Question I scored a brand new Regent for $136, what do I need to know about it?

mlohry

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #1

So today we went browsing for a convertible seat for DD who is turning one and stumbled upon a brand new Regent at a local baby store for $136 that we will be using for our 7 year old DS. He was currently in a Nati but has just outgrown the harness ht. so we had been boostering him, but I really wanted to keep in the 5pt harness so this will be awesome as he is right at the 2nd to the highest hole. The saleslady thought he would get at least another year out of it and then we can pass it on to our now 5 year old. We are going to be installing it in the 3rd row passenger side of our 2005 Honda Odyssey. The best part about this seat is that my DH will be able to use it in his lap belt only old Impala so my DS can go criusing this Summer. I had posted recently about what to do because DS had outgrown the Nati and that is what we used last year. I will attempt to post a pix of the Regent later. Is there anything I need to know about this seat and installing it?

 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants

• Feb 13, 2010

• #2

How much does he weigh? It may need to be tethered in the Impala.

 

Raegansmom4

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #3

under 40 lbs, long belt path; over 40 lbs short belt path; recline bar is a must; top tether is a must (over 50 lbs? maybe over 40). When installing, I pushed it down and back into the vehicle seat and got it rock solid.

 

mlohry

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #4

My DS turned 7 the end of November. He weighs about 49lbs is 48 inches tall and if I did it right his torso is 16 inches long. How long do you think I will get out of this seat with him at this size? I really hope you say another 10 years, that will get him almost to driving his own car!! LOL

 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants

• Feb 13, 2010

• #5

It must be tethered when he is 50#.

 

mlohry

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #6

So obviously a 71 Impala is not going to have recommendations for securing the top tether. Do we attempt to find a piece of metal to secure the tether? I am sure it will not be 100% approved, but it is better than a lap belt situation. The Impala is only occasionally used in the Summer on the weekends, it will maybe be used 10 times in a year.

 

Raegansmom4

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #7

mlohry said:

So obviously a 71 Impala is not going to have recommendations for securing the top tether. Do we attempt to find a piece of metal to secure the tether? I am sure it will not be 100% approved, but it is better than a lap belt situation. The Impala is only occasionally used in the Summer on the weekends, it will maybe be used 10 times in a year.

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You can't really create a top tether location. I'm not even sure if you can get a top tether retrofitted in a vintage car - I'm really doubting it. You can't have it untethered over 50 lbs (I just checked my manual). In fact, the Regent didn't do the hottest in testing, that's why there are so many "rules" for it. I would never recommend using it without the top tether.

 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants

• Feb 13, 2010

• #8

No, you would need to contact Ez-ON and purchase and install a heavy-duty tether anchor.

 

mlohry

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #9

Well good to know about the top tether. Maybe we will have to come up with another idea. Is this not a very good seat? Someone said it did not do real hot in testing?

 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants

• Feb 13, 2010

• #10

The only safe ways to transport a child (in a lap-belt-only vehicle) who has outgrown a Nautilus would be a Regent or a vest/harness and both require a tether anchor. The upcoming Frontier85 may have higher harness slots, but it may also require a tether. Lap-belt-only cars, especially if you are not willing to modify them, are just not very safe for kids.

 

Raegansmom4

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #11

mlohry said:

Well good to know about the top tether. Maybe we will have to come up with another idea. Is this not a very good seat? Someone said it did not do real hot in testing?

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I didn't mean to make you worry. I have a Regent for my oldest (who is really big for a 4 yo). The Regent didn't do as well tethered as the Radian and Graco Nautilus did untethered, which is a bit of a concern but still marginally passable. But, one must factor in that it is a monster of a seat, so it will probably not perform exactly the same as a "typical" seat. I definitely feel it is safer than a booster your child is not ready to use. My 4 yo would not be mature enough for a booster, so she is safer in the Regent by far.

 

mlohry

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #12

So for opinions sake is my 7 year old better off in his Nati as a booster or the Regent harnessed? I can return the Regent if this was not a good buy.

 

carseatcoach

Carseat Crankypants

• Feb 13, 2010

• #13

With a shoulder belt and assuming proper fit and use, I'd choose the Nauti as a booster, but that's a personal choice. If the Regent is also properly used (tethered), they are both valid choices.

If there is only a lap belt and no top tether, neither are safe.

 

mlohry

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #14

Well maybe we will be returning the Regent, should have read more info. 1st it seemed like a good buy. I think I will check into the EZ-On 86Y harness it says it can be used with any booster for the Impala.

 

Raegansmom4

New member

• Feb 13, 2010

• #15

I'd really do some reading on the 86Y harness. I believe it may require a top tether. Even though it claims to work with any booster, I believe there are a couple of boosters that say you cannot use it with their booster.