Using carseat for second child?

mommy12

My older son still uses his Britax Marathon carseat.  He's 4 1/2.  I'm wondering if I should move him to a booster (with a back) and put our younger child in the Britax.  I'm assuming there is no reason the Britax wouldn't work for the second child.  It has not expired.  My older son is 42 lbs and 42". 

Have any of you used the same seat for another child?

Thanks!

jen5-03

Yes, DS is in DD's old seat. It's 4yo and in good shape (evenflo triumph), so why not?

ETA: I missed the part about moving your older child to a high back booster. I would not do that personally. I prefer to keep my child in a 5pt harness as long as possible. But there are good options for that which don't cost as much as a Britax... like a Graco Nautilis or Evenflo Maestro. We have a Maestro for DD in one of our cars and she loves it.

brightning

I had to get rid of DD's old carseat, even though it was in perfect condition, because it had passed the expiration date (5 yrs from manufacture, I believe). Technically, I would have been able to use it for the first 2 or 3 months, but I'd have to get a new one anyway, so I got rid of it. 

franciscaz

If it is 4 1/2 yrs old I wouldn't reuse it b/c they do wear out and you will be needing it for say another 4 years and so by the time you retire that seat it will be REALLY old and well past the expiration.  It makes more sense to me in your situation to get a new one now. 

 Also if your 4 1/2 hasn't out grown it I would keep her in b/c it is safer than a booster. 

mbritto4

My DD2 will be using all the carseats DD1 has used as long as they haven't expired before she gets to them.

mabma80

Yep!  My Sister gave me her son's old carseat that I used for DS#2.  That was until we were in a car accident, then we had to get new ones.  But luckly the insurance paid for it. We got them each a Graco Nautilus that goes from a harness seat, to high back booster, to regular booster. 

DS#1 is 42 lbs and 43" tall and uses the high back booster with the car seatbelt.  DS#2 is still in a harness.  As long as the seats aren't in accidents, they can be reused.

shopgirl78

Didn't Britax's have a longer expiration than other seats?  I thought it was like 8-9 years for Britax.  If I am not making this up, then yes I would.   

I moved DD to a highback booster at 4.5.  She was 40-43 lbs (she varies).   

ETA:  I used a combination of different seats that my children shared but I think mine are closer in age.. 

PenelopelePhew

DD is now in DS's old convertible car seat.  We got DS a new FF that converts to high-backed booster at 65 lbs.

DD also used her brother's infant seat.  I didn't see the point in buying another one, and it was gender neutral (bought w/ this in mind).

Spin313

I think the Britax seats are good for 7 years. Plus, you probably didn't buy the Britax until your first child was about a year old, right?

AgrippaRidesAgain

Yes, I am using the infant seat with DD and will be moving her to DS's Evenflo Triumph when she outgrows it (Probably not until next spring--she's little).  DS will move to a Graco Nautilus.  Despite the fact that DS will turn 4 next spring, there's no way he'll be over 40 lbs.  (He's 27.5 right now)

Asquared

Definitely save the money and go w/ a new booster style for your older that'll last him forever-  Graco 3 in 1??