Volvo XC90 Car Seat

You are right, it is MUCH safer to keep him in a 5 point harness until he is at least 40 pounds or more - depending if your car seat has a harness weighted to 40 or above pounds. As a Child Passenger Safety Technician and Instructor, we see kids put in booster seats too soon. Offering the 5 poings of restraint with the internal harness of the car seat is what is suggested. After that, as long as you follow the instructions of the integrated seat in your Volvo, he is as safe in that as a typical booster seat. I am guessing by what you wrote that the integrated seat can also be used as a booster...Safety is always worth the trouble and the tantrums that sometimes come with it :)

Good morning M.,
I had a problem with my daughter in the 5 point harness seat. She would play with the straps over her shoulders and take em off. I would put them tight but she would wiggle out of it. So i got her the Cosco Highrise Booster seat which if for 30-100 pounds. I also got her the Graco High Back Turbo Booster Seat which is for 3-10 yrs. Works out for her. By the way she is turning 4 in 2 months is 40 1/2 inches and 34 lbs.

Hi M.,

I just bought an XC90 and I love it!

My son is 3 years old, 33 pounds and just over 38 inches tall.

He loves the booster seat cuz it makes him feel like a big boy. I have mixed feelings cuz i like not having to deal with the car seat. I will probably install it and have him use it until he is a little taller....I just don't like where the seat belt comes across by his neck...I think he should be a little taller even though the specs on the Volvo say he is safe.

Trust your intuition...it is the best guide.

I want to make my son happy but I know his safety is the most important.

I hope this helps.

Blessings,
R.

Hi M.,

I have the same car, and my son is also 4 (almost!!! he turns four on Jan. 29). He is 40 1/2" and 36 pounds and is still in a car seat where he will stay until he reaches the maximum for that seat! I know it is frustrating when they say they don't like it and don't want to be in it, but safety is more important than their stated "wants" in this case! I like what one of the other moms said (because I said so!), but you can also use "If you want to go to the park, birthday party, playdate, movie, you ride in your seat." Or, my personal favorite: "I hear what you said. Nevertheless, you must ride in your seat." End of story!

Once he realizes you're not changing based on a tantrum, it will eventually stop.

Good luck!

J.

Hi M.,
You also need to look into state laws, as far as I know, and I could be wrong, but I thought California state law said they could not be in a booster until 4 years and 4 lbs. Also, if you car has ever been in an accident, you might want to have the built in carseat checked. I know from experience, that after an accident a carseat needs to be replaced. I personally, and this is just my opinion, would keep him in the 5 point harness as long as possible, even if he hates it. It's much safer for him (and seeing my son in a car accident where the rear passenger side was completely caved in and the car was totalled, was enough for me to keep him in anything that will keep him safer- by the way thanks to his Britax Marathon he walked away with some bruises and a swollen shoulder that after a week was completely fine)I know the tantrums are hard, but he has to be safe no matter how much he hates it. I would check state laws and make your decision based on that. Hope this helps,
Take care,
H.

My son will be 4 in April, he too is 34lbs and 39 inches tall. He is the smallest in his preschool class so that tells me something. I just recently got him in to the Britax Regent (5pt harness until 80lbs or so!). Not trying to tell you to do what I did but really your little guy is too little for a booster. Both of my kids 3.5 and 6 have no idea what a booster seat is (they are both in a Regent), and even if they did and "hated" their regent and begged for a booster, they wouldn't get one. You aren't alone, I hear of parents often moving their child to a booster because A) the kids wants it or B) it's cheaper. Neither is a valid reason. I vote, if I have a vote - LOL! For you to keep him in a 5pt harness a bit longer. Have a look at the Volvo book, you say the weight is 33-80 lbs but do they have a height recommendation? I could see the lower weight being OK if the child is too tall for a 5pt harness.

If you don't find the help you need here, contact your Highway patrol and have them inspect him in the Volvo seat and see what they say.

Best wishes,
M.

I think you can have a little leeway. No one is going to weigh him.

Well, the first question is if you mean the built in BOOSTER pillow, or if your XC90 comes with an actual built in carseat?
We have a XC90, which has a built in BOOSTER pillow.(no sides)
My children are 7 1/2 and 6, and neither of them are allowed to sit on the Volvo booster yet, simply because the seatbelt does not hit at the right place on their shoulder yet, never mind height and weight. They on the other hand sit in a regular Graco booster seat. (full seat, not just the pillow)
This will be one of those opportunities to use:
"Because I said so!"
Keep in mind if you are using a booster seat with 5-point harness - the belt need to be able to carry the weight of your child...some boosters will take more (Up to 80) some only to 55lbs (I know your child is not near there now, but just as a reminder)
Just my 2 cents.
E.

A harness seat is safer than a booster.

Two high-weight harness seat suggestions are the Britax Regent (already mentioned on this thread) and the Sunshine Kids Radian80. Both will hold a child in a harness up to 80 pounds.

There are also several seats that are rated up to 65 pounds that will keep your child safer than a booster seat.

You might also look at the SafeGuard Go. It is essentially a "booster with a harness." It does require the use of a tether anchor (which your vehicle has). It is rated up to 60 lbs and 52 inches in the harness mode. It weighs only 9 pounds and comes with a carrying case.

Take a look at: http://www.safeguardseat.com/go/index.htm

Because I care.

-- M.
__________________
M. Cohen, Passionate Child Passenger Safety Technician / Instructor
Burbank CA
Loving Step-Father of M. Monique
Loving Grandfather of Alec Jaye

"Again this year, Alec and his mommy won't be visiting Grandma for the holidays."