This question is really for the car seat nerds (and I meant that with all the possible love there is!).
I am a self-described car seat nerd. I have 3 children: a 7 year old, 4 year old and 6 month old. The 7 year old is in a Britax Regent, the 4 year old is in a Britax Roundabout and the 6 month old is still in her carrier. We will be moving her to the Roundabout within the next few months, putting the 4 year old in the Regent and trying to figure out what to do with the 7 year old.
He will be 8 this year and only 50 pounds. The law in Illinois is that kids need to be in car seats until they are 8 AND 80 pounds. He's going to need one for a LONG time.
I like the fact that he's still in a 5pt harness. We were thinking about the Britax Frontier 85. Is this the best seat for him? Is there something slightly less expensive, but still great with safety? Or is Britax still the best?
My dream would be to sell the Regent (because its such a huge and heavy seat) and get 2 Frontier 85's, but that's not quite in the budget at the moment!
For those of you who may want to respond with "just put him in a booster with the seat belt..." I am not there yet. I know that is not the best (safest) thing for him.
HELP!
Thanks Mamas!!
We own a Regent AND 3 of the Frontier85 seats. (Both of these seats are pretty heavy which is why we have doubles for my husbands truck.) WE LOVE THE FRONTIER85! Go with it. We tried the Graco Natilus in the store and just were NOT impressed.........
Well, at 8YO it's quite possible that he *does* have the maturity and size to sit properly in a good high-back booster (Sunshine Kids Monterey, Britax Parkway SG, Recaro ProBooster are among some well regarded ones in this department). But you know him best - if you feel he has the maturity for a booster, it's really a safe and appropriate option to consider, and at his age it's worth considering his input in the decision, but if you feel he's not ready developmentally, then the Frontier or Nautilus would be good choices. Of course, if he doesn't mind being in a 5 pt., great, and the Frontier would be an excellent choice, plus you have 2 younger children who could possibly use it when you transition him to a booster (BTW what are the expiry dates on the Roundabout and the Regent - IIRC their expiry dates are 6 years from date of manufacture.)
I couldn't believe 8 years and 80 lbs, because very few 8 years weigh 80 lbs. Your state law says nothing about weighing 80lbs. It isn't the weight in a booster, but the height anyway. They should be 4'9" to fit in a regular seat belt. It is were the belts hits the kids in the neck not on the shoulder that makes it unsafe.
It doesn't matter the law, it is what you are comfortable. The safest thing would be a 5 point. You should get one 85 Frontier for your 7. When your middle, or youngest grow out of their car seat get the second one. Keep your kids in a 5 point as long as you want, good for you. Plus if you get your oldest in a booster the middle will want it too. You will get your use out of the Frontier with 2 more kids coming up to use it.
Get the frontier! Best reviews that I have seen....Good luck.
M
My son is also 8 yr old and only 50lbs. He is also several inches away from the height limits. He loves his Regent. He has a high back booster for dad's car and hates it. He may be in a 5 pt until he is 10 at this rate. Both my kids prefer the 5 pt for comfort. Here is a site that might help you make your own choice.
5 point is the best!! Good for you to want to keep your son in one! I vote Britax. I won't put my son in anything else.
But if you are wanting to go cheaper the Graco Nautilus is the next competitor.
I've heard things about the Sunshine Kids Radian XTSL is also a very good seat. If I were to buy another seat, I'd get my son this one. I've heard many good things, and I love the description of them.
I have frustrated my husband many times to find the right car seat for my children. I have tried the seat belt booster for my 4 year old, but was really uncomfortable with my son in it. As soon as he fell asleep he would slump over leaving him totally vunerable in a crash. We changed his seat to the britax frontier. The harness gives me peace of mind and not to mention he seemed alot more comfortable in it while sleeping. My 2 year old still uses the britax marathon. These days you just cant just compromise price for safety. Im sure there are also less expensive comparable boosters out there. We found ours on amazon for about $200 and some websites you can find coupon codes online for discounts. Good luck!
I'm all for harnessing as long as humanly possible! We love the britax frontier 85!! There are good deals online if you look for new in box on eBay or at www.albeebaby.com. Glad you want to be safe! We were in a fatality accident with my daughter in the britax marathon so their safety reputation to me is proven. Plus what I've researched online. HTH!
Graco Nautilus. It's the best for height and weight. It also converts from a 5 point harness to a high back booster to just a booster.
With the Nautilus you can also booster train him. If he's not listening to sitting the right way in the booster, pull over and put the harness straps back on him. You won't have to change seats. :)
We love our Graco Nautilus . Cheapest I've found it is Amazon.
We also have the Graco Nautilus 3 in 1. My son is 6 and 37 lbs so according to that law would be in a booster till he's 24. The Graco you can use as a 5pt, a booster andcthen backless booster once your child reaches the correct size...and your comfort level.
My oldest son is now 8.5 and was in a Regent up until last year, his choice! He has mild aspergers and hated the feeling of the regular seatbelt, it wasn't constricting enough for him. When he decided at almost 8 he wanted a booster I bought a Sunshine Kids monterey and it was a great choice. Its headwings give him a sense of security and the seat is super comfortable and fits him great. He's almost 9yrs old, 4'3" tall and about 65lbs. Tall and skinny!
That being said, at 7yrs old a booster is appropriate for your son, but I get wanting to keeping him harnessed (my5.5yr old is in the Regent now and my 3.5yr old daughter can still ride rear facing!) the Frontier85 is a great seat, and you know your son best and how he will ride in a booster.
Another option is to keep him in the Regent and get your 4yr old a Nautilus. They are great seats too.
My 8 year old daughter uses the Frontier 85 and loves it. She is 62 lbs and 4'7 and still fits very comfortably.
I just got my daughter the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 a couple months ago. She loves it! I feel so much better with her in that seat than her old one (a cheap one).
She's probably still going to be in that 5-point harness at age 7 as well :) She'll be 5 next month & hasn't quite made it to 40 lbs. Maybe she'll upgrade to booster in high school! hehe I'm 26 and I barely meet the requirements to be out of a booster! LOL probably really do need one haha
