Car seat safety info?

Emer

We currently have the kids in convertible car seats and I'm trying to figure out when/if we should move them to regular FF seats.  They are in bucket seats now (Boulevard and Advocate), but I've been looking at the Frontier. I can find safety information on each seat, but I haven't been able to figure out if the Frontier, or something like it, would be safer.  DD is 3 1/2 and well below the weight limit for the convertible.  DS is fine in his seat for a while at 28 lbs and not quite 2 years old.  Our goal is to keep them in a 5-point harness as long as possible.

Frontier- https://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/frontier 

Any recs on where to research the safety of a 3 1/2 year old in different types of seats? 

erincutts

The Frontier is a great option. It has Side Impact Protection as well as a 5 point harness that can last up to 80 pounds which is the highest on the market. What is even better(well, to me) is that it is much more like a 'big boy booster' than a 'carseat'. My son(3.5) loves his and it's super easy to install with the latch. I have heard that it's a bit tougher once you have to use the belt but it's still do-able. I have the advocate for my daughter(18 months) in one car and the boulevard for her in the other. Honestly, I like the boulevard better. The advocate is really hard to get a good install on because of the bulky things on the side. Plus, the bulky things don't really add more protection for the person in the carseat but rather if someone is sitting next to them in a regular seat...just something to consider. If you want to keep them in a 5 point harness for as long as possible then the Frontier is the way to go. My son had a Recaro before that one but outgrew the 5 pt. weight limit before he is even 4. We do have the sunshine Kids with side impact protection in our other car for him and we like that one as well. It is also 5 point to 80 pounds(could be 65 but I think it's 80). 

I do a ton of research on carseats and our pediatrician and I are always emailing back and forth about it as well. She just got the Frontier for her kiddos, too and her son is in kinder. So, it will definantely have growing room!

 

Hope that helps! 

Emer

Thanks!  I love her Boulevard, but she is running out of leg room in both of our cars since she sits up so high.  I can deal with that if it's safer, but the Frontier seems to be a great seat.

And you email your pedi?!  That's awesome. Are you friends or is she just that cool?  If she's that accessible, I would love her name if you want to PM me  

Temp13436125005166

Have you checked out https://www.car-seat.org/ ?  I used that a lot when researching convertable seats.  Back then there were a bunch of carseat safety technicians that posted on their who were helpful.  G/L, and I'd love to hear what you find out!

erincutts

Yeah, the problem with the Boulevard(and other convertable seats) is that it sits so high up. It just really isn't great once they reach a certain height. I plan to put my daughter in a Frontier when she outgrows the blvd. The Sunshine kids is much lower to the ground and is also a convertable so you could check out that option if you are looking for something that can be rear facing as well. I like Britax because they are made in the US...

I also second the car-safety.org. 

 Ha! My pedi and I have a "working relationship"! She became a photography client of mine after we had been seeing her for a couple of years. So, the 'friendship' just evolved. She is super nice though and I feel very lucky to have found her!

MrsB2K

We have the Frontier for DD and love it!

Emer

Michelle&Russ:

Have you checked out https://www.car-seat.org/ ?  I used that a lot when researching convertable seats.  Back then there were a bunch of carseat safety technicians that posted on their who were helpful.  G/L, and I'd love to hear what you find out!

Wow, that's a great web site.  Thanks!