So I started carpooling with one of DS1's friends starting in January. He just turned 8, but is about the size of a 5 year old. I'd guess he's about 43" and 40lbs, since he's not much taller than my tall 33 month old! Before January, he wasn't sitting in a seat at all since the CA law was only 6 yrs or 60lbs then (we weren't carpooling yet), but now that law changed and he's back in a booster (although he just turned 8 this weekend and could legally go without one now). In my car (Mazda 5) he's currently riding in a backless Evenflo Amp or Harmony LiteRider in the 3rd row. Before, I had him in the 2nd row, with DS1 in harnessed in his FR85 in the 3rd row, and he fit fine in either backless booster with the belt fitting well. I just switched DS1's FR85 to booster mode though and after reading hear read that most people weren't comfortable with the FR85 in booster mode without LATCH since it's so heavy. Since my 3rd row doesn't have LATCH, I moved DS1 back to the 2nd row and had to put carpool boy in the 3rd row. DS2 is in the other 2nd row seat and having him in the 3rd row rf'ing was just too difficult for me to get him in and out, so moving him back there isn't an option. Since the Mazda 5 seatbelts in the 3rd row are pretty far forward the belt is not laying across carpool boy's shoulder and there's like a 1-2" gap between his shoulder and the belt. I then tried using the seatbelt adjuster that comes with the backless booster, but even though it helped position the belt close to his shoulder it made it slip off his shoulder more. Plus, carpool boy just doesn't sit still and is constantly reaching forward and moving around and not staying in position. I just really think he needs to be in a highback booster because of the way the seatbelt is postioned in the 3rd row and because he's not mature enough to sit correctly and he has narrow shoulders since he's so small. He rides with us one way, 5 days a week, and it's about a 15 minute drive to school, half of which is on the freeway going full speed. I would just feel more comfortable with him in a highback.
His mom has said that he prefers being in a backless booster and originally asked that I have him sit in one in my car. I told her fine and that he could use our boosters since I have extras and didn't want carpool boy to have to take his booster to and from school every day. I know they have a Turbobooster for him in their car that he is using backless.
I'm thinking I should just buy him a highback booster and have him use it in my car. His mom is fine with him using a backless even though he's so tiny so I don't think me telling her about the problem would make her want to run out and buy him a highback booster when he's not riding in one in their own car. I don't currently have any extra highback boosters since DS1 is using his Monterey in their car for carpools.
So if you were me would you just go out and buy a highback booster if you didn't have one? I'm thinking the cheapest one would be fine. I see they have this Cosco Pronto booster for $35 shipped on Amazon. Would it be ok? [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EBUXCG"]Amazon.com: Cosco Juvenile Pronto Belt Positioning Booster Seat, Eldorado: Baby[/ame]
I know the TurboBoosters go down to $35 at Target, but I think I may have just missed the last sale.
His mom has said that he prefers being in a backless booster and originally asked that I have him sit in one in my car. I told her fine and that he could use our boosters since I have extras and didn't want carpool boy to have to take his booster to and from school every day. I know they have a Turbobooster for him in their car that he is using backless.
I'm thinking I should just buy him a highback booster and have him use it in my car. His mom is fine with him using a backless even though he's so tiny so I don't think me telling her about the problem would make her want to run out and buy him a highback booster when he's not riding in one in their own car. I don't currently have any extra highback boosters since DS1 is using his Monterey in their car for carpools.
So if you were me would you just go out and buy a highback booster if you didn't have one? I'm thinking the cheapest one would be fine. I see they have this Cosco Pronto booster for $35 shipped on Amazon. Would it be ok? [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004EBUXCG"]Amazon.com: Cosco Juvenile Pronto Belt Positioning Booster Seat, Eldorado: Baby[/ame]
I know the TurboBoosters go down to $35 at Target, but I think I may have just missed the last sale.