Hi, We have two cars and 4 car seats. Our kids are ages 4 and 5. I want to remove the smallest car seat from our lesser used car since it's the only one that is 20-40 lbs (I think the others are 20 - 80lbs) and give it to goodwill or a friend or whatever, since it's still perfectly good. Our son, the 4 year old is 37.5lbs and is just under the height limit by a few inches.
I'm not proposing him moving into a booster seat, which is what we would put in the more used car for our 5 year old (moving the remaining 20-80lbs seat to the other car....) but our son loooooves to sit in that smallish seat, perhaps remembering the baby days??!?
He barely fits into it, but is still under the height and weight limit by a smidge. We keep weighing him and measuring him and while he's been out growing everything he doesn't seem to go up or put on more weight. My husband is perfectly fine with him riding in the smaller seat, but it makes me nervous, since he's so close and just seems so large in this seat. Also, he'll be 4.5 at the end of October and some of his peers are riding in booster seats already.
I don't think he's ready for the booster seat, maturity-wise, but I just want him in the bigger seat, the 20 - 80lbs one that would be moved to that car.
I've looked up regulations etc... and it does just say 40lbs and a particular height... but nothing discusses being a tiny bit under. Any opinions?
I haven't swapped around the car seats yet, but it seems most people here misunderstood me. I DO NOT want to move him to a booster, as many argued against as well. I would put his sister in the booster, since she is 5 and over 40lbs. he would be in the larger car seat -- the 20-80lbs one, VS the 20-40lbs one he loves.
This was frustrating.
I think a car seat is safer than a booster even if it's only a little till he grows out of it. If you show him the numbers when he gets too big and are matter a fact about changing, no waffling, then he ought to be fine. Like a pacifier that has to go because big boys don't do that.
He needs to be 40 lbs. before moving to a booster, but that is a bare minimum. Since he is not even 5 (or mature, you say), I would not booster him any time soon.
If he is below 40 lbs. and the straps are ABOVE his shoulders (the height regulations don't mean much, you need to SEE where the straps are), he can stay in the smaller harnessed seat. The weight, though, you need to follow to the exact pound.
So, again, ignore the height limit and see if he REALLY fits, meaning the straps come from above his shoulders, or are at it. If they are below, he cannot be in that seat anymore. A larger harnessed seat would be great until age 6 or more.
Why does this make you nervous? Are you concerned that he wouldn't effectively be safe in an accident?
My six year old is still in his Britax Marathon. We walk to school so there's no peer pressure. We've told him that when he actually physically outgrows it, THEN we will get him a booster. It will be a five-point harness booster, too.
Do all you can to keep him safe. If he's inching up but loving his seat, then wait until he's actually *out* of it, measurement-wise. He'll be safer in a solid five point carseat until then. I see so many parents putting their little ones (even three year olds) into flimsy boosters (I'm not saying you are, just noticing the trend) and it is pretty scary. Most of those won't do much to protect kids in a real accident, esp. when they are so little. If the shoulder straps are still fitting correctly and he still fits weightwise, let him keep it for a little longer.
Let him continue to use the seat until he is at either the height or weight limit (as you pointed out, it won't be long now) and then move him because you have to for his safety. Until then, leave it alone.
As for giving it away, make sure there are no recalls and it has not expired before you do so.
Put a call I to the car seat manufacturer. They will advise you.
AV how did a four and half year old sit rear facing. Could not have been very safe. Where were her legs.
There are really good high back boosters with five point harness.
What about finding a highback booster with a harness?
http://www.target.com/p/graco-nautilus-3-in-1-harness-boo...
Go with what he fits into and is safe in. If he is too small, don't put him in the other seat. My DD is 5 and still in her convertible seat and 5 pt harness. She is just 34.5 lbs. and I didn't forward face her seat til she was 4.5 (and she says she liked the RF view better). Do not look at what his classmates are in. Simply go with what is safe for your kid and if anybody asks, say this is the safest seat for him. If he is not ready? He's not ready. Better safe than sorry.
FYI - Goodwill will not take used car seats. The only place that I know of that will is the local police department to use as demonstrations. Also, check the expiration date and see if there are any recalls before you give to a friend.
For your son, I would go with the bigger car seat. It won't be long until he is too big anyway.
