing for me it also makes me feel better I was worried about buying a new seat only b/c online you get a limited amount of info and its not like you can look at them in the store.

I will definitely be checking out this website. Thank you soooooooooooooooooo much!

 

[dhardawa]

The Regent and the Traveller Plus (the special needs seat) are on the same shell. That is why they look so similar.

You might also check out Car Seats and More over at Delphi Forums. I think we have somewhere around 40 techs from all over the world there now.

Oh, and I am a tech, but what All4Fun has told you is dead on and is what I would recommend so there is no need for me to repeat it.

 

[zoemurr]

and we LOVE LOVE LOVE them.

My DD was very big (ok.. she was a chunk) and outgrew her roundabout at 2.5. The H/R was our only option. She is now 8 and still very comfy in it, and has about 4 more inches to grow and/or 20lbs. (She is in the 95% for height and weight.)

"I thought about a Regent, but she would still end up needing a booster eventually" I guess I don't understand this.. most kids fit in the Regent until they are 10-11. We do have a booster for trips in other people's cars, as you do not want to move this thing around.

When DD was 6 her brother needed the seat. (He is a lightweight string bean.) I easily could have put her in a booster full time, but she loves her seat and it was so much safer. So now we have 2. They are big, but no higher than your marathon ('cause they sit right on the seat.) They fit fine on my captain's chairs. We had them in a wagon with about 14" inbetween.. fine for a thin adult on a quick trip. I can send you pix of big kids in them if you would like. HTH