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I want to extend rear facing, but i also want to keep her in a harness as long as possible. Which car seat will get me the most use? Right now she's 20 months and 24 lbs.
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Actually, it IS safest to remain in a 5 point harness as long as possible.
"As a conscientious company that deals directly with the safe transportation of children, we urge parents to keep their children in car seats with a 5-point harness for as long as possible. A 5-point harness is an undeniably safer option than a booster seat that uses a lap and shoulder belt restraint. While some parents - let alone kids - do not like the idea of a five or six-year-old still using a "baby seat", a 5-point harness is absolutely the safest way to transport a child that is 80lbs. or less in an automobile."
There's no definitive study to indicate that 5-point harnessing is safer over a booster, nor vice versa for a developmentally neurotypical older kiddo who is capable of remaining properly positioned in a belt positioning booster. Maybe by the time your little one is at the stage where you need to choose between a 5-point harnessed seat and a belt positioning booster seat, there will be definitive data supporting one or the other for an older child. Until then, though, you've got plenty of time and convertible carseat options for extended rear facing for optimal safety for your 20 month old for some time, as mentioned previously in this thread and your other threads about seats such as the Radian which would do both extended rear facing and provide extended harnessing forward facing until that booster ready stage is reached for most kids.
Actually, it IS safest to remain in a 5 point harness as long as possible.
"As a conscientious company that deals directly with the safe transportation of children, we urge parents to keep their children in car seats with a 5-point harness for as long as possible. A 5-point harness is an undeniably safer option than a booster seat that uses a lap and shoulder belt restraint. While some parents - let alone kids - do not like the idea of a five or six-year-old still using a "baby seat", a 5-point harness is absolutely the safest way to transport a child that is 80lbs. or less in an automobile."
No, this is not correct. You've quoted a paragraph from a retailer. They are a pleasure to do business with, but they aren't child safety experts. As CPSTs, we tend to have domain in that area
The push toward 'extended harnessing' came because parents were too quick to put their 2 and 3 year olds in boosters, which is extremely unsafe.
The fact of the matter is that as long as a child is at least 4, and least 40 pounds, and has the maturity to sit still 100% of the time (usually occurs between 5 and 6, sometimes earlier, sometimes later), that a high back booster that positions the seatbelt correctly is extremely safe, and there is no evidence that a 5 point harness is safer.
Right now, because your child is only 20 months old, you should only be looking at convertibles which will keep her rear facing as long as possible. The Sunshine Kids' Radian 80SL/XTSL is one example of a great seat that will keep baby rear facing to around 4 and harnessed to around six.
The chance is slim at that point that you'll continue to need a 5 point harness. Your child should be fine in a booster at that point. However, if your child has delayed impulse control or other special needs that manifest later on, you can re-evaluate at that point what harness to buy her.
Seats change very fast, and it's unlikely that your 'best bet' today will be your 'best bet' four years from now
we went with the britax fontier 85 because we want to harness as long as possible.
we love the seat!
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