Car Seat for a Large Toddler

AT 18 months, your daughter isn't old enough for the frontier. To start using it, a child has to be 2 year old an 25 lbs - according to the manufacturer. Britax has sales twice a year (february and septemeber). Last sale, the frontier went down to $209.

The Graco Nautilus (not sure if that's the one you tried) is a car seat that's highly recommended that converts to a high back booster and then a no back booster. However, with your daughter being so young (and car seats do expire), you might want to look into traditional convertibles. Roomy ones that fit bigger kids are the True Fit (usually found at Target), the Britax Marathon/Boulevard, Radian (though this can be hard to install), Britax Regent.

One option you may want to consider is a combination seat.

We have recently purchased a combination seat for my 3 year old that is 35 lbs and 37 inchs and after doing all the research we came down to two seats: Graco Natualis ($130) and the Evenflo Chase ($70). Combination seats are a booster seat with a 5 point harness (I think these are recommended for children over 34 lbs). The 5 point harness is made to be removed once the child is over age 4 and 40 lbs (at which point the child would use the regular seat belt with the seat). I have heard/read great things about some others (mainly the Britax), but they were much more pricey.

Below are two websites that I found very helpful. At the second website I listed you can enter your cars make and model and it will list seats with the best safety rating for your particular car.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/nhtsa_eou/info.jsp?type=combi...

http://www.carseatdata.org/search

I too have a large toddler and went through the same dilema. The Graca didn't seem roomy enough. I ended up buying the Britax Frontier on sale at amazom.com for $229 a few months ago. This carseat is fantastic!!! It's roomy, comfortable and easy to use. It doesn't convert to a backless booster, but once we get to that point, those are relatively inexpensive. I highly recommend the Frontier. I'm sure it will go on sale again soon.

Good luck!

Graco Nautilus $180 Harness 65lbs HBB 100lb tallest harness height is 17in. If you want you can use as HBB at 40lb but why would you when your child is safer in a harness then in an adult seatbelt. Harness and HBB is good for 6years LBB is good for 9years. I have this seat and love it. It installs rock solid in my 06 Pilot and in my friends 01 grand caravan. My 5yr old uses this seat as a harness and is on the 2ed to last slot. She will be 5 on Sunday 41 lbs 15in torso (measure child sitting down form butt to shoulder) 42in tall.

First years True fit $180 Rearface 35lbs FF 65lbs dose not convert to boster of any kind. Very roomy seat, deep shell and tallest of the RF seat. It has lock offs for easy install. it also has the no re-thread harness. When its time for your child to move up to the next harness slot, you lift up to knobs up by the head and lift to the next slot, no re-threading.

Radian 65,80 and XT. $219, $230, $280 All have the same shell height, but the 65 is good untill the child is 65lb and the 80 is good until 80lbs and the XT is good till 80lb. Also all seats RF to 35lbs. The added features on the XT is the adjustable side wings and smaller RF boot. It takes up the most room RF compared to other convertibles. its also the narrowest seat on the market and are able to do 3 across in many cars. However, the install is not fun until you learn the quirks of it.

Alpha Omega Elit Convertible by Cosco $170. Rf to 35lbs FF to 50lbs. no re-thread harness. easy seat to install.

Britax Boulavard $309 Rf 35lb FF 65lbs no re-thread hanress. very easy install has built in lock offs. I have this seat and love it. I get it rock sold in my 06 pilot any position and have installed it RF 01 grandcaravan 3rd row using latch.

Thoes are the seats I recomend because you can rear face your child until 35lbs, except for the Graco Nautilus. I think you would do best with the Trufit. Its roomy and has a deep shell and its not to bad on price. Very easy to install and adjust the harness height. I really hope you will RF your child as it is much safer. A childs neck bones do not fuse fully together until 4-6years of age. If in an accident your child could have severe neck injuries or interal decapitation. It is okay for your childs legs to touch the vechials seat. I would rather have broken legs then a neck injury or death. My 2.5year old is rideing rear facing. she is 30lbs and 32in tall with a torso of 15in. I live in the Goose Creek area and if you need any help installing your new seat in your car I am more then happy to help you.
When installing your seat, you can use LATCH or Seatbelt but not both at the same time because it may have been tested and failed or not tested at all. Also use the Tether. The seat can not move more then 1in at THE BELT PATH. go to car-seat.org. Its a website the encourages exteding RF and harnessing to the max of the seat limit or until the child out grows the seat by height or weight. There are car seat Techs there and not techs there. They can help you choose a seat thas right for you and your daughter and budget. If you have any install questions you can ask it there and everyone will help you. Good luck and happy car seat shopping.

We use a Graco Nautalis and love it. Our daughter is opposite of yours and is a small 5 year old. She is too tall for most car seats, but her weight is still below 40 pounds. This car seat will stay with her after the 5 point harness as a back booster and eventually a backless booster. It is around $150-$170, but I think it is well worth it!

It's been a while since I looked at carseats, but I can highly recommend the Britax line. I too was a little stunned by the price when I purchased my first one for my 3rd child in late 2004, but it was worth every penny. I bought it because of the safety ratings and it was an outstanding investment!

In April 2006 we were T-boned by a speeding Ford Explorer. The car was totaled. My almost 8 year was seriously injured, as was I, but my then toddler was only shaken up, showered in glass, and had some strap bruises.

I have the Boulevard and the Frontier. They both work great. One thing you need to think about as far as price is concrened is this- Isn't my child worth and extra $100? That's the reasoning my husband gave me when we first bought the Boulevard. So when we had our 2nd, when it was time for him to move out of the carrier, he got the Boulevard and I didn't hesitate to get the Frontier for my daughter.

My 14 month old is 28 pounds, 33 inches... and fits great in the Britax Boulevard.

Hi,
We just got the Britax Frontier a few months ago and love it. Our son is four and weighs 53 pounds and very tall. I know the Britax is a lot of money, but you will have it for a long time. I bought mine when they were having a sale at Babies R Us and I had a coupon. Both very easy to get with that store. Also, they have a new rewards program. If you sign up for the free rewards program, they will give you credit with your purchases and send you gift certificates, etc. Hope this helps!

Hi B.,

I've purchased several things from AlbeeBaby.com - they often have name brand items on sale for much more reasonable prices. here's their Britax sale items. they carry other brands too & shipping is usually free on purchases over $100

http://www.albeebaby.com/britax-sale-items.html

I don't know much about the Britax line, but the Marathon says:
Recommended Ages: Newborn to 6 yrs.
For Children 5-33 lbs. Rear-Facing; 20-65 lbs. Forward-Facing

they have one girly pattern on sale for $179 right now.
http://www.albeebaby.com/britax-marathon-convertible-car-...

Keep in mind that the Roundabout only goes to 40 pounds.
Recommended Ages: Newborn to 5 yrs.
For Children 5-33 lbs. Rear-Facing; 20-40 lbs. Forward-Facing

So with a bigger kid, you'll probably want one that has more flexibility. You may even be able to try one out in a local store for fit & then order online with better prices. Some stores will even match online prices if you print it out - but many have a limit on how far they can put something on sale.

Good luck!
~P..

I agree with Marisa, You should keep her harnessed as long as possible! I will have my child harnessed until 65lbs, min! She may seem to be growing fast but her spinal cord is still very delicate. Children are internally decapitated in simple 40 mph crashes when forward facing too soon. Please consider keeping her RF until the max weight on her seat. When you do turn her, keep her harnessed. This allows less movement it a crash, protects her organs from damage, including her brain and keeps her in the seat! Best of luck!