Which type of booster car seat for my 3 1/2 yr old?

[Minnie's Pal]

It definitely time for a car seat update for my DS. I initially ordered a booster seat with a back on it but am now wondering if I shouldn't have ordered the backless kind after reading the reviews. (Seemed like the one with a back is more for smaller, younger kids. My DS is over 40 lbs & tall for his age. And I saw the backless one has a seat belt guide so the seat won't be on his neck/face.)

Here is the one I ordered but I'm thinking about returning it and getting this one.

Any advice???

 

[formill]

I don't know what kind of laws you have there for booster seats. Here we are in them a long time. To watch out for with the high back ones is the height how long they can stay in them-my sister in law reached the height limit for her boy in a booster with the high back now still needs to buy yet another high back that is higher for her vehicle has no head rests to lift up and has bench seats with a lower back- so her boy in a no back booster is way too high- will have no head support. If your vehicle has head rests or very high backs you can go with the backless ones......if not you need the backed ones so they have head support!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I thought they had to stay in carseats until 4?

OP - I am not criticzing you - just genuinely curious. My 3.5 year old is 37 pounds and VERY tall for his age and he is still in his Britax Marathon and I am not sure when to switch to boosters.

 

[DMickey28]

It's state dependent on when they can move from a 5pt. harness to a booster. Why wouldn't you want to keep him in a 5pt. harness as long as possible?

My DS is going to be 3 in a month. He is just over 40 inches tall and 43-45lbs right now. He will be in his Britax Marathon until his little brother needs it (but otherwise I'd keep him in there until he was 65lbs) and then he'll move to a seat that will harness him up to 80lbs. It's just sooo much safer.

 

[tiggger1]

I wouldnt go with a backless yet. My will be 7 and we just started using a backless but only for short rides because she still needs the support from the back for longer rides.

we have this one http://www.amazon.com/Graco-High-TurboBooster-Fairy-Tales/dp/B000PBA0FE

but we only got it last year. She was in a full back booster like this when she turned 4

http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif...Touch-Booster-Car-Seat-with-LATCH-3241346.jpg

 

[laughinplace199]

I don't know about your state, but in MA, kids are supposed to be 4 yrs old and 40 lbs to go into a booster seat. It's not just a size thing. The child needs to be able to understand how to sit properly (not lean over, twist around, play with seatbelt, etc.).

I have high back boosters for my kids (ages 10 & 8) and a Britax Marathon for my 3 yr old. Like another poster mentioned, you need a high-back booster if the seats in your car don't have headrests. This is the situation we have with DD10 (plus, in MA booster seats are recommended until the child is 4 ft 9 and DD is short - she still has 4 or 5 in to go).

I did put DS is a booster seat when he was 32 lbs, but he was 4.5 yrs old at that time and too tall for his car seat. His highback booster's weight range is 30-100 lbs, so I felt ok putting him in it.

I'd keep a 3 yr old in a car seat for as long as possible. My DS is almost 3.5 and it still rear-facing in his Marathon. We're planning on turning him around soon, but he'll be in that seat until it expires or he gets too tall for it, whichever comes first.

 

[peacefulmama]

I agree with the other posters suggesting keeping him in a 5-pt harness. we've kept our kids harnessed until they turned 6. Most 3-4yo's will not be able to sit properly in a booster and they are so much safer in a harness.

 

[*BTMRR*]

One thing to consider is whether your child still naps in the car. My 4-year-old is large enough to ride safely in a backless booster, but I tried him in his older sibling's backless booster the other day to see how it would go, and I quickly realized DS is not ready for the backless booster--he still LOVES to catch a nap in the car and that is hard to do safely without a high back booster (or 5-point carseat which is what he still normally rides in).

He tried to nap but just slumped down and the seatbelt went across his face. Not good!
We will stick to the 5-point for a while and then switch to a high-back booster.

 

[Bren's Mom]

OP, I'm a CPST and in my opinion neither of the links you posted are good choices for your ds.

It is recommended that children be both over 4 years old and over 40lbs to move into a booster, and that is the BARE MINUMUM recommendation. It is much safer for kids to be harnessed longer than that. (ETA: The REASON that it is best practice to harness longer is maturity. Kiddos might meet the height/weight minumums but at 3 or 4 or even some kids at 5 don't have the maturity to sit properly in the booster at all time...something necessary for the booster to do its job properly. I never want to see any 3 or 4 year old, regardless of size, in a booster if there is another option.)

The Evenflo Chase you got does have a harness but only to 40lbs so he wouldn't be able to use it.

And no back boosters should only be used when high back boosters are outgrown, the no backs don't give kiddos the side impact protection that is important.

40lbs at 3.5 is a big kiddo, so my first choice would be a Graco Nautilus. It harnesses to 65lbs, then becomes a high back booster and then a low back booster. It's under $150.

http://www.amazon.com/Graco-Nautilus-Car-Seat-Matrix/dp/B0011URFRE

If that is out of your budget, I'd suggest the Evenflo Maestro. It's similar to the Evenflo Chase you bought, and lower in price than the Nautilus. But it has a 50lbs harness. So you can keep him harnessed for a while longer. How much longer will depend on height most likely, you need to be sure that his shoulders are well under the uppermost top slot for the harness. If he's close to or at the top slot already, he's already about to or outgrown the harness and then it's pointless.

http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Maest...8&s=baby-products&qid=1268835749&sr=1-1-spell

One additional option that is priced right between the two is the Evenflo Generations 65. It's also got a 65lbs harness and becomes a high back booster. I don't love it as much as the Nautilus, but it's still a great and safe seat for what you need right now.

http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Gener...8&s=baby-products&qid=1268835749&sr=1-2-spell

 

[sbell111]

Princess Wigglypants is only four months, but we have a couple of 3-in-1 car seats in the closet for when she outgrows her infant seat. They convert from car seat to high backed booster to backless booster.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Princess Wigglypants is only four months, but we have a couple of 3-in-1 car seats in the closet for when she outgrows her infant seat. They convert from car seat to high backed booster to backless booster.

Just keep in mind the harness weight limit on those convertible/3in1s. They are generally 40lbs with low top slots and are usually outgrown by height before a child is ready to be safely in a booster.

Also, be aware of the expiration dates on those seats. It's generally 6 years from date of manufacture, sometimes 6 years plus to the end of the calendar year in which it was made. Since they're sitting in your closet, they're going to have some 'time lost' before you even start using them. They will most definitely expire before your dd (Princess Wigglypants, LOVE IT! LOL) is able to be in only a seatbelt.

(ETA: Wait...they convert from harness to high back AND no back booster? Check the seats again, they're likely either a convertible that goes rear and then forward facing and a high back booster...or a forward facing ONLY that then becomes a high back and a no back booster. I'm not aware of any 3in1s that are convertibles AND convert eventually to a no back. If it's a forward facing only you'll likely need a different seat, a convertible seat, for use rear-facing when your dd outgrows her infant carrier. If you need any assistance in determining this please post the name of the seat.)

 

[HelenePA]

I thought they had to stay in carseats until 4?

OP - I am not criticzing you - just genuinely curious. My 3.5 year old is 37 pounds and VERY tall for his age and he is still in his Britax Marathon and I am not sure when to switch to boosters.

in PA they have to be in til at LEAST 8!! that includes backless boosters thank god!

OP I have the one you ordered for my 1 yr old.. I could not see my 4 yr old in that type of seat.. here is the kind we have for him http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Pronto-Belt-Positioning-Booster-Car-Seat/8342859 but my 4 yr old is also huge.. maybe if your ds is on the small side it would work

 

[LisaNJ25]

Go for the Graco Nautulis.. My 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 yo are in one. No way they are going in a backless booster. They are also tall 46 inches and between 42 and 50 pounds. Both are in a 5pt harness

 

[Piecey]

in PA they have to be in til at LEAST 8!! that includes backless boosters thank god!

OP I have the one you ordered for my 1 yr old.. I could not see my 4 yr old in that type of seat.. here is the kind we have for him http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Pronto-Belt-Positioning-Booster-Car-Seat/8342859 but my 4 yr old is also huge.. maybe if your ds is on the small side it would work

I'm pretty sure it's 8 in West Virginia too...

We have a Graco Nautilus that my parents use right now. It doesn't rear-face but DS outgrew his SafeSeat (infant carrier) and he isn't with them very often.

In my Jeep we have a Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite. It does rear face.
So, he'll be in it until he outgrows the rear facing aspect and then we'll steal the Nautilus back from my parents for him and give them the Safety 1st to use forward facing for when they have him.

There are a million different options out there. I hope you find one that works best for you!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

Does anyone have experience with the Britax booster seats? Are they good/safe?

 

[Bren's Mom]

I like the new Parkway SG. It replaces their old Parkway, which was very highly regarded.

The reviews on the new Frontier 85 (a combination forward facing harness/booster) is just being released and getting good reviews, they've made alot of changes to things that didn't work well in the original frontier.

 

[Minnie's Pal]

NC Child Passenger Safety Law - G.S. 20-137.1
Summary of law

updated 09-18-09

Ages/Positions Covered:
» Children less than age 16 in front or back seats are covered under the NC Child Passenger Safety law.

» Drivers and passengers 16 years old and older are covered by the NC Seat Belt Law.

Vehicles Covered:
» All vehicles required by federal standards to have seat belts are covered. All passenger cars manufactured after 1967 are required by federal regulations to have seat belts and are covered by the NC Child Passenger Safety Law. Vans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles manufactured after 1971 are required to be equipped with belts and are also covered by the NC Child Passenger Safety Law. There are no exemptions for vehicles registered in other states or vehicles driven by out-of-state drivers.

Restraint Required:
» A properly used child restraint device (CRD) is required if the child is less than 8 years old AND weighs less than 80 pounds. Most parents and other care givers will be able to comply by using belt-positioning booster seats for children between 40 and 80 pounds. The child must be within the weight range for the child restraint/booster seat and it must meet Federal standards in effect at time of manufacture.

» Children may be secured in a properly fitted seat belt at age 8 (regardless of weight) OR at 80 pounds (regardless of age) - whichever comes first. Placing the shoulder belt under a child’s (or adult’s) arm or behind the back is both dangerous and illegal.

» If no seating position equipped with a lap and shoulder belt to properly secure a belt positioning booster seat is available, a child who weighs at least 40 pounds may be restrained by a properly fitted lap belt only. WARNING: Belt-positioning booster seats can only be used with lap and shoulder combination safety belts. Belt-positioning booster seats must NEVER be used with just a lap belt.

Refer to "What are Options for Children over 40 pounds? in the "Choosing and Using" section for additional information on booster seats and safer alternatives for lap-belt-only seating positions.

Position in Vehicle:
» The CRD must be installed in the rear seat if the child is less than age 5 and 40 lbs.and if the vehicle has a passenger side air bag and a rear seat.
» Front seat installation is allowed if the CRD is designed for use with air bags.

Exemptions*:
» Vehicles not required to have belts (such as cars made before 1968 and pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans made before 1972, and large buses)
» Ambulances and other emergency vehicles
» If all seating positions with belts are occupied

Responsibility/Penalties:
» Driver responsible for all children less than sixteen
» Penalty not to exceed $25
» Full court costs apply (currently $130)
» Two (2) driver license points
» No insurance points
» No conviction if the child is less than 8 years old and proof is presented at trial that an appropriate CRD/Booster seat has been acquired for a vehicle in which the child is normally transported since the violation.



The whole reason I was second guessing my original choice was because of the harness weight limit. I did return it today - need to read over all this info. & research some more before I make my decision. The seat we use now is getting snug but he can make do until I figure out the best option.

 

[sbell111]

Just keep in mind the harness weight limit on those convertible/3in1s. They are generally 40lbs with low top slots and are usually outgrown by height before a child is ready to be safely in a booster.

Harness limit is 65 pounds.

Also, be aware of the expiration dates on those seats. It's generally 6 years from date of manufacture, sometimes 6 years plus to the end of the calendar year in which it was made. Since they're sitting in your closet, they're going to have some 'time lost' before you even start using them. They will most definitely expire before your dd (Princess Wigglypants, LOVE IT! LOL) is able to be in only a seatbelt.

A couple thoughts come to mind. First, you are ignoring the reason that those expiration dates exist. They exist because the plastic in car seats tends to break down over the years as they are subjected to heat and UV exposure. (This breakdown actually takes significantly longer than the 'expiration' time, obviously.) Seats that are still in the original boxes in our closet have no such heat or UV exposure. Also, by the time that these expiration dates did come into play, the seat would only be used as a no-backed booster. There would be no danger even if somehow significant deterioration were to somehow occur.

(ETA: Wait...they convert from harness to high back AND no back booster? Check the seats again, they're likely either a convertible that goes rear and then forward facing and a high back booster...or a forward facing ONLY that then becomes a high back and a no back booster. I'm not aware of any 3in1s that are convertibles AND convert eventually to a no back.

Ummm, our seats are the same Graco Nautiluses that you recommended in the prior post. If you were not aware of the features of this seat, why did you recommend it?

If it's a forward facing only you'll likely need a different seat, a convertible seat, for use rear-facing when your dd outgrows her infant carrier. If you need any assistance in determining this please post the name of the seat.)

Her current seat will serve her until she is thirty pounds, at which time she can go forward facing per AAP recommendations.

 

[MNFootballMommy]

Does anyone have experience with the Britax booster seats? Are they good/safe?

We have a Britax Frontier for DD in each of our vehicles and have been really pleased with them. The seat is a bit wider than a carseat and she likes having that extra room, while we like having the continued safety of the 5 point harness in the booster seat. She also enjoys the arm rests and cup holders. http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/frontier

The point the PP made about the backless boosters being difficult for naps one that we found out during our trip to DL last month. We had purchased a backless booster for travel and, while we knew it was not going to be used often, it still didn't feel as safe to us and we had to recline the seat a bit to get DD comfy enough to be able sleep in it. (The two hour time change was enough that naps were not unheard of during our trip, even at five.)

 

[Bren's Mom]

First, you are ignoring the reason that those expiration dates exist.

First, I'm not ignoring anything. I'm telling you that there are hard and fast expiration dates set by the manufacturer, not by me. If you choose to ignore them, that's entirely on you.

Ummm, our seats are the same Graco Nautiluses that you recommended in the prior post. If you were not aware of the features of this seat, why did you recommend it?Her current seat will serve her until she is thirty pounds, at which time she can go forward facing per AAP recommendations.

Yes, the Graco Nautilus is a wonderful seat for an older child. I would not under any circumstances (and did not) recommend it for a young child as the first seat to be used after the infant carrier. I did not make any error with regard to the features of the seat.

You can, of course, choose to use the Nautilus if your child meets the minimum legal standard for both your state and the seat. However, that would not be the best practice nor the recommendation of the AAP.

If you have a 30lb infant carrier, your child will very likely NOT make it to 30lbs in it. She will most likely outgrow it by HEIGHT first.

http://www.healthychildren.org/Engl...fety-Seats-Information-for-Families-2010.aspx

From the AAPs 2010 car seat info:

"When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their infant-only seat, they should continue to ride rear-facing in a convertible seat.

It is best for children to ride rear-facing as long as possible to the highest weight and height allowed by the manufacturer of their convertible seat. "

The Graco Nautilus is not a convertible seat, it is a forward facing combination seat. In your situation, I'd recommend a convertible seat with at least a 35lbs weight limit rear-facing and that you keep your dd rear-facing, as the AAP recommends, until she has outgrown that seat be height or weight whichever comes first. The vast majority of children in a good convertible seat can easily reach between ages 2 and 3 rear-facing.

Some recommended convertible seats, for various reasons, are:

Graco MyRide
First Years True Fit
Evenflo Triumph Advance
Britax Marathon or Boulevard
Sunshine Kids Radian

There are lots of other convertible seats out there as well that are also recommended for various purposes (travel, grandparents or part-time seats, etc).