How much does your dd & ds weigh? What is their torso height, sitting, bum to top of shoulder?
Torso height is important because car seats are outgrown by height once the tops of the shoulders go past the top harness slot (even if the weight limit isn't reached yet). They are also outgrown by height if the tips of the ears go past the top of the shell. Height limits of car seats are based on averages and have a little wiggle room because kids have different size torso's. Weight limits are set in stone.
Here are a list of car seats currently available that might work for you. All car seats must past the same standardized tests. They are
all safe, as long as you read the manual and
use them according to mfg instructions.
I would encourage you to think about keeping your 4.5yr old in a 5-pt harness also. When you move from a 5-pt seat to a bpb, the responsibility to stay properly buckled and positioned in the car goes from the parent to the child. The child needs to stay properly positioned in the booster 100% of the time. Never leaning forward to pick up a cup or a toy, never twisting around to seeing something behind them, never putting the shoulder strap under their arm (can cause internal injuries called "seatbelt syndrome"). A 5-pt harness is much safer way for children to ride. <off soapbox> If you decide to go the BPB route, then the Parkway is the better seat. It's narrow, and because it doesn't have armrests, it's easier for the child to buckle themselves in. The seat does a good job of keeping the child in the correct position (relatively speaking - compared to other bpb's not compared to a 5-pt). It also works for taller kids than the Graco TB does. Another thing you can do is lock the seatbelt when you buckle your child in (assuming you have ALR type seatbelts - where you pull the shoulder belt all the way out and when it retracts, it locks into place.)
Higher Weight Limit Car Seats
(click on the names - they are links)
Forward facing only seats (child must be over age 1, and 22#s)
Cosco/Safety 1st Apex. Harnesses to 65#s, then becomes a booster. Top slots are 17 inches high,
needs adjustable headrest behind it for support. Retails for $110-150. (the one linked here is the same thing with EPP foam in the headrest. This site also has one in blue, and a red one for $99).
Safegaurd GO. Harnesses to 60#s, becomes a no back booster after. Top slots are 17 to 17.5 inches, needs adjustable headrest behind it for support. Requires top tether anchor. Child must be 30#s to use. Retails for $179
Britax Regent (used to be Husky). Harnesses to 80#s. Top slots are 20 inches. Requires a top tether after child is 50#s. Retails for $220-$260.
This is the one I would recommend for your Two Yr old. Hands down, it will last you the longest!
Safegaurd Child Seat. Harnesses to 65#s.Top Slots of 19.5in. Retails for $429.
Ride Safer Vest. A vest that comes in two sizes, Small 35-60#s, Large 50-80#s. The vest can be used with lap only belt. Requires top tether anchor. Retails for $89-$99.
Convertible Seats
Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe. Harnesses to 55#s. Made by Britax. Top slots are 17.5 inches. Retails for $150 - $179.
Sunshine Kids Radian 65 or 80. Harnesses to 65 or 80#s (depending on seat). Top slots are 18 inches. Retails for $189-199.
Britax Marathon, Decathlon, or Boulevard. Harness to 65#s, RF to 33#s. Top slots of 17 (Boulevard) to 17.5 inches (Decathlon/Marathon). These seats retail for $219 to $299.
In May, Recaro is introducing a convertible seat that will harness to 35# r/fing, 70# f/fing, Top slots 19", and will retail for $219 & $259. Something to wait for if current seats are not outgrown yet. It looks promising.
Hth, and let me know if you have any questions, or better yet, a good source of info is
www.car-seat.org. I'm not a cpst, just a passionate car safety advocate.
THis is so frustrating!!
. I ordered the Parkway for my DD who will soon be 5 too
