My daughter is 2.5 (she'll be 3 the end of Feb) and she's getting close to the height and weight max for our carseats (Evenflo's). She refuses to wear her winter jacket in the carseat because the straps are too tight with the coat on. We have them pulled out as far as they can go. I've read on the internet that you're not supposed to put a toddler into a booster until they are close to 4 years old because of their maturity level. I know there are manufactures who make carseats for taller children but I hate to have to buy 2 more carseats for a year and then 2 booster seats. How have others handled this situation with a tall child? Do you just get the Booster Seat earlier than the recommended age?
Thanks for your advice,
P.
We checked out all the car seat suggestions, especially the Graco Nautilus. We also weighed our daughter. Since she's only 36 lbs, we decided to keep using our car seats and not have her wear her coat. She fits fine without the coat. If she out grows this seat before she's ready for the booster, we'll likely get the Graco Nautilus.
Thanks for everyone's help.
P.
The next step would be a booster seat with a high back if she meets the height and weight requirements. You can go to www.consumerreports.org to see how the different brands tested for safety.
I would absolutely not put a 2 1/2 year old in a booster. Thick winter coats shouldn't be worn in the carseat anyway, so that will help with the strap issue you're having. A 2 1/2 year old definitely still needs to be in a 5-point harness (rear facing would be the safest but I assume your daughter is forward facing) for as long as possible. There are a lot of 5-point harness carseats that will harness for a very long time. We have a Britax Marathon which harnesses forward facing to 65lbs and has very high top harness slots. Keep in mind also that the height "limit" on the box of a carseat is a suggestion. For forward facing the height limit isn't reached until the shell of the seat is at ear level (for rear facing it's when there is less than 1 inch of shell behind the head). Check out www.car-seat.org for lots of info and carseat suggestions.
When my son was almost three he out grew his car seat. I found a Cosco 5 point harness seat at Target that holds up to 60 pounds and i think 48 inches. It also becomes a booster it has the holders on the side for shoulder straps for when they get older. It was pretty reasonably priced i think it was b/w $50-60. He is still in the 5 point harness with his winter coat and he will be 4 in Feb weights 45 pounds and is aoubt 40 inches tall.
I would say just look on line and see what is out there.
My personal preference when my daughter is old enough will be the Graco Nautilus. Target and Walmart have them. It is a forward facing carseat, with 5 point harness up to 65 pounds, then converts to a high back booster and backless booster to 100 pounds. Good for 6 years before they expire, and average price is only $150. After the seat expires you should be able to purchase a cheap booster (Graco has them for less than $50) that will last until she is beg enough for just the seat belt. Good luck.
You ABSOLUTELY CANNOT put a 2.5yr old in a belted booster! My boys were rear facing in the Britax Marathon until age 2! My 6.5yr old (50lbs, 53'' tall) is still in a 5pt harness, the Britax Regent. My 3yr old (34lbs, 39'' tall) was rear facing until just a few months ago in the Britax Marathon
also, NO WINTER JACKETS IN THE CARSEAT! In an accident, the jacket will compress and make the harness too loose, subjecting the child to major injury from being thrown to far forward, or ejected because of loose straps. IF you doubt, try this. Put your child in her jacket, and buckle her into her carseat. Tighten the harness to where you think its safe and tight. Then, undo the harness WITHOUT loosening it at all, remove her jacket, then buckle her back in. See how loose the hanress is? THAT Is how loose it will become in a crash when the jacket compresses from the force of the crash. ITs not safe.
Instead, put your child in her carseat and buckle her in WITHOUT her jacket, then put it back on her backwards, or use a blanket in the car. Layers work well too, a single layer of microfleece is warmer than a fluffy jacket, and safe to wear under the harness.
NOw onto the carseat issue. The Evenflo will harness her to 40lbs. SHe will outgrow the carseat when one of these three things happens..... she reaches 40lbs, her shoulders go over the top harness slot, or her ears become level with the seat back. If she's none of these things, then don't worry, she has plenty of time left in the seat.
HOWEVER if she HAS reached one of these, then you will need to get her a new carseat. A 5pt harness carseat, not a booster. My recommendation is to get the Graco Nautilus at Wal Mart (or Target or Babies R Us) for $150. It will harness to 65lbs, and the top harness slot will accomidate most 6yr olds! Then it turns into a high back booster to 100lbs (it also becomes a no back booster if needed when your child is much much older).
The Graco Nautilus is a great investment, as you will be able to use it as a harnessed carseat until your child is easily 5-6yrs old, and then you can use it as a belted booster until your child no longer requires a booster (at least 8yrs/80lbs). Meanning you will have to buy two new carseats, but for $300 for both carseats together, you will get your moneys worth with another 6yrs of use out of the seat until your child outgrows it.
So please, don't put your baby in a booster seat, and please start removing her jacket when you buckle her in.... the thick winter jackets are not safe in teh carseat. She will not freeze to death ,she will not catch a cold, she will not get frostbite. Take her jacket off, buckle her in, and put her jacket on backwards and/or use a blanket. ANd if she has outgrown the seat per the guidelines i posted above, purchase the Graco Nautilus.... its well worth it for the time you will be able to use it and the cost of the seat.
I absolutely love this site for car seat questions! I have learned so much! I ,too, hated to buy ANOTHER car seat after having just purchased an expensive one only to have my son outgrow it BUT you cannot put a price on safety! There is a car seat that goes up to 60+ pounds and a tall height requirement and then changes to a booster. My son is 5 and still in a harness. I am not switching him until I have to!
I hope you find one that you like!
Absolutely get a convertible booster seat. They can be used up to 100 lbs. You get the 5-point harness that is removable so it can be used as just a booster later.
Also, my daughter is in 3rd grade and at 90% for her height and weight and not using a booster seat is NOT an option. She can barely see out the window and the "seat-belt-holders" on the sides of the seat that are supposed to hold the seat belt away from her neck are too high on the seat to do much good.
A child is not supposed to be without a car seat/booster until they can sit ALL the way back on the car's seat AND have their feet on the floor of the car, at the same time.
Otherwise they don't fit the seat belt and it's not going to protect them.
To move to a booster seat they should be 40 lbs. My daughter is the same way with her winter coat and she just turned 2 in August... but safety first, I have started to sing buckle up for safty, buckle up. She now "sings" or hums along instead of fuss over being straped in, she also tells me to buckle up as soon as I sit down in the car.
We have a Cosco Alpha Omega 3 in 1 car seat ($75 on sale or $150), it is a harness then once she hits 40 lbs (or tall enough) we can take out the harness and use a seat belt with the Alpha Omega Seat. So the car seat goes up to 100 lbs so it should be the only one we need till she is old enough/weightes enough to just use a seat belt (1st or 2nd grade).
I would go with wieght over age and when looking for a new car seat look for one that will transition/grow with your child... convertiable car seats. There are tons out there, and various websites have great deals where you can buy a $150 car seat for $75, just have to shop around.
