OT - Carseat Q

[Disneyvirg]

My second daughter is quite tall for her age. She's a little over 2 years old, but is about 39" tall already. She's almost outgrown her carseat - which we had to kick our 5 year old out of last winter because the youngest had already outgrown a carseat. In our state it looks like she just needs to be restrained until age 6 in some type of booster or carseat...but I want her to be as safe as possible, not just comply with the state laws which are most likely a bit too lax. What is the weight she should be at before switching to a booster seat? Thanks for any help!

 

[*Seanaci*]

Hmmm...how much does she weight should be the first question to you?

And I think that it's like 40lbs to bein a booster seat. Then again, googling shows it depends on the state you live in what the law is.

http://www.infant-car-seats.com/states/car-seats-laws-Iowa.html

There is a link for you.

We actually just bought my 13 month old son the Evenflo Generations Car seat/ Booster Seat. While we probably should have considered a Convertible Car Seat (as he barely meets the minimums for it), we factored in long term use and finances. He'll be able to use this car seat until he outgrows it, as it can be converted from a 5-point harness system, to only using a seat belt when he's too big for the 5-point.

I say check with your state laws and then buy something you'll be able to use with her for quite some time.

ETA: Here is the carseat we just bought our son.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012740

It's really nice. And you may even be able to google for coupon codes.

 

[WantToGoNow]

The longer you can keep her in a harnessed seat the better. Most children are not ready (mature) enough for a booster until at least age 5. They should be able to sit upright all the time - no leaning to reach things or slumping when they fall asleep. Remember that each step down in carseat -rear facing, forward facing, high back booster, low back booster - is a step down in safety.

I would recommend a Britax seat if you can afford it or one of the lower cost high weight seats that are on the market right now. The Nautilus gets good recommendations and goes to 65 pounds - I've seen picture of 6-7 year olds sitting in it so it must get pretty tall - Walmart carries it. I have 2 Apex 65 seats for my dd4 (will be 5 in 3 weeks) - they are huge seats.

Your childs weight is only one determination of when a carseat is outgrown - when their shoulders are above the top harness slot or the top of the ears past the top of the shell are also two other guidelines.

 

[lucigo]

I have a small 5-yo, he is 40" tall, 35 lbs. We bought him a Graco Nautilus about a year ago and I really like it a lot. Its a great price and he will be 5 pt restrained for a long time to come. They sell them at Wal-Mart and Target.

 

[Disneyvirg]

Hmmm...how much does she weight should be the first question to you?

She's about 30 lbs.

So the common consensus seems to be that she should be harnessed in her seat for a while longer? The seat she has can be used with a normal seat belt, but I figured she was probably a bit too light to go that route yet.

I appreciate all the input.

I'll check out the carseats recommended in this thread.

 

[lucigo]

She's about 30 lbs.

So the common consensus seems to be that she should be harnessed in her seat for a while longer? The seat she has can be used with a normal seat belt, but I figured she was probably a bit too light to go that route yet.

I appreciate all the input.

I'll check out the carseats recommended in this thread.

There are horror stories of kids killed in seat-belt harness type seats, I'm sure someone will send you a youtube link. Why take the risk when you can make a small investment and keep her in a 5 pt harness for several more years and have that piece of mind that you are doing everything possible to keep her safe. My son is 5-1/2 and perfectly happy in a 5pt harness because he doesn't know any different. He even has one on the school bus

 

[zoemurr]

outgrew her seat at 2.5 and we put her in a Britax Husky (now a Regent) We got 6 years of use out of it and were so happy we put her brother in one too instead of taking her out and handing it down. Definitely worth the $$ and piece of mind. It was all we had available to us at the time, but I would certainly buy it again.

 

[mjkacmom]

Bare minimum, at least 40 pounds, and probably at least 4 years old, and able to sit still and upright.

 

[Nanu57v]

40 pounds and 4 for a booster. I'm in the same issue. DD3 is also 39 inches and growing out of her Britax, but is only 30 pounds. I'm sure she'd last in the carseat until she'd turn 4, but she's still way too light. We'll be getting a harnessed booster that you can take the harness out of when she is big enough.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My second daughter is quite tall for her age. She's a little over 2 years old, but is about 39" tall already. She's almost outgrown her carseat - which we had to kick our 5 year old out of last winter because the youngest had already outgrown a carseat. In our state it looks like she just needs to be restrained until age 6 in some type of booster or carseat...but I want her to be as safe as possible, not just comply with the state laws which are most likely a bit too lax. What is the weight she should be at before switching to a booster seat? Thanks for any help!

She is too young for a booster. They are minimum 3 years and 40lbs. At 2 my DS was big enough in height and weight (off the charts and still is!)for a booster. He did not go in a booster until almost 4. There are plenty of carseats that are for bigger kids. That will keep her safer.

 

[jamstew]

I had the same question about my DGS3. He's 39" and 36 pounds. I got out the instruction book for my car seat, and although he fits both the height and weight requirements to go from the 5-point harness to the seat belt, my instructions say that his shoulders should be above the point where the harness straps come out. Since his shoulders are still an inch below the straps, we're still in the 5-point. I think there were five separate conditions required to switch to the seat belt, and it said that all of them should be met.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We got the Cosco High Back Convertible boosters for my daughters - they have the full 5 point harness and Latch and goes from the minimum of size of 22 lbs and 34 inches long. When the child grows and meets the requirements for using the lap belt booster option, you just remove the 5 point harness.

I used it when travelling about a month ago (didn't want to remove my Marathons to take with) and it was perfect. Very easy to tighten when installing (maybe it was the car I put it in).

This could be another seat option for you.

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

DD9 and DD8 still ride in their Britax - the 5 point harness is for children up to 100 lbs. It is safer and they don't mind at all - it is all they have ever known!! The best investment I ever made, the peace of mind while traveling is so worth it!!

 

[tonilea]

I am really pleased with our Nautilus too!

 

[tanyaandallie]

What seat is your child in right now? Your little one is way too young to be in a booster seat. 4 and 40 lbs really is the absolute minimum you want to move a child to a booster seat. Likely your best bet right now is a combination seat. A combination seat will allow her to stay harnessed and then convert to a booster seat when she outgrows the harness.

There are 3 combination seats right now that harness past 40 lbs. The Graco Nautilus, the Apex, and the Britax Frontier. I would choose the NAutilus or the Frontier over the Apex b/c they have a taller harness so will last longer harnessed. They are also a bit less quirky. I think you can find the Nautilus for only $122 at Walmart right now. Here are descriptions of each seat.

Britax Frontier For children over 2 years of age and harnesses to 80 lbs. Top slots are 18 inches. Tether not required, but recommended. Harness height is adjusted on back of seat, but there’s no rethreading of harness required. Has a flexible LATCH strap with typical Britax push-on connectors. LATCH may be used when seat is in booster mode. Has 3 crotch strap positions. Nice padding. A 9 year expiration! Deep cupholders that can disappear into the side of the seat when not used. Can be installed with the seat belt using the short belt path or long belt path. FAA approved when used with harness. Converts to a good booster with no weight limit. Replaces the Parkway and Monarch. Retails for $279.

Cosco/Safety 1st Apex Harnesses to 65 lbs, then becomes a booster to 100 lbs. Top slots are 17 inches high. Requires adjustable headrest or a very tall vehicle seatback behind it for support. Then becomes a very nice BUT VERY WIDE booster that doesn’t fit small children well. This seat is outgrown totally when the tips of the child’s ears reach the top of the vehicle seatback. (Fully extended it has a back height of 32.5” tall) FAA approved when used with harness. The new blue/black and all the brown ones have EPP foam in the headrest. Retails for $99-150.

Graco Nautilus 20-65 lbs for harness, then becomes a booster to 100 lbs. Top slots are 18” high. Converts to a high back booster similar to the TurboBooster, and can also convert to a backless booster. 30-100 lbs weight limits in booster mode. Booster shoulder belt guide is at about 20"; might be slightly taller than the regular Turbo. 19 inches at the widest point (the base) and 13 inches deep. FAA approved when used with harness. Built-in cupholder and side pockets in the armrests. The base has two settings and can be slightly reclined. LATCH limit of 48lbs, does not allow for LATCH or top tether use in booster mode. Life span of 6yrs. Priced around $150.

You could also consider a forward facing only seat like the Regent then follow up with a booster seat when it's outgrown.

Britax Regent (used to be Husky) KING of car seats is right! Harnesses to 80 lbs. Top slots are 20 inches. Requires a top tether after child is 40 lbs. (unless using a lap-only belt, then it’s required at 50 lbs.), but a tether should really be used all the time. Retails for $220-$260. Not good for children under 2yo.

And just in case, make sure you have your oldest in a booster seat if she is not longer in a harness! Hopefully she is but just a reminder in case she is not.

 

[RobinFabulous]

outgrew her seat at 2.5 and we put her in a Britax Husky (now a Regent) We got 6 years of use out of it and were so happy we put her brother in one too instead of taking her out and handing it down. Definitely worth the $$ and piece of mind. It was all we had available to us at the time, but I would certainly buy it again.

We got the Regent in Spetember and LOVE it. It's big enough my 6 year old could fit (and I've honestly thought about buying him one)

The Regent lets them be fully harnessed IN seat until they outgrow it, not just moved to a booster....


A couple of Allie in her seat (just cause I really think her custom cover is cute)

The harness needs to be moved up in that one, but you can see how BIG this seat really is. We love it and I cannot rave enough. Jonah had the Safe Embrace booster and I really think she's so much more secure in this seat

 

[tanyaandallie]

A couple of Allie in her seat (just cause I really think her custom cover is cute)

I can't see your pics but thought I would let you know that custom covers are not recommended on car seats. They are considered non-regulated products because there are no regulation on how or if they are crash tested. They are not flame retradant and they void the warranty on your carseat should it malfunction in any way.

 

[all4fun]

I just want to second everything Tanya wrote. You can trust her. She always gives great car seat advice. My ds(5-1/2yrs) also rides in a Britax Regent which we bought because he has a long torso and it has the tallest top slots of any seat on the market currently (approx 19"). He is very comfy in his seat and still has a couple of inches of torso room before he outgrows it by height, so I suspect he will fit in it for a couple more years.

DD9 and DD8 still ride in their Britax - the 5 point harness is for children up to 100 lbs. It is safer and they don't mind at all - it is all they have ever known!! The best investment I ever made, the peace of mind while traveling is so worth it!!

Sorry, check the stickers on the side of the seat or the car seat manual. There are no car seats on the market currently that harness up to 100lbs. If you have the new Frontier, it harnesses to 80lbs and then boosters to 100. Many combo seats (that convert from 5pt to booster) only harness to 40lbs. The Nautilus and Cosco Apex harness to 65lbs, the Frontier to 80.

We got the Cosco High Back Convertible boosters for my daughters - they have the full 5 point harness and Latch and goes from the minimum of size of 22 lbs and 34 inches long. When the child grows and meets the requirements for using the lap belt booster option, you just remove the 5 point harness.

I used it when travelling about a month ago (didn't want to remove my Marathons to take with) and it was perfect. Very easy to tighten when installing (maybe it was the car I put it in).

This could be another seat option for you.

Those seats are great for travel - inexpensive, light weight. They do have shorter top harness slots though (~15") so will be outgrown quite quickly by a lot of kids and they only harness to 40lbs. just fyi for anyone reading this.

I had the same question about my DGS3. He's 39" and 36 pounds. I got out the instruction book for my car seat, and although he fits both the height and weight requirements to go from the 5-point harness to the seat belt, my instructions say that his shoulders should be above the point where the harness straps come out. Since his shoulders are still an inch below the straps, we're still in the 5-point. I think there were five separate conditions required to switch to the seat belt, and it said that all of them should be met.

The criteria for when a 5pt seat is outgrown completely is as follows:

• The tops of shoulders go past the top usable harness position, OR

• The tips of ears go past the top of the restraint shell, OR

• The 5pt restraint weight limit is reached.

keep in mind if you have a Cosco/Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 type seat that very likely the top most position is for booster use only (not reinforced) and the harness is outgrown by height once the tops of the shoulders go past the second from top position. The brand new 3-in-1's just out on the market that have a 50lbs harness limit do not have this exception. I had one of these seats and my ds outgrew it by height at age 3yrs.

When any of these conditions are met, the restraint is outgrown in 5pt mode.

this site is a really good resource for car seat info.

hth!

 

[labdogs42]

I recommend the Britax Marathon or Regent, the Sunshine Kids radian 65 or 80 (awesome for plane travel, too), or the Graco nautilus. I have all of these seats for my 3.5 year old 41" DS and he will ride in them until he outgrows them!! (yes, I'm a carseat junkie, he has a seat in all of our cars and my mom's car!)

 

[Colinsmom]

For a tall child, you'll get the most use out of a Regent - I think that still has the highest top slots out there. My 6yo DS still rides in a Regent in our two main cars, and he's 54lbs and 53" tall!