carseat v. booster for 40-65 lbs?

Unregistered · Feb 20, 2003

I am trying to purchase a carseat or booster for my 3 year old who is about 35 pounds (but who will soon be 40 pounds). I have consulted Consumer Reports, NHTSA and a few other websites but can't find the answer to the following specific question: which is safer, a Britax Marathon for example, rated to 65 pounds with the 5 point harness and the (seemingly safer to me) more cocooned construction of the seat (higher sides, etc.) or a toddler seat/booster seat, for example the Consumer Reports top-rated Fisher Price Room to Grow in which you stop using the 5 point harness at 40 pounds and use the seat belt instead? Thanks for any help.

-AR

SafeDad · Feb 20, 2003

Great question!

The answer depends a lot on the child-

First, in a frontal crash, a properly used booster seat can be just as safe a 5-point harness. In fact, many boosters do slightly better in some standardized crash testing because of the way the measurements are taken.

The catch is the phrase, "properly used." It is much easier for a child to lean forward in a booster, or squirm to the side or even put the shoulder belt behind their back. In those cases, less mature kids would be safer if they remain in a 5-point harness.

Finally, some harnessed seats may also provide additional side impact protection, as you mentioned.

In general, we always recommend a 5-point harness all the way up to 40 pounds, and maybe longer if the child is not mature enough to stay seated properly in a lap/shoulder belt with a booster. For older kids, a booster is fine.

I hope that helps!

joolsplus3 · Feb 20, 2003

You might have longer than you think before your 3 yo gains those last 5 pounds, like, a year or more (my ds was 33 pounds at his 3 yr checkup, and now, at 5.5, he's still only 39 pounds). I have the Marathon, and I don't think it's a very deep seat, though the EPS (bike helmet) foam in the head area and side area is comforting (to me

. A seat like the Graco Ultra Cargo has deep sidewings and high harness slots. I can't comment on side protection, but the deep wings are certainly comfortable for a sleeping child. For now, I don't believe that any seat must pass side testing in order to be approved for sale, so there's no way of knowing which harnessed seat is safer than another. Personally, I keep both my 3 yo and my 5 yo harnessed, because I simply can't trust them to sit still in boosters (they lean over to play with each other, reach for toys, or when they fall asleep), and being out of position in a booster is not so good in a crash. The Marathon is a really nice seat, and if it's within your budget, you might really like it. what seat is he in now? if you don't mind my asking?