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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
I'll start by saying, I'm not in any hurry to put DD in a booster seat. She's just over 40 lbs, is almost 4 and only recently switched to forward facing. We are going to need an additional seat for her and I'm trying to get an idea of what I should be looking for at this age. I don't want to spend a lot on a seat that she'll soon outgrow.
Any seat recommendations would be appreciated! Thanks in advance
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Posted 3/1/15 9:16 AM  |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
When DD was that age amd we needed a new seat for one of our cars, we got the Graco Nautilis. We use it now as a forward facing convertible car seat...goes up to 65 lbthat way. Then it will convert to a booster. ..up to 100lbs.
best of both worlds. ..last seat we will have to buy
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| Posted 3/1/15 9:36 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Posted by NervousNell
When DD was that age amd we needed a new seat for one of our cars, we got the Graco Nautilis. We use it now as a forward facing convertible car seat...goes up to 65 lbthat way. Then it will convert to a booster. ..up to 100lbs.
best of both worlds. ..last seat we will have to buy
Thanks, I will look into this one!
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| Posted 3/1/15 9:43 AM |
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LMFitz
life is good
Member since 5/05 2013 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Posted by NervousNell
When DD was that age amd we needed a new seat for one of our cars, we got the Graco Nautilis. We use it now as a forward facing convertible car seat...goes up to 65 lbthat way. Then it will convert to a booster. ..up to 100lbs.
best of both worlds. ..last seat we will have to buy
I got the same one for DS - just so we can transition the seat down to a straight booster as he grows.
I will say, however, that I hate the seat! It's not even close to being as secure as I'd want it to be......and it's been professionally installed. I may put mine (have 2) on craigslist and opt for another convertible booster.
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| Posted 3/1/15 10:05 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
hmmm, I never had an issue with mine.
OP...just saw the Target flyer and it's on sale there this week for $149.
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| Posted 3/1/15 10:55 AM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Posted by LMFitz
Posted by NervousNell
When DD was that age amd we needed a new seat for one of our cars, we got the Graco Nautilis. We use it now as a forward facing convertible car seat...goes up to 65 lbthat way. Then it will convert to a booster. ..up to 100lbs.
best of both worlds. ..last seat we will have to buy
I got the same one for DS - just so we can transition the seat down to a straight booster as he grows.
I will say, however, that I hate the seat! It's not even close to being as secure as I'd want it to be......and it's been professionally installed. I may put mine (have 2) on craigslist and opt for another convertible booster.
What vehicle are you installing the seat in? And how are you installing it? there are a few cars and/or positions in cars that it is more difficult to get a good fit.
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| Posted 3/1/15 2:46 PM |
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LMFitz
life is good
Member since 5/05 2013 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Infiniti and dodge ram
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| Posted 3/1/15 3:44 PM |
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ml110
LIF Adult
Member since 1/06 5435 total posts
Name:
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When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
DS is 4... but he's on the small side- about 39.5 inches, 35 pounds. we just moved him from a britax boulevard to a Britax Frontier. he technically still meets the requirements for the boulevard... but its more narrow, so the frontier is more comfortable for him at this age... plus he has cupholders now LOL the Frontier goes up to 9o pounds.... its a 5 point harness, but then when he gets a little bigger it becomes a high-back booster that we can feed the car's seatbelt through. britax makes great seats- and we've been happy with it.
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| Posted 3/1/15 4:41 PM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Harness or Booster? When to Switch.
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| Posted 3/1/15 4:42 PM |
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Babylove10
LIF Adolescent
Member since 3/10 814 total posts
Name:
Doreen
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Posted by NervousNell
When DD was that age amd we needed a new seat for one of our cars, we got the Graco Nautilis. We use it now as a forward facing convertible car seat...goes up to 65 lbthat way. Then it will convert to a booster. ..up to 100lbs.
best of both worlds. ..last seat we will have to buy
Love this seat. This is what I have for my little guy.
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| Posted 3/1/15 6:10 PM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Thanks everyone!
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| Posted 3/1/15 8:51 PM |
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ChristinaM128
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 4043 total posts
Name:
Christina
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Posted by NervousNell
When DD was that age amd we needed a new seat for one of our cars, we got the Graco Nautilis. We use it now as a forward facing convertible car seat...goes up to 65 lbthat way. Then it will convert to a booster. ..up to 100lbs.
best of both worlds. ..last seat we will have to buy
I was contemplating getting this for dh's car (she's in there so infrequently, the "buy one" option makes sense). My friend who has the nautilus stopped me. She HATES this seat. Says it does not feel secure at all. I also hate the graco my parents have in their car - the straps are so hard to tighten when you pull the strap from the bottom once dd is in it.
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| Posted 3/3/15 9:23 PM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
Posted by ChristinaM128
Posted by NervousNell
When DD was that age amd we needed a new seat for one of our cars, we got the Graco Nautilis. We use it now as a forward facing convertible car seat...goes up to 65 lbthat way. Then it will convert to a booster. ..up to 100lbs.
best of both worlds. ..last seat we will have to buy
I was contemplating getting this for dh's car (she's in there so infrequently, the "buy one" option makes sense). My friend who has the nautilus stopped me. She HATES this seat. Says it does not feel secure at all. I also hate the graco my parents have in their car - the straps are so hard to tighten when you pull the strap from the bottom once dd is in it.
If it doesn't feel secure then it could either a)be incompatable with her vehicle because of the slope of the seat and the base of the carseat. b) she is not checking it for movement properly. You are only supposed to check for movement at the belt path, with a firm handshake and there should be less then 1"of movement. Other areas of the seat are allowed to move, which is why you don't check there. Or c) the seat is installed incorrectly.
She can look on SAFE KIDS FIND A TECH (put in state and county only! !! NO other search fields our she may not get a result) and contact a local certified technician who will go over installation and teach her the proper way to install (or go over suggestions for a different seat if there are compatibility issues)
In regards to the original question, moving to a booster with a harness (known as a combination seat) is your safest and best bet at this point. Moving to a belt positioning booster seat is not all about size or age, but more so maturity of being able to handle the responsibility of the freedom it allows. THIS ARTICLE does a great job explaining when an appropriate time is. Personally I don't recommend it until closer to 6 years old.
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| Posted 3/4/15 7:50 AM |
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blu6385
Member since 5/08 8351 total posts
Name:
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Re: When can you switch from a convertible car seat to a booster?
as long as you get a booster with a harness you will be fine. we switch DD over to a booster with a harness at a little over 4 cause we decided to give her convertible seat to her little brother. I stuck with a Britax for my car cause they are easy to install and use IMO
I plan on using the harness portion forever 
I got the graco natalius for my parents car.
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| Posted 3/4/15 9:00 AM |
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