OT - Booster seat review

[memobrien]

My DD is almost 5 and I have had her in a Britaz Decathalon. She is very big for heer age (about 52 pounds and a little more than 45 inches). So she has been big enough for a WHILE to be in a booster. But I have kept her in that 5 point harness. Well now it's becoming an issue for a few reasons. I can't get hers installed tight enough on my own. So if i take it out i need to get to the police to install it. So basically she can't go with her friends anywhere unless i drive.

Then todaay she SHOWED me how she has figured out how to get out of it...yeaah that's nice and safe. So its time to crack and get a booster. But what the heck do i get? Anyone have any good site for booster reviews or any good suggestion on which to get?

Thanks!!!

Maura

 

[all4fun]

Well I don't think a booster is any less easy to get out of however she is over the bare minimum recommendation for a booster as long as she can sit correctly in it 100% of the time, she should be OK in one. I am not the expert on boosters though since my ds isn't quite big enough for one yet. The ones I see recommended most often are the Britax Parkway, Monarch; Graco Turbo Booster, and the Compass B510. If you go to www.car-seat.org there's a review forum where you can get a lot more info about these seats and maybe even a few others. This site also has a list of recommended seats along w/pros and cons of each: http://www.carseatsite.com/recommended_car_seats.htm

and if you go to www.cpsafety.com and check out the booster buying guide, I think that has some very helpful info as well (not specific recommendations, but what to look for in a good booster). Remember it has to fit your vehicle and your child.



hth!

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you have a BLVD and she still fits in it (shoulders under the top harness slots (or below the highest level on the BV), under the weight limit and the tips of her ears are not at the top of the seat, I would keep using it. She is so much safer in it. I would just work on getting a good install and use it. If you want to, get a booster for her to use when she is with friends so that you don't have to take the seat out of your car everytime but leave her in the BV in your car. You forked over the big bucks for a VERY excellent and safe seat, I would use it until she outgrows it or it expires. She does meet the age and weight requirement to be in a booster, but if you have a safer seat, I'd use it in your car and use the booster strictly as a back up.

Also, fwiw, my dd has been able to buckle and unbuckle herself since she was about 3.5. She buckles herself in and I tighter her up. When we get where we are going she unbuckles herself. She knows when she is allowed to unbuckle and when she is not. That is something you will just have to teach her. It's no different than teaching her that she has to sit up properly in her booster seat at all times.

If you are having troubles getting a good install, post on the babycenter carseat board or on the board that the pp recommended. They can help you with your install.

 

[bellebud]

i second the idea of getting a booster you can give to other parents if they're driving her, but keep your 5 pnt in your car. Both my kids have been buckling and unbuckling themselves since around 3yo... she'll also be able to simply unbuckle herself from her booster seat. my kids have a britax (i don't recall the model) booster with back and side head impact wings. we like the booster, but there's no way these things are as safe as a car seat that's secured to the car, then the kid is secured in the seat.

 

[Colinsmom]

You're installing it with the seat belt, right? Because she is over the weight limit for LATCH (lower) anchors in most cars.

ITA that a booster is much easier to escape from than a 5pt harness. My DS will be 5 next week and knows how to do and undo his 5pt harness, but also knows to only do it when I say that it is safe (when the car is turned off).

We use a Parkway in my mom's car and in our nanny's car, and it is a nice seat.

 

[memobrien]

Yes it is installed with the seatbelt and NOT the latch. well not the latch anymore I should say. I used that until we hit the limit.

I've read the installs. The issue is that I have no hand strength (startings of arthritis and carpal tunnel). So I personnaly physically can not tighten the seatbelt if the carseat is removed from my car. that is why i go to the police to have them install it.

I actually have the Decathalon. Her sholders are OVER the top notch for the straps and the tips of her ears are over the top. So i need to go to a booster. I jsut need to figure out what. I looked on car-seat.org and had trouble finding booster reviews (convertible yes -- boosters no).

my daughter has ONLY been in Britax seats. I just can't figure out if they are still the best for booster. And what the difference between the Parkway and the Monarch. then everyone i know swears by the eddie bauer boosters. so i'm jsut not sure how they measure up.

maura

 

[thepeach80]

I would make sure whatever seat you get has the good side impact protection wings. Britax makes a good one, Fisher Price has one on sale for $40 right now on albeebaby.com (it's based on the old Britax Starriser). We're thinking of getting the Recaro combo seat next year maybe for my middle son and then move my oldest into it when he outgrows his harnessed seat. They are epensive, but supposed to be great. The Compass is nice b/c it folds so works well for travelling and having to put in the trunk etc.

 

[tanyaandallie]

Maura, sorry, it clearly says decathalon but for some reason I thought it was blvd!!

If her shoulders are above the top harness slots she needs out of the seat asap. It is not safe for her to use now.

I have heard great reviews of the Britax boosters, but like others, have no experience with them since we are not there yet.

Try posting on one of the car seat boards. You can find some good info.

 

[all4fun]

Maura, sorry, it clearly says decathalon but for some reason I thought it was blvd!!

If her shoulders are above the top harness slots she needs out of the seat asap. It is not safe for her to use now.

I have heard great reviews of the Britax boosters, but like others, have no experience with them since we are not there yet.

Try posting on one of the car seat boards. You can find some good info.

Tanya, my ds rides in a BV. I wonder if you were thinking about him? LOL


ITA that if the tops of shoulders are past the top harness slots and the tips of ears are past the top of the DC shell, then the seat is outgrown by height and is no longer safe to ride in.

Please check out the review forums on car-seat.org or the Car safety tips forum on BBC here and you'll get great advice.

hth

 

[laughinplace199]

My DS6 has a Britax Parkway and I think it's great. He likes it and we've had no issues with it. He's been in it since he was 4 1/2.

 

[memobrien]

thanks everyone. i'm going to go this morning to babies r us and get one. she is all excited. out of ALL her friends I was the lone hold out in moving to a booster. IRONICALLY... my daughter is the biggest in the group and i'm the lasst to move to a booster. i just haven't wanted to give in.

anyway, i was hoping to get some reviews before going to the store.

maura

 

[califred]

Don't feel bad my 5 year old who weighs the same as yours is still in his Britax Husky and will be for much longer while he's in our car. We do have a BPB for when Grammy takes him in their car b/c we hate moving the Husky.

 

[memobrien]

yeah a few of my friends last year were trying to pressure me into moving her. i was like...why do you car if my kid isn't in a booster. it was weird. DH and I were the ones that would saying we'd have her in a 5-point harness until she went to college. hehe

But she just went thought this HUGE growth spurt. Plus in May we lost my husband. We have good friends and family who want to help me, but i just can't let them drive her becuase of the carseat thing. So moving to the booster will help me a lot in that way.

If she wasn't outgrowing the car seat I have i wouldn't be switching. It's funny because she is very tall, but most of her height is in her torso. it's not as distributed, you know. i think if it was i would get more use out of the decathalon. but what ya going to do.

 

[Elmo888]

yeah a few of my friends last year were trying to pressure me into moving her. i was like...why do you car if my kid isn't in a booster. it was weird. DH and I were the ones that would saying we'd have her in a 5-point harness until she went to college. hehe

But she just went thought this HUGE growth spurt. Plus in May we lost my husband. We have good friends and family who want to help me, but i just can't let them drive her becuase of the carseat thing. So moving to the booster will help me a lot in that way.

If she wasn't outgrowing the car seat I have i wouldn't be switching. It's funny because she is very tall, but most of her height is in her torso. it's not as distributed, you know. i think if it was i would get more use out of the decathalon. but what ya going to do.

I'm so sorry about your husband.

I know what you mean about people bugging you about something that doesn't affect them. I kept DD2 rear facing until she was over 2 1/2, and people gave me a hard time ("she can't see", etc.)

If you haven't bought your seat, try posting on this message board (car seat techs may answer)...

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=13

I have DD7 in a booster. Just make sure that the seat belt can slide, like on the Graco and the Britax seats (there may be others).

Good luck!

ETA: Side impact protection is something else to consider. One of the Britax seat has it. It bothers some kids because they can't see, but it hasn't bothered my DD7.

 

[dhardawa]

I would recommend either a Britax Monarch or a Parkway. The Monarch is a wider seat than the Parkway. That may be good or bad depending on her size. The Graco Turbo Booster is good as well. Whatever you get, you need to do it immediately. Her current seat is not safe.

Dana
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician

 

[TheRatPack]

We have a Britax Parkway for our 4 1/2 year old and we have 2 Britax Regents for our 4 and 2 1/2 year olds. The Regents are HUGE...but have a high weight limit and you can keep them in a 5 point harness for a very very long time LOL We had to go with the Parkway for our 4 1/2 year old though, our vehicle wouldn't hold 3 Regents and 2 tween/teens too LOL We feel she's safe in it...it's got the true side impact and it's very well built and easy to buckle...etc.

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

I have a 6 year old daughter and, like you, didn't want to give up the 5 point harness. So, I purchased a Britax Regent. This seat is made for a child up to 80 pounds and has the 5 point harness.

Good luck!