Booster to begin booster training

[BW1426]

A has finally gotten within 2 lbs of 40 lbs. She held steady at 32 lbs for over a year and then gained 6 lbs within a matter of a couple months. I'd like to get her a booster for booster training on her 5th birthday in April. I'd decided that we would get the parkway. I have heard some dissatisfaction with belt fit, which worries me so I definitely want to try her in it before buying. Clearly I have been out of the loop as of late as I had no clue that Britax had 2 different parkways, one with LATCH one without. So the cowmoo has no LATCH, correct? Or, am I missing something?

Do you have any recommendations for early booster training? We will get her a nicer booster likely once she moves into one full time, but I'd like to get something under $100 for training purposes and I imagine that will get moved to my parents car eventually. I like the fit of the turbo but it drives me bonkers that it falls apart. Like the vivo, but it has a weird belt path that I think would be complicated for my parents.

Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!

 

[MomToEliEm]

Even with all the different booster varieties on the market, I always hear people recommending the turbo booster the most. I know it always seems to fall part when moving it, but it just seems to fit most kids well.

Our first booster was a turbo. We later moved on to a parkway (original style) and then a monterey, though still like the way the turbo worked for us in the beginning.

 

[fyrfightermomma]

I'd just go with a Turbo for training. That's what we did. It falls apart, but as long as it was in the car it didn't matter Then when she goes full time we'll get her a nicer booster. Honestly it fit E the best out of everything we tried. We got it when she was 5, 43" and about 34ish pounds and it fit great. Used it up until she was 38 lbs and still fit good. Now she's back under 30 so we can't use it but I tried it on her and it still fits great. Honestly, it's the best fit I've found yet

Then you can just keep the TB for carpools, grandparents, emergencies etc. It's nice to have a cheap lightweight booster that fits littles just lying around. I know if need be, I can use it for either girl (not ideal, but can be done) in an emergency.

 

[Baylor]

Something I have learned here is not to fall in love with a seat or booster before trying it for your child. I've seen posts where even Techs got seats for their children and had to return them or sell them because they don't fit their child correctly and give them the best fit. With a booster, Seat belt fit is the MOST important thing. Making sure it lays across the child correctly so as not to cause injuries in a crash. So I would suggest that you try your child in boosters. As PP said, with all the techs have access to, They seem to recommend that TB more than any other seat; there has to be something to that.

 

[Lea_Ontario]

Please let me know your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks!

The Parkway does have a tendency to fit smaller booster-riders quite nicely, as it's narrow. And it's extremely popular to the average parent because it is inexpensive.

It's what we got for Bug when we got a booster for her for the car. She was 5 and about 42 lbs at the time.

Boo, who is a very narrow kid, has an older Parkway, but he also fits the Monterey quite well - his height is all in his torso though.

But your best bet is always to test your kid out in the seats, as with any carseat.

You're a tech, so I'm quite sure we don't need to remind you about proper belt fit - you know what to look for.

 

[veggiegirl228]

I can't really comment on other brands of boosters but DD rides in the Turbo Booster on occasion and like how it fits her.

 

[mykidsmylife]

I have the TurboBooster and Monterey. I like both a lot. I would get the Turbo as well for now.

We had a Parkway for 2.5 seconds but the lap belt rode up on the 2 booster riders that used it (5 and 7) so I sold it. I think it was just my van though. The rear bench is a pain.

 

[BW1426]

Something I have learned here is not to fall in love with a seat or booster before trying it for your child. I've seen posts where even Techs got seats dor their children and had to return them or seel them because they don't fit their child correctly and give them the best fit. With a booster, Seat belt fit is the MOST important thing. Making sure it lays across the child correctly so as not to cause injuries in a crash. So I would suggest that you try your child in boosters. As PP said, with all the techs have access to, They seem to recommend that TB more than any other seat; there has to be something to that.

Thanks, I'm a tech

 

[snowbird25ca]

Another vote for turbo here. If you carry it by the base it won't fall apart on your either. :thumbsup:

I'm honestly not flipped on the parkway SG. I refuse to rely on the SG to keep the belt fit acceptable and while it wasn't a "fatal" belt fit on my dd when we tried it at the store, it wasn't a good belt fit either.

As for the training part? If she's 5 and mature enough for a booster, pretty much just tell her "it's important to sit still and not reach for things so that the seatbelt stays on your shoulder all the time. riding in a booster is a responsibility and if you can't do it, it's ok to just tell me and we'll put you back in a harness."

Peek back at her on occasion and if you catch her out of place then warn her. And if she just doesn't seem to "get it," then stick her back in a harness if you have one that fits still. She's only going to be 5, and 6 months can make a gigantic difference at that age.

I don't buy in to the whole booster training thing. They're either ready or they're not. Expect a few reminders to be needed, but nothing more than that IMO and experience. If they need more than an occasional reminder, than they're just not ready, and I don't believe in having that kind of stress in the car for anyone if it can be avoided. Because whether we think about it regularly or not, it is stress on the child too if they're having difficulty staying in position and facing constant reminders to do something they're struggling to do - and I think it's even harder for "our" kids because they're exposed to such a strong "safety-in-the-car" attitude both directly from us and in the household in general, that they understand the importance and probably feel more stress than other kids if they have difficulty with staying in position. (our meaning techs and c-s.org parents and anyone else who is careful and proactive with car safety.)

 

[Baylor]

Thanks, I'm a tech

I am sorry. I have having some trouble with my vision lately but I don't know how I missed that.

 

[BW1426]

Another vote for turbo here. If you carry it by the base it won't fall apart on your either. :thumbsup:

I'm honestly not flipped on the parkway SG. I refuse to rely on the SG to keep the belt fit acceptable and while it wasn't a "fatal" belt fit on my dd when we tried it at the store, it wasn't a good belt fit either.

As for the training part? If she's 5 and mature enough for a booster, pretty much just tell her "it's important to sit still and not reach for things so that the seatbelt stays on your shoulder all the time. riding in a booster is a responsibility and if you can't do it, it's ok to just tell me and we'll put you back in a harness."

Peek back at her on occasion and if you catch her out of place then warn her. And if she just doesn't seem to "get it," then stick her back in a harness if you have one that fits still. She's only going to be 5, and 6 months can make a gigantic difference at that age.

I don't buy in to the whole booster training thing. They're either ready or they're not. Expect a few reminders to be needed, but nothing more than that IMO and experience. If they need more than an occasional reminder, than they're just not ready, and I don't believe in having that kind of stress in the car for anyone if it can be avoided. Because whether we think about it regularly or not, it is stress on the child too if they're having difficulty staying in position and facing constant reminders to do something they're struggling to do - and I think it's even harder for "our" kids because they're exposed to such a strong "safety-in-the-car" attitude both directly from us and in the household in general and so they understand the importance. :thumbsup: (our meaning techs and c-s.org parents and anyone else who is careful and proactive with car safety.)

Thanks for all the tips. I like the idea of a LATCHed in booster, I could care less about the SG clip. That's really the only selling factor of the SGL. I've completely decide against the SG because I just don't see a benefit over the turbo other than nicer covers.

Also, I guess it's not so much about "training" her. It's just that we go on relatively long trips and she still sleeps in the car. I don't think she's ready for a booster on those trips yet simply because of that. I do think she's ready for riding in a booster when she's awake though.

 

[mish]

Another vote for turbo here. If you carry it by the base it won't fall apart on your either. :thumbsup:

I'm honestly not flipped on the parkway SG. I refuse to rely on the SG to keep the belt fit acceptable and while it wasn't a "fatal" belt fit on my dd when we tried it at the store, it wasn't a good belt fit either.

As for the training part? If she's 5 and mature enough for a booster, pretty much just tell her "it's important to sit still and not reach for things so that the seatbelt stays on your shoulder all the time. riding in a booster is a responsibility and if you can't do it, it's ok to just tell me and we'll put you back in a harness."

Peek back at her on occasion and if you catch her out of place then warn her. And if she just doesn't seem to "get it," then stick her back in a harness if you have one that fits still. She's only going to be 5, and 6 months can make a gigantic difference at that age.

I don't buy in to the whole booster training thing. They're either ready or they're not. Expect a few reminders to be needed, but nothing more than that IMO and experience. If they need more than an occasional reminder, than they're just not ready, and I don't believe in having that kind of stress in the car for anyone if it can be avoided. Because whether we think about it regularly or not, it is stress on the child too if they're having difficulty staying in position and facing constant reminders to do something they're struggling to do - and I think it's even harder for "our" kids because they're exposed to such a strong "safety-in-the-car" attitude both directly from us and in the household in general, that they understand the importance and probably feel more stress than other kids if they have difficulty with staying in position. (our meaning techs and c-s.org parents and anyone else who is careful and proactive with car safety.)

You know, I always recommend booster training because it is really encouraged here. I like your points though. I guess I'm not sure what most people think of as booster training. I think of a few car rides where you can pay attention and give them reminders. Maybe a week at most. If they aren't getting it then they just aren't ready. I think I will start a thread asking what people mean when they say booster training.

 

[Lea_Ontario]

I don't buy in to the whole booster training thing. They're either ready or they're not.

For the strong majority of kids, I agree with you.

But there are some - few, but some - who really do need the "training" to be able to ride safely.

 

[ketchupqueen]

The thing about the PWSG is that it's more car-dependent than the Turbo. When it works, the fit is just as good as the Turbo. But seatbelt geometry seems to matter a lot more, and in some cars it gives a great fit while in others it doesn't. (Same with the Oobr, I hear-- luckily it's working well for us!) The Turbo, on the other hand, seems to provide an almost universally good fit, even for small, new riders, regardless of what vehicle it's in.