Car Seat for nephew

[featherhead]

Right now my nephew (3, 31lbs, maybe 37") is in a Scenera in Grandma's car (he lives with grandparents). Grandpa has put a Olli Clek booster in his truck. He knows that his grandson is not big enough for it, but he doesn't care. He is too cheap to buy a new seat, and too lazy to move the Scenera every time he wants to take his grandson in the truck (which is at least once a week). We will probably be taking care of my nephew at the end of July for a week, and grandpa said he would pay us $150. I was thinking that with that money we could get a tether anchor installed in his truck, and maybe also get a car seat. I was thinking of a FF/Booster seat to put in the car, and move the Scenera to the truck. Then when he outgrows the Scenera, Grandpa could use the Clek booster and there would still be a booster for the car. My dh probably would not let me spend any more than the $150 (and he probably won't even want me to spend that). We already bought the Scenera for him. So... what kind of FF/Boosters are there for $100 or less? I know Walmart has an Evenflo one that harnesses to 47lbs, but I don't know if I like the harness adjuster being on the shoulder strap. Any advice??

[snowbird25ca]

For a combination seat with a limit to 47lbs and in the $100 price range, the Evenflo Chase is pretty much the only option. The Generations goes on sale at TRU/BRU sometimes for @ $130. It has the knobs like the EFTA for tightening and loosening the harness and has 47lb weight limit was well.

I think in this case the Chase would be the best bet to get the most use for as little money.

It kind of sounds from your post like it really doesn't matter to your grandfather, but I'm guessing you've told him that it's illegal as well as unsafe for your nephew to be in a booster, not to mention that they're using the booster against instructions? With such a small and young kid, I'd be tempted to call the police and get him ticketed if it was going to be at all possible. Maybe then he'd appreciate the danger he's putting your nephew's life in?

[featherhead]

Yeah, I've thought about calling the police. I've also thought about taking the booster out of the truck and hiding it somewhere, but then my nephew would be riding around in the truck with no car seat at all.

Does anyone have the Evenflo seat? Is the harness adjuster on the shoulder strap as annoying as I think it would be?

[TerisBoys]

I've had a Chase and an Express, as well as several Futuras with the on-strap adjustors.

It's actually easier than some of the cheaper seats (Scenera, Tribute, etc) to adjust once you know how to do it.

[CDNTech]

I used to have a Chase and actually *loved* the adjuster.

The harness is one long continuous piece of webbing. It starts at the shoulder/adjuster, goes down to the hip, under the bum, up past the other hip and up to the second shoulder.

Which means... set the adjuster and never touch it again. The strap slides back and forth from side to side under the bum making it easy for the child to slip in/out of the straps. Then buckle up. Very easy for parents/grandparents that have issues with tightening straps properly. ;)

When you do have to adjust it, it's pretty easy. The adjuster on the harness is also great for kids that try and push the chest clip down... it never really goes below the armpit level. ;)

[featherhead]

Thanks! I just found the Chase on sale at TRU online, so I'll see if I can convince DH that we should get it now.

[canadianmom2three]

If grandpa would return the ollie (expensive booster for someone who doesn't seem to car about car seat safety:confused:) he could almost fund the cost of the chase....you could pitch it to him that the chase is a car seat AND booster in one, very good value for the $$ (even tho it does make a poor booster, you could address that later.....)

[featherhead]

The Olli was bought by my nephews mom (SIL). She is unmarried, and for now is living at home with her parents. She is 22, but acts about 14. She sleeps all day and goes out to party all night. What scares me most is that she thinks she wants another kid! She doesn't even take care of the one she has. Anyway, she bought the Olli, and claims the store owner said that her son would be able to sit in it. After she bought it I suggested she return it and get a combination seat that her son could sit in a lot longer. I also showed her in the manual where it says its for 40lbs and up. She didn't care. Her son wasn't even 30lbs then!! Anyway, there's a lot more to that story. Grandma and Grandpa don't like to spend their money on their grandson if they don't have to. They wait till his mom buys things for him, which is almost never, cause all her money goes to smoking/drinking. And of course she can't keep a job. She gets Child Tax Benefit, and Universal Child Care Benefit, but rarely does any of it go to meeting her son's needs. So basically, he wears clothes that are too small on him, he used to sit in a car seat that was expired, and now, sits in one that he does not fit in. Ok, I should stop now.

[Shaunam]

I used to have a Chase and actually *loved* the adjuster.

The harness is one long continuous piece of webbing. It starts at the shoulder/adjuster, goes down to the hip, under the bum, up past the other hip and up to the second shoulder.

Which means... set the adjuster and never touch it again. The strap slides back and forth from side to side under the bum making it easy for the child to slip in/out of the straps. Then buckle up. Very easy for parents/grandparents that have issues with tightening straps properly. ;)

When you do have to adjust it, it's pretty easy. The adjuster on the harness is also great for kids that try and push the chest clip down... it never really goes below the armpit level. ;)


This is pretty much what we have to do since my MIL does NOT get it. I always put DS in the car when she takes him so I make sure the harness is set right and it's good for the day. Sometimes DS is in cloth and sometimes a pull-up, so I actually have to adjust it almost every time. Most kids you probably wouldn't.

What is his torso length? The chase does have taller top slots than the scenera, but they aren't *that* much taller. My DS is just over the scenera top slots and only has about 1/2-3/4" of room in the chase.

[featherhead]

I'm not sure of his torso height. I know he has a bit of room left in the Scenera, maybe 1/2-1" (it's been a while since I'm buckled him in it). I'm definitely not expecting the grandparents to harness past 40lbs (though I'll try my hardest). They are just too stubborn.