Seeking a Recommendation on a New Car Seat (For Taller Toddlers)

We have a recaro. My daughter was 40 inches at her 3 year appointment. She's now nearly 44 inches at over age 4, and she's still in it and it's comfortable. Very easy to install.

I have a 40 inch almost 3 year old and we just bought the Birtax Frontier it is fantastic a little expensive but he loves it. It is roomy and has cup holders and he can not undo the 5 point harness. It is a toddler seat good up to at least 80 pounds. I hope that helps

Gillian
Depending if you only have to have one car seat in the car I would look a the Britax regent style. It is a very tall back with a 5 point harness and can convert to a booster when he is ready.
J.

We have a tall toddler, too, and have a Recaro seat that works well. Here's a site that might help:
http://wize.com/car-seats/brand/recaro

The Nautilus will probably give you the best bang for your buck. My 5yo is just on the second from top sets of straps at 42lbs. Britax also makes a similar model called the Frontier. It costs more but if you have the budget it would probably be worth looking at. I have owned a lot of carseats over the years with 4 kids, and my Britax seats have been my favorites because they are so easy to install and clean and still look practically new at the end of their lifespan. Britax does have an extra large model called the Regent. We actually have one of those. It is a tall and wide seat but it is great for the big kid. My son needed it when he got to tall for his 65lb limit seat but wasn't mature enough to sit properly in a booster. But it seems a bit big for my more average size daughters and it is currently sitting in the basement while I debate whether I am going to sell it. I am sure they could use it quite safely but it has some quirks to installation that make it kind of a pain to use in our van - it severely limits where we can put certain kids. A good website to check out might be albeebaby.com (and it is even one you can use goodshop through to support your favorite charity with your purchase.)

ETA - We also have the Radian that others have mentioned. It is great for fitting in tight spaces (think 3 across in a Focus). My husband likes it a lot. But it can be tricky to install with the seatbelt and I don't think it adjusts as smoothly as the others. Like the Regent, it won't convert to a booster after the harness is outgrown like either the Nautilus or Frontier would. Also, the 65lb version will be outgrown height-wise at the same time as the 80lb version so really only shorter heavier kids will need the Radian 80. Most are fine with the 65.

I have 2 girls, one is 2 and the other 5. They are both in the same car seat and have been since the youngest outgrew the car carrier. We have the Eddie Bauer 3 in 1, it is the convertible car seat that is good up to 100lbs (I Believe) rear facing, forward facing with 5 point harness and when your baby is old enough it can be used as a high back booster. you should be able to use this one seat until he doesn't need one anymore. I found ours at Babies R Us.

Hi Gillian,

I have the same problem with my son and I am going to get the Britax Frontier. I have a Britax Roundabout now and really like it - my son has never complained riding in it. Based on reviews, I think the Frontier is trickier to install but gets great reviews on safety. Plus it is made in the USA.

Good luck,
H.

We have the Sunshine Kids Radian 80 and we love it. It's supposed to be the only car seat you need, and holds up to 80 lbs. Here's where to find the info: http://www.skjp.com/product/185XX

...although I have seen it less expensive if you search the web a bit. My friend even got hers on ebay I think.

How about Britax? Their weight limits go pretty high, but not sure about height. They are one of the top-rated for safety.

Britax boulevard is I think the biggest out there. It also has the advantage of wings for side impact protection. It is for chilren up to 65lbs.

I really like the Radian for this. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Da... They are very highly rated and would fit them height wise until they are 4 ft 9 inches basically. My 9 yr old could easily fit in it (of course she is small).

Like another poster, we have a Sunshine Kids Radian 80 and love it.

We ran into the same problem with our son and ended up getting him a Cosco Apex 65 after doing some research online. He's on the second from the highest shoulder setting, but the top setting is waaay up there so it should be good for him for awhile with the 5-point harness like we wanted (he's 5 now, moved into it when he was 4). It works as a booster up to 100lbs as well I believe. My only complaint about it is the crotch slots are too close in, but I hear you can call the company and get a longer strap to make things a little easier -- I will probably be doing so for next winter when bulkier clothes are again an issue.

I have a tall 2 1/2 year old son as well! :) We use the Graco Nautilus. It has a five-point harness and eventually converts to a booster that is good up to 100 pounds. I did a bunch of research before deciding on the Nautilus, and we've been very happy. Hope this helps!

I would say for that age with a large child, either the Graco Nautilus (http://www.babyage.com/products/8j00mtx_graco_graco_nauti...) or The First Years True Fit (http://www.babyage.com/the_first_years/73880/the_first_ye...)

Both are newer seats on the market that have been adjusted to fit larger children. The Britax Marathon is great (I have one), but they outgrow it in height way before they hit the 65 lbs weight limit. Both of the two seats I mentioned have truer Height to weight and the slots adjust higher. Both also have a 5 pt harness that you can use to 65 lbs, which most seats on the market don't have. The Britax Regent (http://www.babyage.com/britax/53614/small/britax_frontier...) or Frontier (http://www.babyage.com/britax/53614/small/britax_frontier...) would work too, but just be advised that the Regent doesn't turn into a booster. It has a 5 pt harness to 80 lbs though....but I think alot of kids would be embarrassed at that age to still be in a baby seat. I am all for keeping kids in 5 pt harnesses for a longer time, I have my 5 year old in one still in one of my cars, but I think at that age they probably won't want to be.

The Nautilus is cheaper and very safe and fits well in almost all cars, and I have heard very easy to install. It gets fantastic ratings from just about everyone who uses it. I plan on buying one for my 1 year old once his current seat expires that he inherited from his older brother. And converts to both kinds of boosters so you won't have to buy another seat, so it gets my vote.

You can get alot of good carseat info from experts at this site. http://www.car-safety.org/. You can go on the forums and get reviews or ask questions from carseat techs. Invaluable resource and has taught me so much.

Good luck!

Greetings!! There is a great website that lists all of the "larger" 5-point harness car seats on the market. Several of the seats they recommend can be used with a child up to 80 lbs. The website is: www.kyledavidmiller.org (or google the Kyle David Miller Foundation).

The website was created by a family whose son was killed in a car wreck when the seat belt for his booster seat failed. It's a very tragic but touching story. They have a several car seat suggestions for kids up to 53 inches tall and up to 80 lbs. You should be able to find one that will accommodate even the tallest child! I know this family has done lots of research on this subject and they are very up-to-date with their reccommendations Hope this helps!!

I LOVE my Graco Nautilus!!!

Yes, I got my daughter the Britax Regent carseat. It is good up to 100 pounds and like 50 inches or something. They are very expensive like $300.00 but it is the nicest car seat I have ever owned. You can was it and the fabric still feels like new no pilling like with other cheap seats. I got mine on babyuniverse.com you may also want to check ebay. My daughter is currently 5 snd still fits in it comfortably so your son will have this chair for at least another 2 years and if you have other little ones they can use it too. I have the smaller version for my 2 year old.

The Graco Nautilus is great...you won't ever need another car seat. Has a 5 point harness up to 65 lbs and then turns into a highback booster, and then a backless booster. My 2.5 yr old is over 3 ft tall, and has plenty of room to grow. My 4.5 year old still has plenty of room to grow also. I highly recommend it! Also, fyi, is at a great price on Amazon.

Hi, I'm not sure which one you're currently use. My daughter
is also 2 and half years old, and she is tall, always above
the 95% height chart. She is sitting in a Britax Marathon, well fitted, you could bring your son to target or BRU to try it.

I second the Graco Nautilus. It's so much more comfortable than the Radian80 (we had that for a short stint, but didn't fit right in my '98 Accord due to the way the buckles were situated in the car). The Radian is good if you need something really narrow in your car, but I was concerned my also-large toddler would outgrow it width-wise. The Nautilus doesn't break the bank at about $150, and it has a cupholder and two little cubbies on the sides that my son loves. It also converts to a backed booster and then backless booster for when he's above the 65-lb. limit in the 5-pt. harness. Elitecarseats.com has some great reviews and information, as well as free shipping! Check them out- they are #1 in customer service.

My son will be 3 in August and is well over 3 feet tall. This seat fits him great!

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012738

don't know the model name, but britax makes a huge booster seat w/ a 5-point harness and good through 80lbs. it is safe for kids from ages 1 and up (might be 2 and up, but either way, your toddler is w/in the age range). it looks something like a regular carseat, but i'm pretty sure that you can use it w/ a regular seat belt, too, once your child is old enough for that kind of thing.

good luck!