Rec for a 3 in 1 seat?

LSzwaya

Our DS is currently in a Britax Marathon. Our DD is due in September and we are looking to get DS a new convertible because our infant seat doesn't fit great in our backseat with the Marathon and it is nearing its expiration anyway. With just one seat he fits fine in our Cherokee's back seat but DH is 6'5'' so I need something a bit more slender than the Marathon.

DS is big (40 lbs) but isn't mature enough or old enough (4 in December) for a high back so I have been looking into 3 in 1's as I'd like to keep him in the 5 pt harness as long as humanly possible. The Nautilus is where we were leaning but it seems just as big as the Marathon if not bigger. I was thinking about doing another convertible for him to use until DD is ready to rear face in it and then just buy him a high back booster but I'm concerned she will be ready and he wont be. Any rec's? Thanks!

headgear03

How tall is your son right now or more importantly what size shirt does he ware ? He may be approaching the height limit on allot of seats so knowing this could narrow it down a bit. The nautilus is big so I agree maybe not the best option.

LSzwaya

headgear03:

How tall is your son right now or more importantly what size shirt does he ware ? He may be approaching the height limit on allot of seats so knowing this could narrow it down a bit. The nautilus is big so I agree maybe not the best option.

He is in a 4T. He still has one slot for the straps to move up on the Marathon.

tracy41

If you like the Britax seats I just got a Frontier 90 for DS1 and so far so good.

gimmietimmies

LucyD1029:

LauraT25:

LucyD1029:

Have you looked into the Diono Radian RXT?  We just got one for DS, but haven't used it yet.  It's a 5 pt harness, but converts to a booster.

The Radian is a great seat, but it is outgrown in booster mode roughly the same time as harness mode, so don't expect to get any use out of it as a booster. 

Really?  It's a 5 pt harness up to 80lbs and a booster up to 120lbs.  It can be used up to 57".  Unless I'm missing something, that should work as a booster for quite some time.   

Weight in this case makes zero difference. It doesn't booster until 50 lbs, and by the time an average size child hits that weight they will have long outgrown it height wise. The booster guide is not adjustable, so it's short lived and outgrown at the same time as the harness is. My 43 lb 5 year old doesn't fit this seat. Don't get me wrong, I love it rf and as a convertible (esp. since my dks tend to run tall).

For combo seats I'd look at the Harmony Defender (at Walmart only), Graco Nautilus or the Britax Frontier. This is in order of both price and longevity height wise. With the Defender you may need a $15 no back booster after around average age 8/9, nothing extra needed with the Nautilus, and honestly, nothing for the Frontier. My 11 yo dd fits it, she's 5'2" and 97 lbs and it works well for her in booster mode.

LSzwaya

Thank you all for all the tips and input!