Booster seat?

firsttogo · January 2011

When, what size ect? We are needing another seat for Nolan that can be switched easily from DH's to my dad/mom's car ect. He is not yet 3, but 35 lbs, 38 inches tall (big guy) Would it be a crime to get a backed booster seat that could be used pretty infrequently? He would be in his radian 98% of the time, but when on the rare occasions he is in DH's car, or has to go with my dad, it is a HUGE PITA to uninstal the radian.

dundasgirl · January 2011

In Canada, I believe you have to be 40lbs to be in a booster. I would buy a carseat that is a stage 2/3 so you still have the 5 point harness available to use now...Then when he gets bigger, you can switch him to just the booster with the car's seat belt.

CMM05 · January 2011

I bought a "booster" seat last Fall for our sitter's car. Connor has been using it since then (so right before he turned 3).

We got the Graco Nautilus and love it. Its a 3 in 1, so he uses the back still, but eventually we can take the back off and it can be used just as a booster.

I *think* they have to be close to 40 lbs. to use one of the "regular" boosters (i.e. without a back....), so if you want to make the move now, you are going to have to use one like the Nautilus.

superned · January 2011

I don't think it's legal in any state to use a booster before 40 pounds.

Are you talking about a combination seat? Those have five-point harnesses and can be converted to a belt-positioning booster by removing the harness. Those can be used forward-facing instead of a bulkier convertible seat if your LO meets the height and weight requirements of the harness.

You still have to install a combination seat (if you're using the five-point harness), but they're a little easier to manage (and less expensive) than a convertible seat.

Also keep in mind that kids shouldn't be using a seat belt until they're 4'9", so depending on how your DS grows, he could still need a booster in six years, meaning that one you buy now would be expired and you'd need to get another. (Might not be an issue, but boys do tend to grow a little more slowly than girls before they get to that 4'9" height.)

regenab · January 2011

Go to NHTSB site and look at your states requirements. All states are different. The standard is 4 years of age and 40lbs. to be in a booster seat. So a 5pt harness booster seat is your best bet and they are rated up to like 65 lbs. or more. My girls are on the light side (only 27 and 25 lbs. at 2 1/2) and they are average height they will be in their convertibles (rated to 65 lbs.) until they are 4 or even later. But I have a friend whose son is younger than my girls and he is hitting the limits on the height of his convertible seat and a couple lbs. shy of the weight limit, so she is going to by a 5pt. harness booster seat until he is 4. She works for Child Services here in FL and has soon up close what the outcome of a child not in a safety restraint seat and said she would never risk her childs life in that way.

Florida has the worst child restraint laws in the country. Sadly starting at 3 years of age you can sit your child in the backseat with just a seatbelt, not a backless booster and a seat belt, but just a regular old seatbelt like adults wear. We also have the most child deaths due to accidents and most of these probably would have lived if they had had a proper restraint system. Even Puerto Rico has better child seat restraint laws then we do in FL.

Mrs.LisaP · January 2011

I thought it was 4 AND 40 pounds.

Either way, I'd stick with a 5 point, even if it means going and buying a cheaper one. My almost 7 year old still rides in a 5 point harness (britax regent) and she weighs 50 pounds. I told her when she is 7 she can get a booster.

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