Booster Seats

My son is just over 3 years old, is 39" tall and weighs around 35 lbs. He is tall and skinny. He is reaching the upper height limit of his current car seat and we need to move him to a booster seat. I wanted to get him a seat with a 5 point harness option because I heard that is the safest for them still. In my research, I am finding that the 5 point harness is only good until 40 lbs and then you convert to a backed booster with the seatbelt. I am having sticker shock over the cost of the 5 point harness booster seats (for ones that get good reviews), when he will probably only be able to use that for another 6 months before I would have to use the belt positioning booster. The ped said he was ready for a belt positioning booster, but am just worried he won't be safe enough. In the end safety is the most important issue, but cost is still a consideration (we have to buy 4 of them, 2 for DH's truck and 2 for my car). Am I missing a good booster seat option in my research? Would going straight to the belt positioning booster be okay for him? I appreciate any feedback.

 

We're using the Graco Nautilus and the 5-point works until 65 pounds. My boys can work the buckles themselves so I only need to pull the strap to tighten it for them. Love it! It converts to a seatbelt-guide style booster and a backless booster as the need arises so your child can use it up to 100# or tall enough to no longer need a seat. Oh, the LATCH system does have a lower weight limit than the seat straps do so you do have to switch the way it attaches to the vehicle when they reach 40 or 45 pounds (I can't recall which without the book but my kids aren't there yet) but you can continue to use the 5-point with the seat frame being restrained using the seatbelt.

ETA: I had exactly the same issue with their body length making them too tall for their old seats. The Nautilus has shoulder strap holes far above the height that the Evenflo did and they could potentially use it in 5-point until they're 8 or 9. I'm selling 5-point as how race car drivers strap in. :good:

 

we have the Graco Nautilus and it goes to 65 lbs in the 5 pt I believe...that being said we have 2 of those and we also have 2 belt boosters that we interchange between our 2nd car and my mom's car - so if you do it that way (with one set of good ones in the main vehicle you use and the belt boosters in the 2ndary car) it won't hurt as much....

the only issue I have with the belt boosters (and its more my kids than anything) is they tend to lean over and fall asleep...

 

For me, boosters are never a good option at such a young age. Belt positioning is only good if your child is sitting up nicely - not slumped over, not sleeping, etc.


Since you say that safety is your 1st priority, I would recommend you buy seats that can harness until a higher weight and then can convert to a seatbelt booster.

My twins are still in their Britax Marathons and will stay there until I have to move them. A good seat will give you your moneys worth. Please do a lot of research and think long term b4 you buy.



You do have a number of options. A quick search came up with (and I know there are many more) the following.


The Britax Frontier 85

Product Features
Color: Rushmore

• Highest 5 point harness seat capacity allows your child to remain harnessed up to 85 pounds or in booster mode to 120 pounds
• True side impact protection distributes crash forces, shields from vehicle intrusion, contains the head and body, and keeps the head, neck and spine "in true" or aligned, to limit injury
• Patented versa-tether introduces a staged-release tether webbing that anchors the top of the child seat at two points to minimize forward movement in a crash
• Quick-adjust head restraint and no-rethread harness easily adjust the harness shoulder height and head restraint without disassembling the harness
• Tangle free, 5-point harness with 10 harness height positions (up to 20") and three buckle positions for a snug and secure fit as your child grows

The Safety 1st Go Hybrid Convertible Booster

Product Features
Color: Baton Rouge

• Installs in under 1 minute
• Use harness up to 65 pounds
• Converts to a belt positioning booster up to 100 pounds, and 57"
• Lightweight with unique folding design
• Harness height easily adjusts to best height without re-threading the harness

The Safety 1st Apex 65 High Back Booster Car Seat

Product Features

• Forward-facing 22-65 pounds
• Belt-positioning booster 40-100 pounds
• 65 pound capability keeps toddlers in harness longer
• Removable cup holder

The Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat

Product Features
Color: Matrix

• 3-in-1 multi-mode Car Seat for longer use 20 pounds to 100 pounds
• Extended 5-point harness for children 20-65 pounds
• Converts to High-back belt positioning booster for child 30 pounds to 100 pounds
• Converts to backless booster for child 40 pounds to 100 pounds
• Steel reinforced frame for durability

 

We have the Graco Nautilus here too. We got ours from Wal-Mart with gift cards, but I know TRU usually runs sales and they qualify for the "twin" discount, I believe.

 

I have heard/read wonderful reviews on the Graco Nautilus, which is what I was looking at getting. I like your suggestion. We use my husbands truck for drop off or pick up at daycare, depending on the day, and we use my car for everything else. We can switch them around as needed. Thank you!

 

Go with the Graco Nautilus. It goes from 5-point harness seat, to booster with a back, to backless booster. We love ours. We'll still be in the 5-point harness for a long while (mine are 4 and just over 30 pounds).

 

I just wanted to chime in that the 5 point harness (in my research) seem to be what I am going to use for several years ... I was in my friends car last year with her 5.5 yr old, and she was sitting in her sister's booster. She was ALL over the place, and putting the seatbelt behind her - I was really worried that that was how she rode all the time. but my friend said that normally she was in a harness. anyway, hopefully you can find some carseats that fit your needs and budget.

 

thats how we are...most of the time they are in DH's car and for highway trips we use that because it has the Graco seats with the harness...if they are in my car (if its an off week and I'm picking them up from daycare or we go to the park if I'm working nights etc...they have the belt boosters...which if they're wide awake (which they are 99% of the time) then they sit very well in them and don't put the belt behind them etc...

 

My kids are still rear-facing here but when they outgrow the seat rear-facing I'll probably buy a graco nautilus also to replace the MyRide65 seat that I can't stand.