Car Seat help for an older child

[mandybeyl]

I know there are few car seat pros on here
My DS is 5 yrs old, 48 inches tall and only 40 lbs. The car seat he is in now has a harness weight rating of 40 lbs so I need to move him out of it asap. I really DO NOT want to put him in a regular booster even though I know he's technically within the range that is recommended for those. I feel much safer keeping him in a 5 point harness so I have been looking into seats that harness over 40 lbs. It seems that my main choices are the Graco Nautilus and some of the Britax seats. However, all but one of the Britax seats list a height limit of 49 inches so given that he is 48 inches now, those don't seem like a good investment.

Are there other seats out there that I am missing? Anyone have any experience with the Nautilus? I have to buy two of these seats so the $140 price on the Nautilus is much more appealing than the $200+ for the Britax BUT safety is my first priority, even if it costs me a bit more.
Would love to hear some other advice/opinions here

[Troop1379]

I always went with this type car seat at that age cause you can take the 5 point harness off when they get older. Highback Booster Let's Go : Target

[cbms]

I am a Britax lover. In fact, I have three in my van right now.

We'll be moving to these when our kids get to big for their seats (marathons and a boulevard). Britax Frontier 85 toddler car seat | Parent Reviews & Free Shipping

[taylordvd]

I had a Britax Roundabout when my kids were little and I loved it. I bought the Nautilus for ds about a year ago. I was a little leary since I had loved my Britax so much. But I LOVE my Nautilus. It is so easy to install. It easily installs in my van. My friend bought one too and she had a very small car. Her biggest complaint was its size. It is also heavy. But I am considering purchasing a second one when ds no longer fits in the car seat in our vehicle. The fact that it comes all apart is very nice if someone happens to get car sick. Unfortunately I know all about that.

[amylynne01]

For your kiddo, you're looking for a combination seat that can be used as a harnessed forward-facing seat or as a booster with a seat belt. Some options include the Graco Nautilus (~$150, harnessed to 65lbs, boosters to 100lbs), the Britax Frontier 85 (~$225, harnesses to 85lbs, boosters to 120lbs), the Evenflo Maestro (~$80, harnesses to 50lbs, boosters to 100lbs), and the Cosco/Safety 1st Apex (~$100, harnesses to 65lbs, boosters to 100lbs).

I would stay away from the 3-in-1 seats (think Alpha Omega) because they make HORRIBLE boosters. Also, you will most likely need to buy a no-back booster (~$20) in a few years since none of these combination seats make a good booster once kids get bigger. Boosters should be used until a child passes the 5 step test which is typically age 10-12. State laws are the bare MINIMUM. Best practice far exceeds the laws.

PLMK if you have any more questions. Car seats are kind of my "thing" - I'm really passionate about making sure other parents know ALL the options and what is best in terms of safety.

[amylynne01]

Originally Posted by Troop1379 I always went with this type car seat at that age cause you can take the 5 point harness off when they get older. Highback Booster Let's Go : Target

This seat is a booster that OP said her DS is not ready for yet.

Also wanted to mention that the goal is not to harness forever. It is to harness until a child is developmentally ready for a booster. It varies between kids, but it is typically around age 5-6. A child has to be able to sit properly in the seat, not touch or play with the seat belt, not lean over to pick up toys, not lean over to antagonize a sibling, and not put the seat belt under his/her arm. Once a child is able to do all of this, you should start booster training. Put your DS in the booster for short rides like to the PO or to drop off an older kid at school, nothing longer than 10-15 minutes. If after a week of short trips your DS is still not getting sitting properly, he is not ready for the booster, and you should go back to harnessing full time. If he does well, then do longer trips 20-30 minutes but harness for anything longer than that. Keep building up the times until he can do it 100% of the time. Kids can't be expected to sit in a booster right the first time if we don't show them how and coach them through the process.

[csstaci]

My personal opinion? Go with the Britax Frontier 85. It will keep him harnessed until 85 pounds or until he outgrows the seat by height. I've heard it has one of the highest (if not the highest) harness heights available (besides those for special needs, etc.) Also remember, height on a carseat isn't set in stone like it is for weight. For height, the harness strap needs to be at or above their shoulders and the top of their ears can't be above the top of the shell - once that happens, then they've outgrown the seat by height. It seems like you have a tall child, which is why I recommend this seat.

Another option that is significantly less expensive is the Nautilus. This harnesses to 65 lbs but it has a lower harness height than a Frontier 85 does. My 5 y/o is on the last slot, he's 47 inches, but there is quite a bit of space left before he hits the harness slot.

Also remember that some kids are tall in the torso, which means they'll outgrow the harness sooner, and some are tall in the legs. My son is pretty long in his torso, so if your child is longer in legs than torso, the Nautilus will fit them longer.

Most stores don't carry the Frontier 85, but they do carry the Nautilus. I would take him in the store and try him out in one. Just remember to pull the headrest all the way up since a lot of people think the harness slot is a lot shorter - there's one or two slots hiding under there, you just have to make sure you pull the headrest up enough.

[mandybeyl]

Originally Posted by amylynne01 This seat is a booster that OP said her DS is not ready for yet. Also wanted to mention that the goal is not to harness forever. It is to harness until a child is developmentally ready for a booster. It varies between kids, but it is typically around age 5-6. A child has to be able to sit properly in the seat, not touch or play with the seat belt, not lean over to pick up toys, not lean over to antagonize a sibling, and not put the seat belt under his/her arm. Once a child is able to do all of this, you should start booster training. Put your DS in the booster for short rides like to the PO or to drop off an older kid at school, nothing longer than 10-15 minutes. If after a week of short trips your DS is still not getting sitting properly, he is not ready for the booster, and you should go back to harnessing full time. If he does well, then do longer trips 20-30 minutes but harness for anything longer than that. Keep building up the times until he can do it 100% of the time. Kids can't be expected to sit in a booster right the first time if we don't show them how and coach them through the process.

Thanks for all your advice. It really is helpful. I have not seen the other two seats you mentioned above so I will have to look into them. I know that he is technically "big" enough to ride in a booster and he is plenty mature enough to understand the rules of riding safely, but isn't it true that they are safer in a 5 pt harness? That was my primary reason for wanting to invest in another seat instead of just converting his existing seat to booster and using the seat belt.

[csstaci]

Most five year olds are physically old enough to ride in a booster, if they are tall and heavy enough. The main concern with a booster vs. a harness at this age besides maturity level is whether or not the iliac crest is developed enough. This is what protects the internal organs and usually develops around age 5 (I thought it was closer to six, but most of what I'm finding says 5, but mentions that not all 5 year olds have completely developed hip bones).

I would definitely follow the 5 Step Rule and trust your own gut instinct. I have a very mature 5 year old - he is big and tall for his age, and acts older than 5. I tried him in a booster, and I just wasn't comfortable with it. I am aiming for him to be in a harness until at least 6, just so I know for sure that the iliac crest will be able to withstand the pressure of the seatbelt in case of an accident.

You should check out car-seat.org. It's a super awesome site and you don't have to be registered to ask questions. There are TONS of CPST's there who will answer any questions that you have!

[Mom2Natalya]

Originally Posted by mandybeyl Thanks for all your advice. It really is helpful. I have not seen the other two seats you mentioned above so I will have to look into them. I know that he is technically "big" enough to ride in a booster and he is plenty mature enough to understand the rules of riding safely, but isn't it true that they are safer in a 5 pt harness? That was my primary reason for wanting to invest in another seat instead of just converting his existing seat to booster and using the seat belt.

Yes, it is absolutely true!! There are several videos on youtube made by parents whose children died because they were in a booster and not a 5pt harness. (I have links, if you're interested, I can post them) My daughter is 5 years old, 47lb and 47" tall and in a 5pt harness, and will remain that way until she is too tall/heavy for it. She is in a Britax Frontier.

I am on a very, VERY tight budget but this is ONE thing I spent as much as I needed to. I can't put a price on my children's lives.

ETA: The Britax Frontier has a weight limit of 85lb and height limit (as a harnessed seat) of 57". Seat converts to a booster, and the weight limit as a booster is 120 lb and height limit is 65". You will DEFINITELY get your money out of this seat!

Here's a link: FRONTIER 85 - Car Seats - Britax USA