What kinda carseat? Should DD4 get a booster?

[TinkPearl]

I'm another Mom that has her DS in a Britax Regent. He's 5 and will be in as long as possible.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

My dd is a little over 5 and she will be staying in her carseat as long as she can. I thought of moving her to a booster, but after lots a research, I found that it is much safer to keep a child in a harnessed car seat if you can.

 

[TravelinGal]

and after an accident with her grandparents, where the sides of the seat kept her from hitting her head, I am going to keep her in this one until she complains about it (she is 5 now).

I'm going to assume that the seat that was in an accident WAS replaced, right??? Unless there is a special indicator on the car seat that indicates it was NOT damaged (like the Britax Frontier has) you MUST ALWAYS replace a car seat after an accident. Just because damage can't be seen, it may still be there!



BTW - weight alone is not the only guide for putting a child in a booster seat. The MINIMUM is 4 years old and 40 lbs. It doesn't matter how much your 2 year old weighs or how tall they are. That's like forward facing your child under 1 because they weigh 20 lbs. Big No No. Their bodies are not strong enough to take the impact well. On the www.car-seat.org site the Car Seat Technicians do not recommend booster seats for children under 5.

And I, personally, think a standard booster would be a royal PITA! With the exception of a few booster seats, there is nothing to secure them when not in use. I certainly don't want to have to deal with buckling an empty booster seat just so it doesn't slide all over the place when I'm driving. The Britax Frontier is one of the exceptions to this. You still use the LATCH system to hold it in place even after you convert to the booster seat setting. You just use the seatbelt to hold the child in place. No seat shifting every time kiddo gets in and out of the car. No worrying about remembering to buckle the empty seat in (as I mentioned). And one of the top rated seats (as are all Britax) so a lot less worry when your most precious cargo is traveling with you.

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

I have to second everything Robin said. I actually took a trauma nursing course (I was a peds/ PICU nurse at the time) just weeks after taking the Car seat tech course and that really reinforced to me how important it is to be patient and wait for maximum limit before stepping down in safety (rear face to forward face, harness to highback, hghback to backless, booster to seatbelt) Each leaves the child less protected and affects their growing bodies in several ways.

 

[lil mermaid]

I would seay it depends on the child. I moved my daughter into her booster (with back) when she was only 2 1/2. We needed the baby seat for a new baby and didn't have the money to but another one. She was well within the height and weight ranges so it was safe. I have tried switching to the backless once but the seat belt just doesn't hit her right, and after an accident with her grandparents, where the sides of the seat kept her from hitting her head, I am going to keep her in this one until she complains about it (she is 5 now). Her sister is much smaller, and at 2 1/2 now she isn't ready to come out of her seat by far. Really depends on the kid

I respectfully disagree. A 2 year old is not ready for a booster. They don't have the maturity to sit properly in a booster. 4 years old and 40 lbs is the minimum to use a belt positioning booster properly, regardless of what the seat manufacturer tells you.

I can't understand someone saying that they don't have the money to buy a carseat for their child. Safe seats can be purchased inexpensively, and there are even programs to assist you if you really cannot afford one.

Also - seats should be replaced after an accident.

 

[summermac]

Ditto mermaid. I can NOT imagine my 4 year old not harnessed even. At 2.5? OMG no.

 

[jessica52877]

Just wanted to chime in and say we also have the Nautilus and it is a great seat that will also harness MUCH longer for half the cost of the Britax.

 

[meloneyb21]

why you're looking for another seat at this point? The Britax should last you awhile yet. That is one of the best seats on the market.

Well, I'm about to have a new baby and I definitely want him in a Britax Marathon....without having to buy a new one. I mean, I understand that she's still within the weight/height requirements for that....amongst other things. The seatbelt falls on her shoulder, not on her neck and she could honestly get into something else and I could use the Marathon rear-faced for my baby. I've still got a few years left in that thing. There are plenty of seats that I've been looking at from aap.org that are way more reasonbly(sp?) priced than getting another Britax for baby #2. It's not like I'm forcing her out of the seat, I'm making sure I go by age/height/weight requirements for everything and what I personally think she's ready for. I'm just looking for some recommendations for something other than a Britax. PREFERABLY something less than another $200-$300.

 

[lil mermaid]

Well, I'm about to have a new baby and I definitely want him in a Britax Marathon....without having to buy a new one. I mean, I understand that she's still within the weight/height requirements for that....amongst other things. The seatbelt falls on her shoulder, not on her neck and she could honestly get into something else and I could use the Marathon rear-faced for my baby. I've still got a few years left in that thing. There are plenty of seats that I've been looking at from aap.org that are way more reasonbly(sp?) priced than getting another Britax for baby #2. It's not like I'm forcing her out of the seat, I'm making sure I go by age/height/weight requirements for everything and what I personally think she's ready for. I'm just looking for some recommendations for something other than a Britax. PREFERABLY something less than another $200-$300.

How about putting the new baby in the Marathon, and getting a Graco Nautilus for your older child?

ETA - I believe the Nautilus retails for around $150.

 

[meloneyb21]

How about putting the new baby in the Marathon, and getting a Graco Nautilus for your older child?

ETA - I believe the Nautilus retails for around $150.

That's not bad, especially considering that it does convert to a high back booster and then to backless. By the time she's out of that, he'll be ready for it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Glad the mentions of the Nautilus are being noticed.



To the carseat experts...what's the visual reference for being too tall for the Marathon? The OP stated a height range, but I know with my Roundabout it was more like "one inch or less of shell above" a body part (I think with later Roundabouts it said head, but with mine it said top of ears?), so I wonder what your thoughts are on that?

 

[TravelinGal]

Glad the mentions of the Nautilus are being noticed.



To the car seat experts...what's the visual reference for being too tall for the Marathon? The OP stated a height range, but I know with my Roundabout it was more like "one inch or less of shell above" a body part (I think with later Roundabouts it said head, but with mine it said top of ears?), so I wonder what your thoughts are on that?

You can't go by measured height because people carry their height differently. Some have long legs and short torso/short legs and long torso etc etc...



One way to judge on ALL harness seats is that the harness must be at or above the shoulders. If it is below the shoulders it can cause spinal compression upon impact. (unlike rear facing infants - which is supposed to be below their shoulders) Different manufacturers have different ranges for top of head/top of ears etc for height.

I'd suggest asking this at the www.car-seat.org forums if you don't have access to a manual for the car seat in question. There are a lot of car seat technicians there.

 

[BiancaBernard&Penny]

Glad the mentions of the Nautilus are being noticed.



To the carseat experts...what's the visual reference for being too tall for the Marathon? The OP stated a height range, but I know with my Roundabout it was more like "one inch or less of shell above" a body part (I think with later Roundabouts it said head, but with mine it said top of ears?), so I wonder what your thoughts are on that?

The top of ears even with the top of shell marker has been made by Britax in some years' manuals for the Roundabout as well as the Marathon/DC/Blvd. Otherwise, the seat is outgrown when the shoulders are higher (even a smidge) than the shoulder slot of the shell. Put a ruler into the top slot to check since the slot in the cover might be lower or higher than the actual shell opening.

 

[quentina]

Not sure what the name is but look at "Sunshine Kids". They have the best, high back booster for taller, larger kids.

I have bought many and finally found this one...just bought one for my son.

I believe I used elitecarseats.com to purchase....around $130.00 each.

 

[tanyaandallie]

First, I would check to make sure your dd has not outgrown the Marthon. At her height she is probably fine but, just to make sure. A ff seat is outgrown when any of the following occurs:

1. Weight limit is reached
2. Shoulders go over the top harness setting
3. Tips of the ears go over the top harness slots

If she still fits the weight and height requirements, I'd leave her in there. Sure, she meets the minimum of 4 and 40 lbs, but when she comes out of the harness she is on her own and you will have to monitor her closely to make sure she is seated properly in her booste seat. The longer you can keep her harnessed, the better.

If you are getting ready to have another and are going to use an infant seat, then you have some time before you have to make a decision. You could wait until the time comes and see what seats are available then. But, if you want to make a choice now, a forward facing only combination seat imo is the best buy. The Graco nautilus and the Britax Frontier are both seats that will keep her harnessed a bit longer and then covert to a booster seats. The Nautilus is a great seat at an excellent price. We have the Frontier and I love it but for the price, it's tough to beat the Nautilus. It would likely be a great fit for your kiddo. You can find it at both Target and Walmart to try out.

The Britax Regent is a great seat and is seat that harnesses longer than any other seat. However, an average sized child will last a long time harnessed in either the Nautilus or the Frontier and you have the added advantage of it converting to a booster.

 

[meloneyb21]

Not sure what the name is but look at "Sunshine Kids". They have the best, high back booster for taller, larger kids.

I have bought many and finally found this one...just bought one for my son.

I believe I used elitecarseats.com to purchase....around $130.00 each.

I was just coming to ask about one I saw called the Sunshine Kids Monterey. Any experience with this one?

 

[all4fun]

Well, I'm about to have a new baby and I definitely want him in a Britax Marathon....without having to buy a new one. I mean, I understand that she's still within the weight/height requirements for that....amongst other things. The seatbelt falls on her shoulder, not on her neck and she could honestly get into something else and I could use the Marathon rear-faced for my baby. I've still got a few years left in that thing. There are plenty of seats that I've been looking at from aap.org that are way more reasonbly(sp?) priced than getting another Britax for baby #2. It's not like I'm forcing her out of the seat, I'm making sure I go by age/height/weight requirements for everything and what I personally think she's ready for. I'm just looking for some recommendations for something other than a Britax. PREFERABLY something less than another $200-$300.

That's not bad, especially considering that it does convert to a high back booster and then to backless. By the time she's out of that, he'll be ready for it.

I also think the Graco Nautilus ($150) is your best option at this point. The top slots are at least an inch taller than your Marathon, and it's just more "big kid-ish" so it suits a preschool age child better. Keep in mind that your Britax seat has a 6yr lifespan from Date of Mfgr. The Nautilus has a 6yr lifespan as a 5pt seat and as a high back booster, and the backless booster piece lasts 9yrs (from DoM). Moving your younger child into the Nautilus after the Marathon is expired is an option. At that point, you could get your older dd a good dedicated HBB that later converts to backless. After moving her out of a harness seat, you want to keep her in a HBB as long as possible for the side impact protection.

Hopefully I didn't repeat too much of what else has been said. This is something I've given a lot of thought to myself as my ds who will be 6 in April is still riding primarily in a 5pt harness seat (Britax Regent). He is mature enough for a booster part time, however even at his age, he will doze off in the car and I don't think a regular seatbelt holds him in nearly as well as a 5pt does.

hth!

 

[quentina]

I was just coming to ask about one I saw called the Sunshine Kids Monterey. Any experience with this one?

That's what we have....I love them. They adjust as the child goes (out and high).

I just got one for my 5 year old....I would recommend to anyone.