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curliegirl
He's here!!!!
Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
I need to get ANOTHER convertible seat...this will be #4 
I just noticed yesterday that Gavin's head is higher than the back of the Britax....isn't that one of the signs that the seat is outgrown?
I was thinking instead of buying another Graco Nautilus I would just get a booster but I've read the requirements are 40 inches AND 4 years old. Gavin is 40 inches already and will be 4 in November....thoughts?
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Posted 4/18/11 11:35 AM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
I would definitely get another convertible seat. 4 years is the gov't MINIMUM. I personally wouldn't cut that short by 7 months or so.
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| Posted 4/18/11 11:41 AM |
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CaidensMommy
My 3 Miracles!
Member since 5/05 5777 total posts
Name:
Melissa
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
Both of my boys were in a backless booster before age 4. They are really tall for their age. I've never regretted it. I use the Graco backless boosters. They are VERY safe and have great reviews. I probably switched them between 3-3.5 yrs old. 
ETA: Both of my kids met the weight and height requirements for the booster seats. I wouldn't have moved them into it UNLESS they met them!
Message edited 4/18/2011 11:44:13 AM.
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| Posted 4/18/11 11:42 AM |
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curliegirl
He's here!!!!
Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
Posted by CaidensMommy
Both of my boys were in a backless booster before age 4. They are really tall for their age. I've never regretted it. I use the Graco backless boosters. They are VERY safe and have great reviews. I probably switched them between 3-3.5 yrs old.
ETA: Both of my kids met the weight and height requirements for the booster seats. I wouldn't have moved them into it UNLESS they met them!
That's my problem...Gavin is tall AND has a long torso, so shouldn't he NOT be in the Britax if the top of his head is taller than the seat?
I'll probably still get the Nautilus since it converts, just wondering what others have done.
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| Posted 4/18/11 11:45 AM |
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eroxgirl
My Loves
Member since 5/05 15697 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
I've had DD in the Graco Nautilus since September I think and she's not 4 years old OR 40lbs yet. Those are the requirements only for when you're actually using it as a backless booster seat with the seat belt, not when you use it as a car seat with the 5 point harness. The minimum weight requirement for the Nautilus is 20lbs...
So that's my recommendation!
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| Posted 4/18/11 11:46 AM |
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curliegirl
He's here!!!!
Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
Posted by GoldenRod
I would definitely get another convertible seat. 4 years is the gov't MINIMUM. I personally wouldn't cut that short by 7 months or so.
I'm all for following safety guidelines...I'm actually a little neurotic about it...won't use used seats, research and research and research some more....but these guidelines need to be taken with a grain of salt and the specific child as well. There's no way I can keep my 7 year old in a car seat and a 12 year old in a booster seat!
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| Posted 4/18/11 11:49 AM |
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curliegirl
He's here!!!!
Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
Posted by eroxgirl
I've had DD in the Graco Nautilus since September I think and she's not 4 years old OR 40lbs yet. Those are the requirements only for when you're actually using it as a backless booster seat with the seat belt, not when you use it as a car seat with the 5 point harness. The minimum weight requirement for the Nautilus is 20lbs...
So that's my recommendation!
Right, but I was considering buying JUST a booster instead of another Nautilus.....
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| Posted 4/18/11 11:50 AM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
Posted by curliegirl
I need to get ANOTHER convertible seat...this will be #4
I just noticed yesterday that Gavin's head is higher than the back of the Britax....isn't that one of the signs that the seat is outgrown?
I was thinking instead of buying another Graco Nautilus I would just get a booster but I've read the requirements are 40 inches AND 4 years old. Gavin is 40 inches already and will be 4 in November....thoughts?
A FF harnessed seat is outgrown when any of the following occur:
-The tips of the ears are above the hard shell of the seat
-The top harness position is below the shoulders (Harness should be at or above)
-The weight limit is exceeded.
In your case, it's not outgrown until the tips of the ears are equal to the shell of the seat, so long as his shoulders are still below the harness and he is still below the weight limit. His head being above the shell is fine. If it's "just above" then you actually probably have a good 2"+ of growth room left.
RF is always safer than FF, 5 pt harness is always safer than 3 pt lap shoulder, 3 pt belt is always safer than lap belt.......... yes, these apply even to adults.
ETA: no booster/car seat is "safer" than any other booster or car seat. In regards to booster, how they fit the child is the most important thing. T If you're moving to a booster or from a booster to adult seat belt, the child should be able to pass the 5 step test
The 5 Step Test
If you answer "No" to any of these questions, your child must be in a booster seat:
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat?
3. Is the lap belt touching the top of the thighs, not the tummy?
4. Is the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTERS CAN NOT be used with only a lap belt!
Message edited 4/18/2011 12:21:15 PM.
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| Posted 4/18/11 12:17 PM |
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
We put our DD in the Nautilus (not sure if that's considered a booster) before age 4. She is very tall for her age and her head was past the top of the Evenflow Triumph.
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| Posted 4/18/11 12:20 PM |
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9537 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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Re: Anyone switch their DC to a booster before their 4th birthday???
I just bought the Recaro ProSport when DD outgrew her convertible. It has higher weight and height limits on it than the Nautilus.
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| Posted 4/18/11 2:08 PM |
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