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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Booster Seat
At what age did you move your LO over to the booster seat in the car?
My DD is almost 5 1/2 and we have the Graco Nautilus which converts to a high back booster. Just wondering if it's a good time to make the switch.
Any thoughts? TIA. 
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Posted 1/15/14 9:53 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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ABCiverson
<3 my family
Member since 1/06 7465 total posts
Name:
Amanda
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Re: Booster Seat
My girls are 6 years old and 7.5 years old and in the same seat. Both still in the 5 point harness.
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| Posted 1/15/14 10:04 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Booster Seat
DS outgrew the seated height of the Britax Boulevard at 4 1/2. He is over the 97% in height. We switched him to the Britax Parkway SGL (with latch to 100 lbs.) It is a convertible HBB. He is almost 6 1/2 and he still uses it with the back. I have no plans on removing the back from the seat. I like that it still has a crotch strap and latch. Our vehicles can accommodate latch to 100 lbs too. DD is almost 4 1/2 and still in the Britax Boulevard.
Message edited 1/15/2014 10:21:07 PM.
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| Posted 1/15/14 10:19 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Booster Seat
At this age, it's a maturity thing as long as she meets the size requirements.
Start with training her in a booster first. If your DH has seats in his car, convert his first. There are a lot of freedoms that come with just the seatbelt and it's a different thing for them to get used to. Start by using it on short rides, 5-10 minutes. Teach her to stay in position, not to play with the belt, undo it, put it under her arm/behind etc.
The belt should fit her properly as well. The lap portion should be on the upper thigh, not the belly. The shoulder belt should come across the shoulder not the neck or falling off the shoulder. The knees should bend at the seat egde and her butt should be all the way back, not scooched forward.
http://nextkidthing.com/?p=4140
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| Posted 1/16/14 9:27 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by tara73
At this age, it's a maturity thing as long as she meets the size requirements.
Start with training her in a booster first. If your DH has seats in his car, convert his first. There are a lot of freedoms that come with just the seatbelt and it's a different thing for them to get used to. Start by using it on short rides, 5-10 minutes. Teach her to stay in position, not to play with the belt, undo it, put it under her arm/behind etc.
The belt should fit her properly as well. The lap portion should be on the upper thigh, not the belly. The shoulder belt should come across the shoulder not the neck or falling off the shoulder. The knees should bend at the seat egde and her butt should be all the way back, not scooched forward.
http://nextkidthing.com/?p=4140
Thanks for the tips.
I'm sure she'd be fine if I switch her. She never even tried to mess with or get out of her carseat so I wouldn't expect that to change. She's pretty content back there. lol
But I'm nervous to make the switch, she just seems so secure being in her carseat. The seatbelt doesn't seem to be as safe. Maybe I'm just crazy. haha
I think I might end up leaving her for now. She's not complaining and she still looks perfectly comfortable in her carseat so maybe I'll just leave it alone for now.
Thanks everyone!
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| Posted 1/16/14 9:42 AM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by Hofstra26
I'm sure she'd be fine if I switch her. She never even tried to mess with or get out of her carseat so I wouldn't expect that to change. She's pretty content back there. lol
Mine never has tried to undo or mess with her harness either. But she has had to be reprimanded for leaning forward/to the side in the seat belt.
If you aren't comfortable, don't switch her yet. There is nothing that says you have to so long as she still fits in the harness. This is also part of why I suggest training in short intervals first. It's not just for them 
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| Posted 1/16/14 10:06 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by tara73
Posted by Hofstra26
I'm sure she'd be fine if I switch her. She never even tried to mess with or get out of her carseat so I wouldn't expect that to change. She's pretty content back there. lol
Mine never has tried to undo or mess with her harness either. But she has had to be reprimanded for leaning forward/to the side in the seat belt.
If you aren't comfortable, don't switch her yet. There is nothing that says you have to so long as she still fits in the harness. This is also part of why I suggest training in short intervals first. It's not just for them
LOL So true, I need more practice than her! 
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| Posted 1/16/14 10:45 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by LSP2005
DS outgrew the seated height of the Britax Boulevard at 4 1/2. He is over the 97% in height. We switched him to the Britax Parkway SGL (with latch to 100 lbs.) It is a convertible HBB. He is almost 6 1/2 and he still uses it with the back. I have no plans on removing the back from the seat. I like that it still has a crotch strap and latch. Our vehicles can accommodate latch to 100 lbs too. DD is almost 4 1/2 and still in the Britax Boulevard.
Isn't there a new recommendation that latch not be used in any vehicle when the child and the seat are over 65lbs? I thought I read this online the other day
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| Posted 1/16/14 10:51 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by LSP2005
DS outgrew the seated height of the Britax Boulevard at 4 1/2. He is over the 97% in height. We switched him to the Britax Parkway SGL (with latch to 100 lbs.) It is a convertible HBB. He is almost 6 1/2 and he still uses it with the back. I have no plans on removing the back from the seat. I like that it still has a crotch strap and latch. Our vehicles can accommodate latch to 100 lbs too. DD is almost 4 1/2 and still in the Britax Boulevard.
Isn't there a new recommendation that latch not be used in any vehicle when the child and the seat are over 65lbs? I thought I read this online the other day
http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/what-parents-need-to-know-about-new-child-car-seat-latch-rules.html
Effective February 2014, parents should not use the lower anchors of LATCH if the combined weight of the child and the car seat is 65 pounds or more, according to NHTSA.
Once children and their seats are past the weight limit for the lower anchors, parents can secure the child seat using the safety-belt system. The revision to the rule only applies to the lower anchors. Use of the tether strap that is attached to the top anchor is not affected.
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| Posted 1/16/14 11:00 AM |
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shapla79
Where Does The Time Go?
Member since 11/07 4619 total posts
Name:
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Re: Booster Seat
We switched DS (who will be 6 in a couple months) from the Britax Boulevard to the Britax Pinnacle last month. It converts to a booster, but we're keeping him in a 5-point harness. He's not complaining about it, and I feel better having him stay in a 5-point harness a little longer.
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| Posted 1/16/14 11:32 AM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Booster Seat
latch limits don't matter in belt positioning booster mode, they only matter if you're using it for a harnessed seat. If you have a latchable belt positioning booster, you can continue to latch it and use the adult seat belt with it.
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| Posted 1/16/14 11:45 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by tara73
latch limits don't matter in belt positioning booster mode, they only matter if you're using it for a harnessed seat. If you have a latchable belt positioning booster, you can continue to latch it and use the adult seat belt with it.
Right. I would think that's common knowledge since the seatbelt is holding the child in, not the latch system.
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| Posted 1/16/14 11:53 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by LSP2005
DS outgrew the seated height of the Britax Boulevard at 4 1/2. He is over the 97% in height. We switched him to the Britax Parkway SGL (with latch to 100 lbs.) It is a convertible HBB. He is almost 6 1/2 and he still uses it with the back. I have no plans on removing the back from the seat. I like that it still has a crotch strap and latch. Our vehicles can accommodate latch to 100 lbs too. DD is almost 4 1/2 and still in the Britax Boulevard.
Isn't there a new recommendation that latch not be used in any vehicle when the child and the seat are over 65lbs? I thought I read this online the other day
http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/what-parents-need-to-know-about-new-child-car-seat-latch-rules.html
Effective February 2014, parents should not use the lower anchors of LATCH if the combined weight of the child and the car seat is 65 pounds or more, according to NHTSA.
Once children and their seats are past the weight limit for the lower anchors, parents can secure the child seat using the safety-belt system. The revision to the rule only applies to the lower anchors. Use of the tether strap that is attached to the top anchor is not affected.
Thanks for the info. My son is not yet 60 lbs, let alone 65 so I have some time for this one. He is super tall though.
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| Posted 1/16/14 12:17 PM |
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Eireann
Two ladies and a gentleman!
Member since 5/05 12165 total posts
Name:
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by LSP2005
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by LSP2005
DS outgrew the seated height of the Britax Boulevard at 4 1/2. He is over the 97% in height. We switched him to the Britax Parkway SGL (with latch to 100 lbs.) It is a convertible HBB. He is almost 6 1/2 and he still uses it with the back. I have no plans on removing the back from the seat. I like that it still has a crotch strap and latch. Our vehicles can accommodate latch to 100 lbs too. DD is almost 4 1/2 and still in the Britax Boulevard.
Isn't there a new recommendation that latch not be used in any vehicle when the child and the seat are over 65lbs? I thought I read this online the other day
http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/what-parents-need-to-know-about-new-child-car-seat-latch-rules.html
Effective February 2014, parents should not use the lower anchors of LATCH if the combined weight of the child and the car seat is 65 pounds or more, according to NHTSA.
Once children and their seats are past the weight limit for the lower anchors, parents can secure the child seat using the safety-belt system. The revision to the rule only applies to the lower anchors. Use of the tether strap that is attached to the top anchor is not affected.
Thanks for the info. My son is not yet 60 lbs, let alone 65 so I have some time for this one. He is super tall though.
No, the weight of your child PLUS the weight of the car seat must be under 65lbs.
To answer the original question...both of my girls were 4.5 when they went into a high-back booster using the car's seatbelt.
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| Posted 1/16/14 12:26 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by Eireann
No, the weight of your child PLUS the weight of the car seat must be under 65lbs.
Correct. So this means that if you have a 20lb seat and a 50lb kid, you're over the limits. So you have to see how much the manufacturer says the seat weighs, weigh your kid (clothed) and add them together. This applies to the lower anchors only, not the tether anchor on the top.
Supposedly this is less confusing.  
The way it was before, the manufacturer of the seat and vehicle both would give a limit for the lower anchors, some vehicles and car seats were 40lbs, some 48lbs, some car seats LATCH to 65lbs......... some vehicles wouldn't state a limit and would defer to car seat manufacturer. Some car seats would defer to the vehicle manufacturer, leading to a lot of misuse
Some of the things that are supposedly "common knowledge" are the biggest misuses
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| Posted 1/16/14 1:11 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Booster Seat
The car seat weighs 9.7 lbs. I still have time. Thanks. Also, my car can handle the seat until 100 lbs. It depends upon the car too I thought, no? Now I am confused. My son weighs something like 56 lbs. He is 4'3 1/2. He is 6 1/2 years old.
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| Posted 1/16/14 1:25 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by LSP2005
The car seat weighs 9.7 lbs. I still have time. Thanks. Also, my car can handle the seat until 100 lbs. It depends upon the car too I thought, no? Now I am confused. My son weighs something like 56 lbs. He is 4'3 1/2. He is 6 1/2 years old.
According to the new regulations, he's past the limits. 9.7+56 = 65.7 (plus another pound or two for clothing)
http://csftl.org/2014-latch-changes-dont-panic/
NHTSA is using a 77 lb, 10 year old dummy to crash test car seats with 65-80 lb weight limits and a 62 lb, 6 year old dummy to crash test car seats with 50-65 lb weight limits.
If the weight of the dummy plus the weight of the child restraint exceed 65 lbs, the car seat will NOT be tested using the lower anchors.
This means that the NHTSA is not testing any LATCH configuration for up to 100 lbs. They are only testing up to 65lbs total (child, seat, and clothing)
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| Posted 1/16/14 2:14 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19461 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Booster Seat
Sorry to hijack the thread. Then does he need a new car seat? I am confused.
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| Posted 1/16/14 3:02 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by LSP2005
Sorry to hijack the thread. Then does he need a new car seat? I am confused.
No, the seat is fine. You just need to replace the LATCH connection points with the seatbelt. The seatbelt holds the car seat to the car, and the harness holds DC to the car seat.
Don't use the seatbelt and LATCH at the same time. Only one or the other (seatbelt in this case).
The car seat manual will explain how to route the belt to hold the seat.
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| Posted 1/16/14 3:22 PM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Booster Seat
To the original question...
My DS was moved to a booster at 4.5yo. He is big for his age, so he was probably over 50lbs at the time and he is off the chart in height.
I moved him mostly because he was entering Kindergarten and I needed to drive him, so to drop him off it was much easier for him to be able to latch and unlatch himself which he couldnt do with the nautilus harness. Plus I could use that car seat for DS2 so we bought DS1 a graco turbo booster high back booster seat at Costco.
Also this year we are car pooling a lot (he is in first grade) to religion, sports etc, so its much easier to be able to hand someone a booster to take DS in than a car seat. And moving him gave me time to know he understood the rules on how to sit properly.
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| Posted 1/16/14 3:26 PM |
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Kelly9904
Mommy to 2 amazing little boys
Member since 5/05 9306 total posts
Name:
Kelly
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Re: Booster Seat
PS this thread has been great though....I now realize I need to fix DS2's car seat off the latch, I wasnt adding the weight of the car seat to the 40lb max that the car manual states. I was just figuring in his weight!
Thanks!!!
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| Posted 1/16/14 3:27 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Booster Seat
Posted by Kelly9904
PS this thread has been great though....I now realize I need to fix DS2's car seat off the latch, I wasnt adding the weight of the car seat to the 40lb max that the car manual states. I was just figuring in his weight!
Thanks!!!
Yes, it has. Thanks everyone for the helpful info.
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| Posted 1/16/14 3:37 PM |
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