WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

DD will be 4 in June. She weighs approx. 38 lbs and is 41 in tall. I have her in a Graco Nautilus in my truck. I love that car seat. It is a 5 pt harness to 65 lbs and then converts to both a backed and backless booster.

My sister watches DD 2 full days a week for me. Shehas an evenflo tiumph in her car. Its an older model and only holds to 40 lbs (DD is about 38 lb) and really...DD is very tall and I think she is about outgrown that seat in height. Her head is nearing the top of the seat. Therefore., I need to get a new seat for sisters car.

The boosters that use just the regular seat belt say they are good starting between 30 and 40 lbs - depending on the brand/model. I know they say its must safer to keep them in a 5 pt harness as long as possbile though. I know a lot of you have your DC in a booster though and they are smaller than my DD,

I really dont wanna spend the $$ on another nautilus,(especially for someone who is only driving her around 2 days a weeek) the boosters are much cheaper. But is it really safe to put her in a booster in sisters car now? Or should I bite the bullet and get another nautilus. Again, she is almost 4.

Thanks for your advice opinions. what would you do??

Message edited 4/19/2010 10:49:16 PM.

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice please help

If DD's shoulders are near the top of the Triumph it is WAY outgrown. A FF seat is outgrown when the tops of the chlid's ears are level with the top of the shell.


For less than $100 you can get an Evenflo Maestro which harnesses to 50lbs and then converts to a booster. That would be your best bet for keeping her harnessed a bit longer. This would buy you a bit of time and then you could begin booster training with her (things like sitting properly, not undoing the belt etc)

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

Her head is at the top of the seat, not her shoulders.

I just found the Maestro for $80 on amazon and since that is a 5pt to 50 lb it may be an idea.

anyone else?

Message edited 4/19/2010 9:47:15 PM.

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

Well I was in a similar situation. I needed another carseat since I babysit. I couldn't see spending the money on yet another. So I got a booster seat from target on sale for $30 bucks or so. Hailey is in that now. It has a back to it but uses the cars seatbelt. She has been responsible with it and I told her if she is not then she will have to go back in the other seat. I am not thrilled though after reading the posts on here. I don't really have advice for you. I am a nervous nelly with anyone else driving her in the car and I am the only one that has the booster-but that doesn't change much because anything can happen to anyone. I think that is a decision only you can make. I am sorry I am no help.

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

anyone else? ugh I dont know what to do.


anyone have the evenflo generations 65 seat? It looks like the nautilus on some ways and is a bit cheaper.

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

bump

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

I would keep her in a 5pt harness as long as possible. I have two graco nautilus for Ella.

I'm not familiar with the other seats. Did you check their ratings & reviews?

Message edited 4/21/2010 8:24:58 AM.

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

I would definitely keep her in a 5 pt harness as long as possible. Personally, I would bite the bullet and spend the money on another Nautilus. We just got one for DS and will eventually get more I am sure!

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

I would keep her in a 5 point harness for as long as possible...I am thinking of keeping miki in one until she is at least 13

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

I wouldn't use Consumer Reports as a reference for car seats. There was a big debacle about 2-3 years back about their testing of infant car seats, wrought with so many errors they had to recall it. Most recently, they bashed the Orbit infant seat even though they admitted to using it improperly during their testing.

If you want a good recommendation for a car seat, the best resource honestly are Car seat techs. A good resource is the forum at www.car-seat.org There are a bunch of techs over there who install and use many of the seats, they have stripped them down to look at the shells, installed them in many different cars with different children. They know which seats are difficult to use/install and which ones are easy. This is their life. They do it day in, day out, live and breathe all things car seat related. These are the folks that have forced the industry to come out with higher limit seats, better harness adjusters, ways to install easier.

If you want to geek out on car seat talk, here are a few threads which show why car seat techs don't consider CR to be a valid resource

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=116151

http://carseatblog.com/?p=4944

http://www.carseatsite.com/cr.htm

http://www.car-safety.org/guide.html#cr

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

OK you ladies are right...I gata keep her in a 5 pt harness...even when shes just in my sisters car. Now I need to decide if I should gamble $ on one of the cheaper ones or go with my beloved Nautilus for $$. LOL

Re: WWYD? car seat help/advice/boosters- please help

I believe Sears carries teh Maestro in store, it may help you to go and actually touch one and put DD in it, see if she likes it etc.

BRU has the Generations, Big Lots usually has the Apex.

Obviously you have a great reference point with the Nautilus.(Which, BTW, is an awesome seat, I'm not trying to talk you out of it AT ALL, but I know your budget is tight )