Hello all,
I'm shopping for a 5 point harness seat for my just turned 3 year old. I got consumer reports top 2, Eddie Bauser High Back Booster and Safety 1st Vantage Booster Seat, although after doing more research the Eddie Bauer one does not have great reviews. I don't want to spend over $200 simply for a high brand name but want of course SAFETY first and then comfort for my son. Does anyone have recommendations? Thanks all.
Graco Nautilus. This is a great seat. High 5pt harness weight and you really want to still harness your child, then turns into a high back booster and then a low back booster. Check out www.car-seat.org . Great sight dedicated to car seats.
We don't have the above seat, we have a Britax Regent which I love love love and is a great seat. My son will be harnessed in this seat for a very long time. It is huge-so definitely not for everyone, but can be found for around your price range. And I didn't buy this just because it was a Britax.
I have heard good things about the Graco Nautilus from several moms who have it. We have the Britax Frontier and LOVE it..it's the last seat we will ever need. Harness up to 80 lbs. and booster up to 100. Check out elitecarseats.com for very in depth reviews and comparisons of all the safest seats like these. If you shop around online, you can get the Frontier for close to $200 with free shipping. Some other seats maybe a little less, but when I looked a year ago, none had as high of weight/height limits, so the extra money was worth it to not need to buy yet aniother seat in 2 years! Good luck!
Consumer Reorts isn't the greatest resource when it comes to car seat safety. How much does your 3yr old weigh? What's his torso measurement? (sit him on the floor against a wall and measure from the floor to his shoulders)That will tell me the harness height he'll need and how much room he'll have to grow.
The Nautilus is a great seat. It will take you to 65lbs harnessed and then to 100lbs as a booster. The Britax Frontier is another good seat and should be the last seat you'll need. The Regent is great. I have the original version of it called the Husky. They have recently discontinued the Regent though so make sure if you order it you check the dates on it by calling CS or checking the seat when it comes in. The Frontier replaced it.
I would highly recommend you check out the car seat safety boards online at http://www.car-seat.org/ and chat with an actual CPST
Hi T.,
Can't help you with the harness seat,but want to commend you on your holistic approach for you and your family.I have been practicing this approach for many years.I also use the holistic approach for my pets and their quality of life is the better for it.
Working and taking care of a child,is not easy and I salute you for spending most of your free time with Calvin.
Let me know,if I ever can help.
B.
Here is a link to a Britax Regent on sale for $165.00! This particular 5-point seat goes up to 80 lbs!!!
Check out the Britax Frotntier. I guess it replaced the Regent. We have one and love it. Yes, it is a bit pricier but it will convert to a fullback and the backless booster so it will last a very time!
We have the Safety 1st Apex 65 - it is a high backed booster up to 100 lbs and you can use the 5 point harness to 65 lbs. It is very reasonably priced at Walmart for $110
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1071...
I have 2 Graco seats with 5 pt harnesses. One has a Simpson labeling (automotive- name not cartoon)- but it is made by Graco.
Very happy with it, does up to 100#
Hi T. - I hope that I'm not too late. Personally, I would not use a booster seat - please please please watch this video. I know the seat belt failure first hand, as the seat belts in a car that I used to have would un-click and come off all the time for no reason!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ
One of the car seats mentioned in the video - is the BRITAX REGENT. My daughter is 5 and just outgrew her Eddie Bauer 5 point seat. I had been wanting to get the Britax for her for a long time, but the time just never seemed right. $$
I don't know if it is still the case or not, but we were on our way to Orlando and I was reading the sale ads from the Sunday paper while my husband was driving. I almost fell out of the car as the Britax Regent was on SALE for $179 reduced from $____@____.com went to the store immediately - and discovered that it is a Target.com sale only, the seat is not in the stores. I ordered it right away, and at the time, Target was having a promotion for free shipping on orders over $50! The seat is installed in our Durango now and my daughter loves it!We travel a lot due to my husband's racing business - so she spends lots of time in it regularly and couldn't be happier. It is easy to fasten into the car via the latch system - and has a fully adjustable 5 point harness - good up to 80 lbs! The reviews say that it is very stain resistant - I sprayed ours with Scotch Guard anyway, (I did it with her 4 year old car seat when it was new and it still looks brand new) and everything has just wiped right out. I highly, recommend this seat, and can't say enough how important it is to use the latch system and 5 point harness car seat rather than a booster. Good luck!
PS: if the youtube link above doesn't work, go to you tube, and search "5 point harness" and watch the first video posted by kcmillerfamily.