options for my 3.5yr old

[Unregistered]

My oldest DD is 3.5yrs, 35lbs, and is just about to break 40inches (I would say she is average build, and when she is sitting down it is 13.5inches to the top of her shoulder), which means she will outgrow the Cosco seat she is in (it goes to 40lbs and 40 inches) Hubby is totally baulking at having to buy yet another car seat, and everything I can find here in Canada that would fit her is around $200.

I have no idea what to get. We *just* purchased a new convertable seat for our youngest 6 months ago, and I wish I knew then what I know now, because I would have bought a different seat (all 3 that we have for our girls are 40lb/40inches) Size of the seat is not an issue as we have a GMC Suburban. I know those extra 5 lbs will take forever so she will not be able to use a booster for some time. Any suggestions? We'll be reliving this in a year when our 2.5yr old gets to the same point with her Cosco seat.

[Qarin]

Good news! If your DD's shoulders are still below where the harness straps come out of the seat, and the tips of her ears are still below the top of the seat, and as long as she is under 40lbs, she can continue to use that seat beyond the stated "standing height". The important parameters in a seat are torso height (for shoulders and ears) and weight, but specifying a torso height would be a difficult thing for manufacturers to explain to the average consumer so they give an approximation with the standing height.