Booster Seat

lebeda777

When do you move your child into a booster seat? And which one do you recommend? Thanks!

goodheartedmommy

5.5-6 at the earliest. When they meet the minimum size requirements and are capable of sitting correctly 100% of the time behind the seat belt. That maturity typically doesn't come until 5.5-6. Look at the graco nautilus or britax frontier for carseats that harness longer and make a nice booster.

For a dedicated booster, look at something with nice, deep headwings and a tall top seatbelt positioner. 

lebeda777

Oh wow!  My son just turned 3 and is in the top percentiles for height and weight.  My SIL just got her 3 year old little girl a booster and recommended I should, so thought I better check into it.

penguingrrl

Many states say a child must be 4 years and 40 lbs before going into a booster, but that is a minimum, not a recommendation.  I plan to keep my girls in harnessed seats way beyond that.  A booster seat is not as safe as a seat with a 5 point harness, so I'm in no rush to switch my kids.

lsufan

We're getting the Graco Nautilus for Evan soon.  The plan is to keep him in the 5 point harness until about 5 or 6.  The Nautilus converts to a booster, so we won't have to buy another one for him.  Your sister's 3 year old should not be in a booster.  The 5 point harness is just so much safer that it makes no sense to move them too soon.

kevschickee2

Halee is 3 and in the top percentiles for her age and is nowhere near a booster IMO that is so unsafe and you sil should rethink it for her kid

goodheartedmommy

Ethan is WAY off charts for height and weight, is 3.5, and still harnessed and will be until he's ready for one. At this point, a step "up" to a booster is a step down in safety. There's a point where that's not true, but no 3 year old belongs in a booster seat.

Ethan is 44 inches tall, 42 lbs, and has plenty of room to grow in his Britax Regent and Graco Nautilus. 

goodheartedmommy

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=117579&id=585767110&l=b5f31a7965

In this album you'll see pictures of my very big boy in his harnessed seats and see how much room he has in them. 

lebeda777

Thank you ladies for your opinions.  I think I will be keeping my big 3 year old in his 5 point harness for at least a couple more years.  My SIL Is often the type to move early, had her daughter forward facing by 9 months.  AND she is a peanut.  SO I don't doubt this is the case here.  Thanks for the info!

emiliemadison

lebeda777:

Thank you ladies for your opinions.  I think I will be keeping my big 3 year old in his 5 point harness for at least a couple more years.  My SIL Is often the type to move early, had her daughter forward facing by 9 months.  AND she is a peanut.  SO I don't doubt this is the case here.  Thanks for the info!

This is SO sad. Might she open to gentle comments about how a booster isnt really safe? Or is she the type of person who might realize it's not safest and just not care?

goodheartedmommy

I just want to hop in here and say that most likely, the seat you have for him now will not last long-term. The only seat they sold 3 years ago that would be tall enough for much longer (for a normal sized child) is the sunshine kids radian. A harness is not safe if it doesn't fit correctly. For it to fit correctly, they must be within the weight limit and for forward facing, the harness must be at or above the shoulders. Also, a carseat is outgrown when the top of the ears is above the top of the back of the seat (the hard shell, not the cover).