In need of 4 booster seats- need recs

spoileddani · Apr 10, 2010

Hello everyone, this is my first post here as I just found this board in my search for the safest booster seat for my son x's 4 (my car, husbands car, MIL's car, dad's car). Consumer reports seems to have VERY little info on highback boosters. If possible, I would like to not spend a ton...but I don't want to cheap out on safety.
My son is a lightweight which is why he is still in his carseat though, he is now too tall for it. He is 4 and 1/2, 33lbs and approx. 42in tall. Can anyone give me some advice?

Thank you so much!

April · Apr 10, 2010

The general recomendation is to not move to a belt positioning booster full time until 4 years old AND 40lbs. That being said, the 40lbs becomes less of an issue once the child reaches age 5-7. Has your son every ridden in a booster before? What might be an idea is to get him a booster for the car(s) he's in least and put him in a harnessed seat with taller top harness slots in the primary vehicle. That way he can be booster trained (taught how to sit properly) in the other vehicles while he gains some weight and matures to the point where he can stay seated properly on longer trips (most 4 year olds can't).

What seat is he in now that he has outgrown? Can you please measure his torso height? (Sit him back to the wall and measure from the floor to the top of his shoulders.)

In any event, booster seats that fits smaller kids well are the Graco Turbobooster and the Recaro Vivo, which are both relatively inexpensive ($40-$70 I believe). Harnessed seats that fit slim tall kids well are the Graco Nautilus ($150ish) and the Evenflo Maestro (under $100).

cookie123 · Apr 10, 2010

Yes, what April said. Boostering is not recommended until 4 years and 40 lbs at a minimum.

I would recommend what she did - either a Nautilus or a Maestro. Another option would be a Britax Frontier. Do you have other children in the car?

cookie123 · Apr 10, 2010

Also just thought I'd add - a forward facing car seat is outgrown if the ears go above the shell, the weight limit is met, or the shoulders go above the top harness slot.

Jan06twinmom · Apr 10, 2010

I would also recommend a harnessed seat for your DS. I have a very small DD - she's 5 years old, weighs 35lbs and is about 40in tall. One of the concerns I've read about small children is submarining in a booster seat.

The Maestro would be a good affordable choice. Another one to consider is the Evenflo Chase. The Maestro has taller harness straps than the Chase and it's good to 50lbs in the harness. However, I think you would be fine with a 40lb harness limit on the Chase.

The Nautilus would be my top pick though if money was no object.

You might even want to consider some combination of these seats - maybe the Nautilus for the main car, the Maestro for the secondary car and the Chase for the other vehicles.

HTH

Melanie

chasingboys · Apr 10, 2010

I think the Maestro would be a really good option for your DS, it has tall top slots and since he's such a lightweight, the 50lb harness limit would get him to good booster age/size. It's around $75 at Sears and BRU

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...r Seats&psid=FROOGLE01&sid=IDx20070921x00003a

I wouldn't put a child under 40lbs in a booster.

In need of 4 booster seats- need recs

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