Opinions on what seat to buy please

stefplus3

New member
My dd will be 5 in April and weighs 49lbs, height 47 inches, and her torso is 16.5 inches.

She's currently in the integrated seat in my minivan and a nautilus in dh's car. She has plenty of room left height/weight wise in the nautilus but is getting pretty close to the buckle. At that point she can't use it in harness mode anymore right?

What are my options? As far as boosters go I think it's between the monterey and turbo booster right? Would you put a child her size in a booster? She is very mature so I'm not worried about her not sitting still. I'm worried about her not being safe enough.
 
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2BunniesMommy

Well-known member
She can still use the Nautilus. It is fine if she is on the strap a bit. As long as it is not all the way under her, no biggie.
 

mum2two

Active member
Are you looking for a seat to use in your minivan rather than the integrated seat? I had always heard but can't say for certain that they were not the greatest.

I think at her age and stats a booster would be fine as long as you find one that fits her well. The Monterey, Turbobooster, Vivo, Safeguard are all boosters that I hear a lot of positives about (some allow you to latch the seat inplace as well).
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
At not yet 5, I'd encourage you to keep her harnessed a bit longer. :)

There is no booster called the Safeguard (unless you mean the Safeguard Go, now discontinued, which converts to a backless.)

PP, you may mean the Parkway SlideGuard?

Also, the Parkway, Vivo, and TurboBooster do not LATCH.

The Oobr does.
 

mom2acrew

Moderator - CPST Instructor
Check the vehicle manual to see what the max weight is on the integrated seat, she may have outgrown it. By close to the buckle do mean crotch strap under her bum?

As long as she is under 65# and shoulders below harness slots she can continue to use it.....I believe unless there is an issue about the crotch strap. I can go check the manual at www.gracobaby.com or you can :)

Girls can be good booster riders before boys, typically 5 is the minimum I like to see, harnessed longer is best practice. IF you think she can stay seated properly positioned at all times (won't reach for a toy on the floor) a nice high back booster may be okay, especially for shorter trips and the Nautilus for longer trips when she may fall asleep?
 

stefplus3

New member
Thanks for all the quick replies!

To answer a few things:

yup, new seat for my minivan (2002 chrysler voyager)

yes, I was talking about the crotch strap being too close to her little booty, I'll go check the online manual. I could be pulling that fact (or non fact) out of the air, lol.

I can't find the weight limit of the built in harness anywhere!!! I've even called the dealerships and they couldn't tell me. She is super tall and has a few more inches before she reaches the slots but I'm guessing the weight limit isn't high, hence my need for a new seat.

I'd love to keep her harnessed for a long time but something like a regent isn't in our budget (i don't think). We are actually on the waiting list thru the Kyle David Miller foundation but I'm not sure how fast that list will move up.
 

stefplus3

New member
back again....the manual says use the crotch strap slot closest to but not under your child. Would that mean just not totally under? Or not under at all? It's not clear :rolleyes:
 

wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
A graco rep came here and cleared it up when people were panicking last year. It cannot be completely under the child. They can sit on it a bit. Basically, by the time it would actually be a problem your child (both male and female) would have complained about comfort enough to get a new seat.

Wendy
 

stefplus3

New member
thanks :thumbsup:

reading all the threads on this site makes me wish she was itty bitty again...there are so many pretty seats out now! she had a pretty blvd but outgrew it height wise :(
 

obamamama

New member
Stefplus3:

I have a 98 Voyager with the integrated seats. I don't use them but for emergencies but the weight limit is in my manual-- it's 50lbs.
 

mum2two

Active member
At not yet 5, I'd encourage you to keep her harnessed a bit longer. :)

There is no booster called the Safeguard (unless you mean the Safeguard Go, now discontinued, which converts to a backless.)

PP, you may mean the Parkway SlideGuard?

Also, the Parkway, Vivo, and TurboBooster do not LATCH.

The Oobr does.

Yup, I meant the Parkway Slide guard...thanks for the correction.
 

mom2acrew

Moderator - CPST Instructor
Many sites now have the Regent for $159, Albeebaby did. Not a lot more than another Nautilus, in case you want to go that route.
 

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