booster seat recommendations?

[Unregistered]

Hi! Hoping someone here can help me out ... please and thank you!

DS is 5 years old, 50lbs and 44" tall. He is currently in a Radian (that goes to 48lbs), which he has basically outgrown, both weight and height-wise.

I drive a 2008 GMC Sierra SLT truck, if that helps.

What is available and recommended out there in a booster seat? Something high-weight, and as we do longer trips often, I would like one that has some kind of headrest if such a thing exists? He has a base booster seat that we have used once or twice, but I find that if he falls asleep, his head flops way over.

Thanks in advance!

Angela

[canadianmom2three]

I've tried a bunch of our choices for my DS (now almost 7). We had the radian for him as well, until he outgrew it. We do a lot of long distance trips as well, so comfort and good for sleeping are CRITICAL. We have had the graco turbo, evenflo confidence, britax parkway, clek oto, and finally the sunshine kids monterey.

My favourite is obviously the monterey - he still has loads of room in it, and will for a long time - it adjusts in height and shoulder width fits kids up to 120lbs. DS says it is very comfy and it is a DREAM for sleeping in, plus it latches in! It has a steel reinforced frame, and loads of eps foam - VERY sturdy, also converts to backless for later.
The parkway was good for sleeping, but not enough seat depth for my DS - we ended up selling this one because he hated it.

For long distance driving there was no comparison between the two for me - he was HORRIBLE in the parkway, fidgeting, slumping, constantly trying to prop his feet on my headrest. I actually pulled out the Parkway and jammed him back in the Radian after one bad trip, and before the next. He is MUCH better in the monterey, it has a much deeper seat which works well for him, and the head wings are still quite supportive. Moot point anyway I guess, since the parkway is discontinued....

The evenflo confidence (not the 'big kid') I like, it is really adjustable, has LOADS of eps foam, nice belt guides and fits him very well but not the best for sleeping - not very deep head wings. This one is what he uses in DH truck. It also converts to backless for later, but we've never used it that way, not even for DD, it fit her a long time, it adjusts pretty tall.
The graco turbos are fine, but nothing special, we had two and used them till they expired - they make nice spares. They aren't as roomy as the confidence, nor good for sleeping really though, so not my first choice.

The oto I adore - it is super comfy, well made, discrete and latches, but it is backless, an not appropriate for a young child, nor good for sleeping - my 9.5 yo rides in it.

Good luck with your search - and as an aside, are you in SW ontario? I have a friend who REALLY wants a Radian.....but can't afford a new one.

[Unregistered]

Thanks for all your info, very helpful and much appreciated!

Unfortunately, I am in BC, so cannot help out your friend with her Radian search.

angela