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Alilt
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 273 total posts
Name:
Alison
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3 year old and car seat
Have you switched them into a 5 point booster yet? DC is still in the Marathon.
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Posted 7/4/14 5:51 PM  |
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mnmsoinlove
Mommy to 2 sweet girls!
Member since 3/09 8585 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
3 years old still need to be harnessed. They should be harnessed until at least age 5/6 or when they outgrew the harness of the car seat which on most seats are up to at least 50-70lbs.
The marathon weight is 65lbs but it does have a short shell so it really depends on how tall your dc is
. You may want to move to a seat like the graco nautilus or Britax frontier which will last you much longer and eventually turn into high back boosters.
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| Posted 7/4/14 7:09 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54919 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
3 years old is way too young for that.
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| Posted 7/4/14 8:38 PM |
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TheDollyMama
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/13 538 total posts
Name:
DollyMama
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
No, too young.
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| Posted 7/4/14 9:11 PM |
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Kissy331
My two miracles!
Member since 5/06 17826 total posts
Name:
Kristen
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
My almost 4 year old is in a 5 point harness booster, Britax Frontier. He's been in it for over a year. He outgrew his marathon with height. He is now at the highest setting on the harness in the frontier.
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| Posted 7/4/14 9:22 PM |
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Alilt
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 273 total posts
Name:
Alison
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3 year old and car seat
Ok thanks ladies, I will hold off getting a Frontier or Pinnacle for awhile.
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| Posted 7/5/14 6:15 AM |
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nycgirl
Angels!
Member since 3/09 7721 total posts
Name:
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Are you talking about the 5 point harness booster seats?
I have my 2 year old & 3 year old in one. They were the right height & weight a long time ago.
I guess if you want to max your rear facing time, don't use one...
I love the britax frontier.
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| Posted 7/7/14 3:25 PM |
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ElizaRags35
My 2 Girls
Member since 2/09 20494 total posts
Name:
Me
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3 year old and car seat
It's my understanding that the body structure of a child that young makes that type of seat unsafe until they are of a certain age... If your child can still fit in a convertible, I'd use that.
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| Posted 7/7/14 3:34 PM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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3 year old and car seat
I moved my DS into a 5 pt harness booster right before 3 - it's a forward facing car seat that can be converted into a high back or regular booster at some point.
If your DC fits comfortably in the Marathon and it's not expiring - I don't think there is a need to move them (my younger DS switches back and forth between seats when I go out with him alone and he prefers the Marathon - I guess it's more comfy).
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| Posted 7/7/14 3:39 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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3 year old and car seat
Isn't a booster with a 5 point harness essentially the same as a convertible once you're forward facing? I think that's fine for a 3 year old.
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| Posted 7/7/14 3:40 PM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by MrsT809
Isn't a booster with a 5 point harness essentially the same as a convertible once you're forward facing? I think that's fine for a 3 year old.
The only difference between a foward facing convertible seat and a foward facing combination seat (one that foward faces then rurns into a booster) is the possible recline of the seat.
A three year old needs to be harnessed. A combination seat like the Nautilus, Argos, pinnacle etc. Is perfectly acceptable for them.
(I'm a certified car seat technician FWIW)
Message edited 7/7/2014 3:44:29 PM.
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| Posted 7/7/14 3:43 PM |
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blu6385
Member since 5/08 8351 total posts
Name:
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by ny55angel
Posted by MrsT809
Isn't a booster with a 5 point harness essentially the same as a convertible once you're forward facing? I think that's fine for a 3 year old.
The only difference between a foward facing convertible seat and a foward facing combination seat (one that foward faces then rurns into a booster) is the possible recline of the seat.
A three year old needs to be harnessed. A combination seat like the Nautilus, Argos, pinnacle etc. Is perfectly acceptable for them.
(I'm a certified car seat technician FWIW)
Good to hear!! I got 3.5 yo DD the britax frontier ( I think that's the name of it) since I had to buy a car seat for DS I decided I might as well buy DD the combination seat since she longer rear facing any more.
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| Posted 7/7/14 8:58 PM |
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Crunchewy
LIF Adult
Member since 10/08 1232 total posts
Name:
A
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3 year old and car seat
I did when DS was 3 and I had to buy a new car seat, due to an accident.
He had so much more room. We still use 5 point harness in my car.
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| Posted 7/7/14 11:23 PM |
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Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
Name:
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3 year old and car seat
so the 5 point booster is pretty much a high back booster with belts like a regular car seat? When do you use the regular seat belt?
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| Posted 7/8/14 9:14 AM |
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Alilt
LIF Infant
Member since 7/06 273 total posts
Name:
Alison
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by ny55angel
Posted by MrsT809
Isn't a booster with a 5 point harness essentially the same as a convertible once you're forward facing? I think that's fine for a 3 year old.
The only difference between a foward facing convertible seat and a foward facing combination seat (one that foward faces then rurns into a booster) is the possible recline of the seat.
A three year old needs to be harnessed. A combination seat like the Nautilus, Argos, pinnacle etc. Is perfectly acceptable for them.
(I'm a certified car seat technician FWIW)
Great thanks, what do you recommed the Pinaccle or Frontier?
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| Posted 7/8/14 10:57 AM |
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17789 total posts
Name:
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by Aries14
so the 5 point booster is pretty much a high back booster with belts like a regular car seat? When do you use the regular seat belt?
It's a forward facing car seat.
You can convert it into a regular booster (use a seatbelt) when your child is ready (at least 4 years 40 lbs). It then can convert into a backless booster.
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| Posted 7/8/14 11:00 AM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by Alilt
Posted by ny55angel
Posted by MrsT809
Isn't a booster with a 5 point harness essentially the same as a convertible once you're forward facing? I think that's fine for a 3 year old.
The only difference between a foward facing convertible seat and a foward facing combination seat (one that foward faces then rurns into a booster) is the possible recline of the seat.
A three year old needs to be harnessed. A combination seat like the Nautilus, Argos, pinnacle etc. Is perfectly acceptable for them.
(I'm a certified car seat technician FWIW)
Great thanks, what do you recommed the Pinaccle or Frontier?
Overall they're basically the same seat. The pinnacle had side impact cushions that Britax "says" will reduce crash forces on a child in a side impact accident. There's no released data to back that up though. The SIC make the seat wider as well. (And more $$)
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| Posted 7/10/14 10:50 PM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by ali120206
Posted by Aries14
so the 5 point booster is pretty much a high back booster with belts like a regular car seat? When do you use the regular seat belt?
It's a forward facing car seat.
You can convert it into a regular booster (use a seatbelt) when your child is ready (at least 4 years 40 lbs). It then can convert into a backless booster.
The bare minimum according to the laws written in 1984 when seats didn't harness above 40 pounds was 4/40 to start using a booster.
Nowadays however, seats can harness well above that so it is recommended to max out the limitations of the harnesses before making the move to a booster (at least 6 years old)
Here's a good article to read about making the switch
Booster or Harness
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| Posted 7/10/14 10:54 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54919 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by ny55angel
Posted by ali120206
Posted by Aries14
so the 5 point booster is pretty much a high back booster with belts like a regular car seat? When do you use the regular seat belt?
It's a forward facing car seat.
You can convert it into a regular booster (use a seatbelt) when your child is ready (at least 4 years 40 lbs). It then can convert into a backless booster.
The bare minimum according to the laws written in 1984 when seats didn't harness above 40 pounds was 4/40 to start using a booster.
Nowadays however, seats can harness well above that so it is recommended to max out the limitations of the harnesses before making the move to a booster (at least 6 years old)
Here's a good article to read about making the switch
Booster or Harness
I think my Britax Boulevard 70 CS goes up to 70 lbs
And the Nautilus in the other car says up to 65 pounds as a harness seat
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| Posted 7/11/14 2:25 PM |
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ny55angel
car seat tech & geek :-)
Member since 2/06 4346 total posts
Name:
P
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by ny55angel
Posted by ali120206
Posted by Aries14
so the 5 point booster is pretty much a high back booster with belts like a regular car seat? When do you use the regular seat belt?
It's a forward facing car seat.
You can convert it into a regular booster (use a seatbelt) when your child is ready (at least 4 years 40 lbs). It then can convert into a backless booster.
The bare minimum according to the laws written in 1984 when seats didn't harness above 40 pounds was 4/40 to start using a booster.
Nowadays however, seats can harness well above that so it is recommended to max out the limitations of the harnesses before making the move to a booster (at least 6 years old)
Here's a good article to read about making the switch
Booster or Harness
I think my Britax Boulevard 70 CS goes up to 70 lbs
And the Nautilus in the other car says up to 65 pounds as a harness seat
Yup!! And as long as the harnesses come out from at or ABOVE the child's shoulders then can remain harnessed to those weights. 
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| Posted 7/11/14 3:10 PM |
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maymama
my little loves
Member since 8/08 18453 total posts
Name:
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Re: 3 year old and car seat
I think everyone saw booster and missed the 5pt harness part 
A 5pt harness booster is perfectly fine for a 3 year old.
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| Posted 7/11/14 4:41 PM |
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