WWYD Regarding Carseats

morgs8384

So DS #1 has a Britax Boulevard, #2 is currently in a snugride 35.

I know #2 can technically stay in the infant seat for a long while ( DS #1 is still under the weight and height and could be in the infant car seat). I just don't really like keeping them in the infant seat once they are bigger, maybe that will change since I have two little ones...

Will I eventually be getting #2 a convertible seat? Will I get a booster for my older son? I guess I'm just sort of lost when it comes to the world of carseats and booster seats and when I need them.

 

 

howleyshell

You will need a 2nd convertible.

Kids are not ready for booster seats until 4 yrs old/40 lbs and frankly I kept both of my kids in 5 point harnesses until they were 5 because I couldn't trust either of my 4 yr olds with being mature enough to use a belted booster properly.

Do some research.  What you may be able to do is get a convertible that turns into a belted booster for the older child and give the convertible that can rear face to the baby.  That only works if you don't intend to do extended rear facing for the older child, though. 

Go to Babys R Us and ask for help. They can walk you thru your options in regards to what seats will grow with the kids the best.  (and then you can order them online cheaper) 

And honestly?  I kept my 2nd in the infant seat a long as possible.  Easier to hook him on my arm than to have to juggle the toddler and removing the baby and carrying him.  It just felt safer to have at least one of them totally contained and quick to get out of the car. 

smerka

My kids are about the same difference in ages.  When the younger one was ready for a convertible, we moved the older one to a Graco Nautilus.  It's forward facing and he was just under two when we switched him.  It has a five point harness and then converts to a booster after that.  We plan to keep this seat for a long time.  

I agree with going to BRU and seeing what your options are. 

jf198400

I would recommend getting a 2nd convertible seat.  My kids are 2yrs and 7months and are both RFing in Britax Marathons.  I am a strong believer in ERFing and didn't want to turn my older DD forward just for carseat buying convenience.  Both of my kids switched from the infant seat (Graco snugride 22) to convertible around 5-6 months just b/c it was so heavy I couldn't carry it anymore.  I do miss the convenience of the infant seat but I just put DS directly into a stroller or the Ergo when we go out places.

sweetpea2003

We have two Britax Marathons (convertible seats) and I have a feeling they will both be in them a loooooooooooong time.  I would never put a child under 4 in a booster seat and even then it would depend on their size and maturity.

LIke someone else said, the only other option might be putting your older toddler in a 3 in 1 convertible/booster combo and giving the traditional convertible to your baby.  But with your older baby being so young, and rear facing being so important, I probably would just get a second convertible and re-visit the carseat issue when your older one is closer to 4 or 5.

MammaBear81

I agree with the PP on another convertible.  The suggestion is to  RF until at least 2 years old (and the maximum height/weight that the seat allows).  DD2 is 2 1/2 and still RFing, and will be for quite some time.  We bought DS3 a convertible, he technically still fits in his infant seat, but he looks so squished and we have no clue when DD2 will FF, so we just bit the bullet.

morgs8384

You all are so great!

Thanks for the input on what to do, and look into. Carseats and booster seats always have given me a sense of anxiety because I want the best, safest option, but obviously don't want to purchase the wrong thing and waste a crazy amount of money because I didn't know any better. I thought another convertible would be my best option but had no idea what the deal on  booster is, and when they are used. DS is still RF in his convertible carseat, and I intend to keep him that way for a long time still.

kagl08

jf198400:

I would recommend getting a 2nd convertible seat.  My kids are 2yrs and 7months and are both RFing in Britax Marathons.  I am a strong believer in ERFing and didn't want to turn my older DD forward just for carseat buying convenience.  Both of my kids switched from the infant seat (Graco snugride 22) to convertible around 5-6 months just b/c it was so heavy I couldn't carry it anymore.  I do miss the convenience of the infant seat but I just put DS directly into a stroller or the Ergo when we go out places.

Almost all of this except my kids are 2 and 1. Both are RFing in a Graco MyRide 65. I highly recommend the MyRide. We went through a few different seats and the MyRide just had a deeper shell IMO. The other seats my DD was touching the back of the seat RFing by 18 months. In the MyRide she just started touching the back of the seat at 22 months old. She's 33.5in long. We moved my DS to a convertible at 6 months because the infant seat was so heavy and the convenience was just not there anymore. We used/use the Ergo a lot. 

We intend to keep our kids RFing for as long as possible. Then when they go FFing they will be in a 5 pt harness for as long as possible as well. 

laura1

We bought #2 a Sunshine Kids Radian (now Diono Radian) when she outgrew the bucket seat (she was 13 months old when we made the switch).  DS was forward facing by then (in a Britax Marathon), but the Radian RF, FF and converts to a booster seat.  It also is the most narrow seat, which made it easier for someone to sit between the 2 kids in the car.  We actually just bought another Radian, and will be moving DS into that seat - we are going to try to fit 3 seats across in our CRV before #3 comes.  DS is still really little (size wise), and is in no way ready for a booster.  My niece is 7 and still rides in a 5 point harness (Britax Frontier).  Every time you move the kid to a new position in the car - RF to FF, FF to booster, high back booster to backless, then to regular seat belt - is a step down in safety.  I am planning on keeping mine in the 5 pt restraint for a LONG time!

stdldb29

We did a Britax Frontier when my oldest was 2. He was maxing out at his rear-facing limits anyway, so we made the switch and gave DD his seats. 

morgs8384

stdldb29:

We did a Britax Frontier when my oldest was 2. He was maxing out at his rear-facing limits anyway, so we made the switch and gave DD his seats. 

Is the frontier good for a booster too, or will something else be needed? I was seeing if we lasted long enough with our current seats that the frontier might be an option.

MammaBear81

morgs8384:

stdldb29:

We did a Britax Frontier when my oldest was 2. He was maxing out at his rear-facing limits anyway, so we made the switch and gave DD his seats. 

Is the frontier good for a booster too, or will something else be needed? I was seeing if we lasted long enough with our current seats that the frontier might be an option.

Frontier is a booster too, but it does not RF.  If your child is like PP and maxing out on RFing then I think this is a good option, but if you can still RF, I'd go with a convertible.  We have a frontier and love it, my three older ones are still in 5 pt harness, and the two little ones are still RFing.

morgs8384

MammaBear81:

morgs8384:

stdldb29:

We did a Britax Frontier when my oldest was 2. He was maxing out at his rear-facing limits anyway, so we made the switch and gave DD his seats. 

Is the frontier good for a booster too, or will something else be needed? I was seeing if we lasted long enough with our current seats that the frontier might be an option.

Frontier is a booster too, but it does not RF.  If your child is like PP and maxing out on RFing then I think this is a good option, but if you can still RF, I'd go with a convertible.  We have a frontier and love it, my three older ones are still in 5 pt harness, and the two little ones are still RFing.

Oh good to know! DS #1 is still RF, and DS#2 is perfectly fine in his infant car seat for now. I think I will just hold off til maybe spring ( if not longer) and when DS #1 is ready to be turned around I'll just get a frontier and put #2 in the Boulevard. That is as long as neither of the kiddos decide to have a huge growth spurt!