Need New Convertible Carseat for My 3Yo Who Complains About the Crotch Strap...

Updated on July 17, 2010
M.S. asks from Newport Beach, CA
9 answers

I have both Britax Marathon and Britax Roundabout for my 3yo son (one for my car the other for the grandparents car). He has started to complain that the crotch strap is too tight and uncomfortable....and sometimes refuses to sit in it.

Has this happened to anyone else? Any suggestions on what seat to get him now?

Thanks!!!

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M.C.

answers from Honolulu on

Is he a big boy? I switched my daughter to a booster at 3, not because of comfort or size, but we were going on a long and involved trip and I did not want to lug a really big carseat around the country on and off planes. She was 36 pounds at the time. Maybe it is time for a booster which uses the car's seat belt and shoulder strap.

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T.P.

answers from Tuscaloosa on

We bought the britax regent when my son was 2 1/2. We also had the britax boulevard. The regent is what he now uses. It's AWESOME but HUGE! I love it and love that it will be the last carseat he'll ever need. The downside is that it's not very portable because it's so big. It fits in my Honda Pilot, but it wouldn't fit in a small car and I wouldn't move it between vehicles much.

It wouldn't fit in my husband's 2 door sportscar (nothing would), so I talked to the online customer support at www.elitecarseats.com and they suggested the Safeguard Go for us. I LOVE THAT WEBSITE! We bought the Safeguard Go (new on ebay) for my husband's car and it's pretty awesome too. Not as bulky/protective/comfy as the Regent, but it's like a booster seat with 5 point harness and LATCH. It has a removable back as your child gets older and folds up into a little bag for travel. The downside is that you have to have an upper tether hook in your car for the flexible back to hook onto. My son usually travels in my car, so the Go is only occasionally used.

Hope this helps! Happy shopping.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.C.

answers from Raleigh on

We just got britax frontier 85 seats for our 2 boys and there is 3 ways you can adjust crotch strap. Those are the best britax seats by far since we had the same issue with our Wizard.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Wichita on

Does your carseat have different slots for the crotch? My youngest really likes his Graco Nautilius 3 in 1 car seat. He is 4.5 y/o & 3' 8" tall. You could also take him to the store & have him try the car seats to see which one is the most comfortable.

God bless!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

I also suggest the Frontier 85. We have one and just ordered another one for our other child. The kids LOVE it! It's comfortable, 3 slots for the bottom buckle, 2 cup holders, and a really safe seat!

1 mom found this helpful

B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

At 3yrs old he's NOT ready for a belt positioning booster like stated below.

Try removing the padded cover from the crotch buckle, that will give him some extra space. My youngest started complaining about the crotch buckle at that age too in the Marathon, but it wasn't pinching him or hurting him, it wasn't tight just pressing on his boy bits and thats going to happen in any car seat. I jsut told him to suck it up and once he realized he wasn't going to die with the crotch buckle touching that area he was fine. :)

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

My 3 year old son has recently been complaining about the crotch strap in his Marathon, too. We have a Frontier that I'm going to switch him into soon, maybe even this weekend. I wish the Marathon was adjustable!

K.
http://oc.citymommy.com - Now is the time to join a free, fun community of local moms!

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M.

answers from Las Vegas on

We have the Britax Regent - got it for my daughter around 3 yrs and she's 5 now, still sitting in it. My hubby jokes with her telling her that she'll still be a teen before mommy lets her out of it. :) Anyway, the only con to the seat is that it is HUGE/Bulky. We have a Ford Escape but between that seat and a Britax Boulevard, we lose a whole seat space in the back.

Y.C.

answers from New York on

Hi,
We also wanted to buy the best carseat, so we got the Britax Advocate Click & Safe Convertible Car Seat. I really like it and it makes me feel comfortable having such a safe carseat. However, the straps sometimes get very tight on my kid legs and therefore also tight the crotch harness. I think is because my daughter wiggles a lot and as she pull from her chest it gets tight on her legs/crotch.
I took the body pillow to give her more space and that help, and I have to keep balance the straps so they are more tight in the chest and no so tight in her legs.
Other then that, she is very happy in her seat and I am very happy for such a safe carseat.
PS: It is very bulky, but I think it has to be bulky because of the extra protection.
I also Kim C. have a good idea and you can bring him to the store and check what he feel comfortable.

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