Carseats...What's next? Need recommendations.

CD+AL · November 2011

So, as I was picking DS up from school yesterday, I noticed that I needed to raise the headrest of his Britax Boulevard just a bit, and guess what...It's now at it's top position. Grrr! I wasn't planning on replacing his seat just yet. Stupidly, I thought it would fit him for awhile longer, so I hadn't given any thought as to what we'll do next.

Anyone have any thoughts/recommendations?

ETA: I should add that he's a pretty good size kid for his age. The last time I weighed him he was about 45lbs, and I think he's about 46in (standing) tall. I suppose I should have seen this coming. I think I was just thinking that his seat is good up to 65lbs and hadn't given any thought at all to height, which is silly b/c that's why he's outgrown both his infant seat and RF.

howleyshell · November 2011

We went with the Graco Nautilus because it's 5 point, converts to a high back booster and then to a backless booster so the aim is that it keeps him maxed out on safety as long as possible but it's also the last seat we'll need to buy for him.

Wondering too - Dylan's in a Marathon and his head comes slightly over the top but he's still find shoulder harness-wise for height.

I didn't realize that they needed to be totally under the head rest height?

The Nautilus is our back up seat in DH's car so he rarely uses it now but with your post I'm wondering if I need to switch and make the Nautilus his primary seat?

shouldbworkin · November 2011

That happened to me this summer, too. Since DD is 4 y/o and mature (and over 40 lbs, but was only 41 inches when she outgrew the Blvd harness in height), I put her in a belt positioning booster. But, if your DC is younger and needs some time, I'd get a Nautilus.

penguingrrl · November 2011

Just an FYI for anyone who needs it, a carseat is outgrown for height either when the shoulders go above the top slots or when the tops of the ears are even with the top of the shell. Most kids will outgrow seats for height long before they outgrow them for weight.

My 4 year old outgrew her radian for height so we put her in a high back booster. She is 43" but has an ultra-long torso and always has. The only option that would have bought us significantly more time in a harness was a frontier, which doesn't fit in our car or our budget, so we went with a booster.

But since it looks like your son is 3 that's not an option. I would go with a britax frontier, recaro prosport, graco nautlius or evenflo maestro depending on your budget and size restrictions in your vehicle (I'll warn right away in case it's necessary that a frontier won't work for a 3 across situation because it's huge). All of those seats will remain a harness until a proper booster age then become a high back booster. The nautilus also becomes a backless booster later.

howleyshell · November 2011

penguingrrl:
Just an FYI for anyone who needs it, a carseat is outgrown for height either when the shoulders go above the top slots or when the tops of the ears are even with the top of the shell. Most kids will outgrow seats for height long before they outgrow them for weight.

Thanks for this!

His ears are not even with the top of the shell yet so we've got some time.

Helpful info and I appreciate it!

penguingrrl · November 2011

howleyshell:
penguingrrl:
Just an FYI for anyone who needs it, a carseat is outgrown for height either when the shoulders go above the top slots or when the tops of the ears are even with the top of the shell. Most kids will outgrow seats for height long before they outgrow them for weight.
Thanks for this!
His ears are not even with the top of the shell yet so we've got some time.
Helpful info and I appreciate it!

You're welcome! Manufacturers always stress weight limits, but I've yet to meet a kid who still fit in the harness when they reached the weight limit, so I wish they'd do a better job educating people on how to tell when the harness is outgrown for height!

brownie123 · November 2011

Just my 2 cents... I bought the Graco Nautilus because of the great reviews and absolutely hated it. I (or my husband) could never get the harness to tighten enough. It barely budged and I was really unhappy with it.

Returned it and got the Evenflo Maestro - LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Price is much better too, even with having to buy a booster seat later (where with the Nautilus you don't have to because it's an all-in-one).

stdldb29 · November 2011

We have a frontier for our DS, he has been in it since he turned two and we forward faced him, works fine in my Camry, and I can do 3 across in it.

ironmommy · November 2011

Based on Amazon reviews, I'm leaning toward the Frontier from Britax. It's $50 more than the Graco, but I have decided it's worth it.

futrkingsley · November 2011

We have a tall kid and have the Frontier (X2 for both our cars). I really like it and I love the adjustable back/headrest. We previously had him in a Cosco Scenera which he outgrew by height (straps below shoulders FF) and a First Years True Fit which was in an accident. The First Years still fit him (he still rides in the other one in Gramma's car) but I didn't want another that would need to be replaced in a year so we got the Frontier. The Frontier has the heighest shoulder slots in a FF 5 pt harness that I could find so that's what I bought.