Car Seats - Puyallup,WA

All the carseats are made to become boosters that say they can be used as boosters. You simply take out the straps and use the seat belt instead. You can see the grooves on the high sides where the seat belt goes through when it's strapped. This holds the seat belt across the chest and it won't slide up over the chin.

If you buy a forward facing car seat that is not a booster it won't have those grooves for the seat belt.

And if you don't remove the straps on the ones that turn into boosters the kiddo's sit on the buckles and straps and it hurts.

If anyone wants to argue this point then please go to this Britax link, it shows the forward facing infant car seat being transformed into a full out booster. They move the back up and then eventually remove the straps.

http://www.realmomreviews.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/...

Just an FYI that there's a drawback to the combo seats. The booster will still weigh a ton like a normal car seat. That's fine if they plan on keeping it in the same car but is not a plus if it will be moved around. Regular boosters are piece of cake to transfer between cars because they're so lightweight.

Just something to take into consideration, esp. if your in-laws are seniors and/or have back issues.

No. It is not made to be used like that. NEVER alter a car seat... (Unless it is the type that converts to all stages... I'm assuming you are talking about a convertible car seat...)

Plus, your daughter still NEEDS to be in a harness. She is way too young to merely have the adult strap adjusted. In a wreck, her little body wouldn't be able to take the force. The harness puts the force on her collarbone- which is much stronger than the shoulder.

Why not just use it with the harness? What is the point of taking the straps off? She still has a good 14 lbs and 7 inches to grow before meeting the limitations of it... That should be at least another year! Even if your seat IS the type that 'transforms' to a high backed booster, you should use the harness until she outgrows it. It is the safest thing for her.

When she hits 40 lbs, buy a new seat that is made to position the seat belt.

ETA: Aaaah. If it is made to convert, then of course you can take the straps off once she hits 40 lbs as the manual directs... I got confused because you asked if you should take off the straps, OR wait until she is 40 lbs... So I thought you were talking about taking them off now. If she happens to outgrow height before she hits 40 lbs, then you will want to change it over. (You make the change once she outgrows any one of the limitations, not when she hits all.)

yes, as long as she is 4 years old and 40 pounds, then I don't see a problem with switching her to the booster at that time :)

Do you already own the seat? Or are you looking to buy one? If you're going to buy, I would get either the Graco Nautilus or the Britax Frontier. If you already have one, it sounds like it's a fine seat to give her. Just remember that most kids will outgrow the height before the weight, so she might be too light for a standard booster when she reaches the height limit of the current seat.

Graco Nautilus 3 in 1 harnessed booster till 65 high back booster till 100

You should NEVER put a child in a booster unless she/he is at least 40 lbs. And ideally at LEAST 5 years old. But you need to see how mature she is; some kids take longer to sit properly.

Use the harness for now (ideally rear-facing if she has enough shell above her head). Then continue to use the harness forward-facing until she's about to outgrow it.

I'd look into a new booster when the time comes; a specific booster, that is. But if she's 26 lbs. now, then 40 lbs. is YEARS away. So, she will likely not fit this seat by height then. Hence, new booster.