R
RDS
Guest
Sorry, I must have cut and pasted wrong when I posted earlier!
Our 3 3/4 year old DS is outgrowing his Century car seat in DH's car. Also, we had a very minor side impact crash in that car a couple of weeks ago, and we think we should throw the seat away since they recommend you do that even with a very minor crash.
In my car, we have a Britax Roundabout and he's not outgrowing it yet. He's about 33 pounds, about 38" (I'm going to measure and weigh him again tonight, since we're going car seat shopping tomorrow). In general, on the tallish and slim side. In my mom's car, he rides in the same model Century that DH has, and he is getting too tall for it but it will probably be OK for a little while longer. She has him in the outboard position in her Honda Accord; we have him in the center position in both of our cars.
Meanwhile, I'm torn between 3 Britaxes as to what to get for DH's car. A store near us has Starrisers left, and that might be best for DH's car (a Prius) because he has to take the seat out frequently. The Starriser apparently folds up easily and is very portable. Since the Starriser starts at 30 lbs., DS could go into it now. But I'm not sure because of what I've been reading about kids being safer in the harness. And how do you know if your child is mature enough to sit in a booster? He never sits still at home (he's always bouncing, wiggling, etc.) but he sits well in his car seat.
On the other hand, getting a Wizard for DH's car would be a lot heavier and presumably harder for him to move in and out and stow easily, a lot more expensive (since it's a from-birth seat), and possibly not usable as long because it doesn't look like a "big-kid" seat. But the Wizard would let DS be harnessed longer, and have extra side-impact protection. Since DH's car has side-curtain airbags, and we're putting the seat in the center, I'm not sure how necessary the extra protection is. But if it's a wonderful new advance, I don't like the idea of not using it.
The third choice is we could get a Bodyguard (assuming DS likes it - we'll try it out tomorrow). DH isn't quite as happy about the Bodyguard as a Starriser because it doesn't look like it folds up and stores as easily. If we do that, we'd have to get another harness seat to last him until he reaches 40 pounds. I don't know what to get for a stopgap harness seat if we do that. It might make the most sense, though, if the Bodyguard is much more protective than the Starriser. But again, DH's car has side curtain airbags, so maybe it isn't essential.
And when we eventually replace the RA in my car, I thought we'd get a Bodyguard, but if DS has been using a Starriser in DH's car he may find the Bodyguard too confining?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Sorry this is so long.
Our 3 3/4 year old DS is outgrowing his Century car seat in DH's car. Also, we had a very minor side impact crash in that car a couple of weeks ago, and we think we should throw the seat away since they recommend you do that even with a very minor crash.
In my car, we have a Britax Roundabout and he's not outgrowing it yet. He's about 33 pounds, about 38" (I'm going to measure and weigh him again tonight, since we're going car seat shopping tomorrow). In general, on the tallish and slim side. In my mom's car, he rides in the same model Century that DH has, and he is getting too tall for it but it will probably be OK for a little while longer. She has him in the outboard position in her Honda Accord; we have him in the center position in both of our cars.
Meanwhile, I'm torn between 3 Britaxes as to what to get for DH's car. A store near us has Starrisers left, and that might be best for DH's car (a Prius) because he has to take the seat out frequently. The Starriser apparently folds up easily and is very portable. Since the Starriser starts at 30 lbs., DS could go into it now. But I'm not sure because of what I've been reading about kids being safer in the harness. And how do you know if your child is mature enough to sit in a booster? He never sits still at home (he's always bouncing, wiggling, etc.) but he sits well in his car seat.
On the other hand, getting a Wizard for DH's car would be a lot heavier and presumably harder for him to move in and out and stow easily, a lot more expensive (since it's a from-birth seat), and possibly not usable as long because it doesn't look like a "big-kid" seat. But the Wizard would let DS be harnessed longer, and have extra side-impact protection. Since DH's car has side-curtain airbags, and we're putting the seat in the center, I'm not sure how necessary the extra protection is. But if it's a wonderful new advance, I don't like the idea of not using it.
The third choice is we could get a Bodyguard (assuming DS likes it - we'll try it out tomorrow). DH isn't quite as happy about the Bodyguard as a Starriser because it doesn't look like it folds up and stores as easily. If we do that, we'd have to get another harness seat to last him until he reaches 40 pounds. I don't know what to get for a stopgap harness seat if we do that. It might make the most sense, though, if the Bodyguard is much more protective than the Starriser. But again, DH's car has side curtain airbags, so maybe it isn't essential.
And when we eventually replace the RA in my car, I thought we'd get a Bodyguard, but if DS has been using a Starriser in DH's car he may find the Bodyguard too confining?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Sorry this is so long.
. Sounds like you have a tough decision.
