What kinda carseat? Should DD4 get a booster?

[meloneyb21]

She's 4 and still currently uses her Britax Marathon, however I was thinking that she was ready for a booster? I'm not sure. The Britax goes up to 65lbs for children 27"-49". She's 47lbs and 42". I've been looking at some backless booster seats (Combi Dakota, Clek Olli, or Graco TurboBooster specifically) which are all 40-100lbs for children 33"-57". I mean, since she could fit into either, I'm not sure if I should keep her in the Marathon longer or move her to a booster? Whichever one I choose will be used on a roadtrip from PA to FL in May. I'm just tryna get a headstart. Any recommendations?

TIA!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I would keep her in the regular car seat as long as she is still within the height and weight range. The car seat installation tech told me that each step you go up the car seat chain is a little less protective than the one before it... Rear facing, forward facing, booster, seat belt alone. As long as she is comfortable in the seat you have, I'd leave her there.

 

[5 for WDW]

Our daughter is 5 and is in a Britax Regent. We went back and forth about it when she was turning 4 and decided we felt better knowing she would be in a harness for as long as possible.

My 9 year old was actually asking me about DD's car seat today. He asked when she was going to be able to use a seatbelt like him and my oldest (11). She told them "I like my seat, it is comfy".

I would leave her in the seat she is now until she meets the weight and then decide from there.

 

[summermac]

Another vote for keeping her in that harness as long as possible!

 

[jessica52877]

Definately keep her harnessed for as long as possible, in fact after she outgrows the Marathon I would go with the Regent (or possibly the Frontier). My DS is 6 and 46 lbs and is not going to a booster any time soon!

 

[TravelinGal]

Count me in the keep the child in a harness car seat for as long as possible. I know of people who still have their 3 and 4 year olds rear facing! (they just cross their legs or sit kind of froggy style) As long as they don't exceed the weight for the car seat for rear facing it actually IS the safest way.

I got the Britax Frontier when DS outgrew his Britax Roundabout. I know that DS can be in the harness clear up to 80 lbs! I don't know that we'll keep him in a harness that long, but it then converts to a booster. And the booster is good up to 100 lbs! My child's life is worth more than anything to me! Yes, it was painful paying $300 for a car seat, but I know he's safe. And it will be the last one we have to buy for him.

PLEASE do NOT get a backless booster. They just aren't appropriate for a child that young.

www.car-seat.org is a great site for more information.

Oh and Jessica -- we LOVE the Frontier! (I just remembered you asked me to let you know! LOL) The straps are a bit more silky than on the other Britax seats and seem to twist a bit more easily, but they haven't been a problem for us.

 

[jessica52877]

Thanks Robin! I have checked Babies R Us 3x for it and they just don't carry it. Still holding out hope that they'll get it in!

 

[sohappy]

Mine will be harnessed as long as they fit the seat. We have Reagents and love them. They are monsters and take up a ton of room, but they are very, very safe.

Whatever you do, please, please don't get a backless booster.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Has anyone tried Recaro? A relation of mine spent $$$ on one, but had no trouble getting her kids to sit in it because Recaro also makes the seats for racing cars. (If one branch of my family had their own country, Top Gear would be the #1 show in their nation. . .) I have to admit, when I saw the darned thing, I wished I were little enough to fit in it. Looked danged comfortable.

 

[SharkyGoddess]

Our daughter is 5 and is in a Britax Regent. We went back and forth about it when she was turning 4 and decided we felt better knowing she would be in a harness for as long as possible.

My 9 year old was actually asking me about DD's car seat today. He asked when she was going to be able to use a seatbelt like him and my oldest (11). She told them "I like my seat, it is comfy".

I would leave her in the seat she is now until she meets the weight and then decide from there.

I second the Britax Regent

 

[bumbershoot]

The Regent was too beastly for us (big and expensive) so we got a Nautilus once DS outgrew his Roundabout and Scenera by weight. Love it!

 

[meloneyb21]

Has anyone tried Recaro? A relation of mine spent $$$ on one, but had no trouble getting her kids to sit in it because Recaro also makes the seats for racing cars. (If one branch of my family had their own country, Top Gear would be the #1 show in their nation. . .) I have to admit, when I saw the darned thing, I wished I were little enough to fit in it. Looked danged comfortable.

Hmmm, I was just looking at the Recaro. I haven't heard of them before. They seem to have pretty good ratings. A friend of mine said that the Graco TurboBooster SafeSeat Step 3 is really good. Anyone have any experience with that one?

 

[arielmomma]

Another vote to keep her in the harness as long as you can. Its just safer.

 

[jessica52877]

We had a Recaro and I LOVED it! Actually, it is still in the closet for no good reason. But, we had a Young Sport and it only harnessed up to 40 lbs.

They do now have 2 that harness longer, BUT I found they did not work well for us. They sit up on a large base and my child is tall, car is short, so his head was literally inches from the ceiling (too close for comfort), fit wise it was just like the Britax Boulevard (which also didn't work for us in our car). I could go on and on all day about Recaro and hope they make the young sport go to 70 lbs, the day they do I'll be buying a new carseat! You cannot beat how it is built or the side protection!

 

[zoemurr]

Hmmm, I was just looking at the Recaro. I haven't heard of them before. They seem to have pretty good ratings. A friend of mine said that the Graco TurboBooster SafeSeat Step 3 is really good. Anyone have any experience with that one?

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.

My DD is 9 and just outgrew her Husky, and my 7 year old is still in his. In fact hers still has 2.5 years of life left in it, if anyone is looking for one. Some of the best $$ we ever spent. A booster is a bit more convenient, but definitely not safer, and not more comfortable according to my kids anyway.

 

[lil mermaid]

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.

I agree - I'd keep using the Marathon.

 

[cheap traveler]

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

 

[HeatherSue]

My 5 1/2 year old is in the Britax Regent. She'll be in a 5 point harnness until I can't find one to fit her! So, I would definitely keep your little one in a 5 point harness (with tether strap) until she is too big for it.

When her brother was born, I bought a 2nd car seat. Yes, they can be expensive, but are well worth scraping together the money to purchase them.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have the Graco Nautilus for both of toddlers. They are still in the 5pt harness. They will be in that until the nautilus until they are 8. I wont put them in a backless booster.

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

We have the Nautilus and love it!!!! It is a great seat. My almost 6 year old is still in a 5 pt. harness. he is a tiny guy and I just don't feel comfortable with him in a seat belt yet. I will keep him in a 5 pt. harness as long as possible!! Same thing with my 3 year old.