When did you switch from a convertible to a booster?

justcassidy · December 2010

DS still fits pretty well in his convertible but now that he has to wear a winter coat it's getting pretty snug... His head is a couple inches away from the top of it, I'm wondering if we should start looking to get him a booster? We chose a Chicco Coccoro for him because DH and I both have smallish sedans, but now I'm thinking we should have gotten him something bigger. Thoughts?

darlene'smommy · December 2010

I would go with something like the Graco nautilus or the britax. My daughter is 4 years old and will remain in a harness car seat as long as she can fit in one. At your childs he should remain in a harnessed car seat.

JCM · December 2010

I agree with the PP your LO is too young to move to a booster.

You also should not put a winter coat on your LO when he is strapped into his car seat.

HarrietNJMommy · December 2010

The rule of thumb for a booster seat is 4 years old and 40 lbs.

My DD#1 is 5YO and is not 40lbs yet, and is not in a booster. She's still in a convertible. Our convertibles (Britax) go up to 65lbs so I'm not worried. My ped said not to worry about the height. It's the weight that's the bigger deal.

GL!

justcassidy · January 2011

I guess I was under the impression that some boosters had straps as well. I should probably rephrase my question to if I should get him a bigger convertible seat. He's only 19 months and is 30lbs and 34" tall...

jen5-03 · January 2011

Yes, I would get a larger carseat.

Some seats promote themselves as boosters / get refered to as boosters, but still have a 5pt harness - like the Nautilis (no idea on its weight minimums though).

But a true booster uses the cars seatbelt... which of course you can slip out of if you have a mind to... so that's why 4yo is the bare minimum for using one (not that I personally have ever met a 4yo who would always stay in their seatbelt if they could get out of it and therefore all the 4yos I know are in 5pt harness seats).

And ditto the no winter coat thing. A fleece jacket is ok. Anything bulkier is not. Basically if you had to loosen the straps to get the kid + coat in the carseat, then in a crash the coat will compress and the suddenly loose straps will let the child fly out of the seat. Slip the winter coat on backwards after he's buckled in - bonus, he can take it off if he gets too hot once the heater's kicked in.

I have a radian65 - it's good for tall kids, very narrow and slim, doesn't take up much room in the FFing position (takes a ton of room in the RFing though)

car-seat.org has good discussion forums and you can find specific info for your car and your size kid.

His(1&only)wife · January 2011

DS is 36lbs and 38" tall and is still fitting very comfortably in the Britax Marathon. He does not wear a winter coat in it though. He definitely has tons of room left. However, we did purchase a Britax Frontier 85 the other week (on a great sale) for DH's car after he turns 2. It is a 5-point harness until 85lbs and then becomes a traditional booster seat until 120lbs. You can't use it until they are 2 AND 25lbs so we are waiting on it. It sits up straighter like a traditional booster making it fit better in DH's Acura which doesn't give DS much leg room with the Marathon. He'll remain in a 5 point harness until 85lbs.

When did you switch from a convertible to a booster?

Re: When did you switch from a convertible to a booster?

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