5 Point Harness Car Seat for a 5 Year Old

If you want to keep using the 5pt harness you will have to buy a new seat with a higher weight limit. The weight limit on the seat means that it didn't pass the testing process past that weight limit. Saying that though if you're going to have to buy a new seat anyway , you might as well get a seat that she's going to be using for the next 4 years instead of having to buy two. I have a 5 yr old that fits great in his booster seat. We use the Graco highback booster.

Even though she fits comfortably in the seat that doesn't mean it's still safe for her to sit that way. Because she is over the height and weight limits for the harness, it could fail whereas the seatbelt is designed for the upper limits. The manufacturer recommendations are there for a reason. It's not really a matter of opinion.

If you want her to continue in a 5-point harness I highly recommend looking at Britax. They have 5-point harness seats that will take a kid to 80 or 100lbs. My 5 year old is in one now that will take him to 80lbs!

Addition
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I have to respectfully disagree that a carseat/five point harness is there to make sure a child behaves. The five point harness is there to securely position and hold a child in a carseat without the slack that is afforded by a regular seatbelt. Small children need the five points to keep them securely held in place in their seat.
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Hi B..

I agree that you should only use a carseat as it is specified regarding the weight/height requirements.

That said, I was nowhere near comfortable putting my 4 year old who had grown out of his convertible carseat into a booster/seatbelt positioner. We actually tested one, and he had WAY too much ability to maneuver out of the seatbelt, which doesn't stay constricted.

They make a good many 5 point harness carseats that have MUCH HIGHER weight/height limits these days, at least up to 65 pounds, some even up to 80 or 100 pounds, I'm recalling correctly. We decided to purchase a new 5 point harness carseat with a higher weight/height limit, and that has worked well for us.

I know purchasing a new carseat can be expensive, but when it comes to our children's safety, I know most of us mom's will do what is needed. Maybe with a 5 year old, you are less concerned with her playing with the seatbelt, or wiggling out of it, so you could opt for the belt positioning booster seat. Perhaps she is mature enough to sit properly with the seatbelt. But either way, I would not continue using the carseat beyond it's designated weight/height limit. If/when you decide to move to a belt positioning booster seat, please make sure you test it first to be sure it properly secures the seatbelt on your daughter. Lots of info how they should fit online.

I actually work for a major car insurance company in the medical claims department, and we do carseat checks, etc. And the last poster was right about how many carseats aren't properly used, and the number of injuries the result.

Best wishes in making your choice!

There are specifics around where the belts should hit on your child (i.e. shoulder part should be above her where it comes out of the seat.) They should be outlined or diagrammed in the manual. Assuming your dd meets those guidelines, if it were me, I would keep her in the 5-point. It's definitely safer.

The only think that would make me reconsider, other than appropriate fit, is if all of her friends are out of their 5 pts. and she is aware of it. I personally believe that it is important to let kids do things that are developmentally appropriate within reason, and since she meets the height/weight requirements, I would make the switch if her peers were doing the same.

Most areas have a fire/police area that gives demos on how to properly install/use a carseat(they are trained on many types/brands). I have a alpha omega elite series carseat, and my son is very little (for a five year old). They showed me the proper way to use the harness, and showed me where he was in growth terms(I could go either way, as he's not in weight requirement, but almost in height--I double checked with manufacturer), and when I needed to get a new booster.

For me, the harness was there to make sure he behaved. Just the knowledge that he "could" be placed in it if he didn't act properly in a car had him behaving properly.

That said, if YOU are more comfortable with a harness, shop for another booster seat. Even a perfect fit isn't always safest.

Keep her in until 8yrs/80lbs with the 5 point harness! If she still fits the 5pt, keep using it. If the highest shoulder strap hole is less than an inch or two above the top of her shoulder then she's fine. Once her shoulder goes an inch or two above the highest shouler strap slot then it's time for a larger car seat. I suggest getting another 5pt car seat, like the Britax Regent. The price is down to 159 online. Order fast as Britax is apparently going to retire this wonderful model. We have this model for our 5 year old triplets and an extra in Dad's car. They are strictly 5pt with NO booster transition, which boosters are useless in a high impact accident. Too many deaths using those! So stick with a 5pt car seat as long as possible!

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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I would keep her in it, as long as the shoulder straps fit.

Hi B., I'm so glad to see you post this question. I have the exact same car seat. My daughter is only 3, but I was wondering the same thing, at what point do I switch to the regular seat belt even if she still fits with harness. Personally, I believe if my daughter still fits in the 5 point harness, that is safest for her. I just purchased the Britax Regent for her after reading all of the other replies to your post! Thank you so much.
~A.

I would reccomed the five point harness. Just get one that is appropiate for her weight a height. I liked the five point harness because my daughter couldn't get out of it on her own. One day on the express way she unbuckled the car seat belt and climbed into the front. After almost having a heart attack and having to pull over to strap her back in. I immediately switched back to the five point harness.

You CANNOT USE THE CAR SEAT OVER THE WEIGHT LIMITS! They are there for a reason, that is the max weight the car seat passed crash testing with the harness. If you use it over the weight limit, you are playing with danger, as the harness was only tested and passed at 40lbs, anything over that the integrity of the seat will be tested.

If her shoulders are over the top harness slot, you MUST STOP USING THE HARNESS! If she is over the weight limit you MUST STOP USING THE HARNESS! These aren't suggestions, these are set in stone, and are there for a reason. It is extremely dangerous for her to be using the harness over the weight limit ,and she's at a very serious risk for spinal compression if her shoulders are over the top harness slot, even in a minor collision.

Also, you CANNOT USE WINTER COATS OR BULKY CLOTHING in the car seat! In a crash, these things will compress, leaving the harness loose and subjecting your child to ejection from teh car/car seat or being thrown violently forward too far.

The combination seats like the Eddie Bauer make terrible booster seats. The seat is too wide and the belt path puts the lap portion of the belt over the abdomen. SEe the picture in this article, this is an Eddie Bauer combination seat. See how poorly the belt is fitting this 5yr old, the shoulder portion is way too low and the lap portion is up on her abdomen. http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/12/iihs-rates-... In a crash, this girl would have her torso thrown forward and her abdomen would stop the belt.... nothing but soft tissue until it hits the spine. This is called SEATBELT SYNDROME, please look it up.

Purchase a dedicated booster seat for her. You can find a very good high back booster (always go high back for her age group) for $50 at Wal Mart. The Graco Turbobooster fits kids very well and will last her until she is old enough and large enough (8yrs old, 4'9") to sit in the adult belt alone.

I'm honestly shocked that anyone would recommend you continue to use it. 9 out of 10 car seats and booster seats are installed and used improperly, which is why car accidents are the #1 killer of children in the US. Please read the manual, install the seat properly, and use it properly every time. THe Manual has all the information you'd ever need to use the seat properly all the time.

I would keep using it until you feel comfortable or if she gets uncomfortable in it.