Booster seat

My dd is just 5yo and 42lbs. She’s in a Britax convertible car seat and I think it’s time for a booster.

I looked at the Britax and it’s $200. I don’t feel like spending that. Whatbis a good brand/style? Does she need a 5 point harness, can she use a seat belt? I have no clue what’s appropriate.

Seems a lot of other parents do all different things and I want to do what’s legal and safest. Thanks!

Booster seat

i would keep her in the five point as long as you can ( until she reaches height/ weight limit). SOO get a combination seat. We have my almost 7 and almost 4 year olds in Graco Nautilus. It goes from five point harness to a high back booster using the car's seat belt and THEN down the line, the back can come off to be a backless booster. I believe the harness is rated for 65 pounds and something like 50-some inches tall. so you could keep her harnessed for a while still.

Booster seat

we use the Chicco high back booster

Re: Booster seat

From what I read, keeping them in a 5 point harness as long as possible is the safest
I would get one that converts from 5 point harness, to seat belt and possibly to backless

I am considering the graco transitions - but have not actually purchased it yet

link

Booster seat

I think legally, almost anything goes as long as they are on a seat that fits their measurements. Safest would still be a 5pt. harness. My 5.5yo is in the graco nautilus with the harness still. It's 50/50 at best with her friends whether they're using a harness or seatbelt. I plan to keep her harnessed as long as I can.

Just fyi, the graco atlas is on deal of the day on Amazon today for $70. It looks very similar to the nautilus but it doesn't convert to a backless booster. It does 5pt. harness or high back only.

Booster seat

I like the Graco Turbobooster. My 5.5 year old is using that currently.

Re: Booster seat

You should keep your child in a 5-pt harness for as long as possible. You should check the seat specifications, though, b/c if she's over 40 pounds it may be time to install the car seat with a seat belt instead of tethered. However, she's likely way too small to be using a booster.

We just got DS the Graco Nautilus and we love it. We're using it as a convertible now, but it becomes a high back booster and then a backless booster, so it's the last seat he'll need.

Re: Booster seat

Re: Booster seat

Both my older kids are still in 5 point harness at 7.5 and 5. Both are around 50 pounds. They are not bothered with the harness.
We got Britax frontiers. I think we paid $120 each... I see them on sale now for $150 from Albeebaby.

Re: Booster seat

I agree about keeping them in a 5 pt harness as long as you can for being the safest. My DS only just recently moved out of the 5 pt harness close to 8 years old - 60 lbs.