Question Best Booster/Convertible Seat for my 4-year old?

My 4-year old currently rides in a Britax Frontier 85, Britax Marathon (is she too big for this???), and a Radian XTSL. I need to purchase her a new seat and am wondering which one would be best. I presume 5-pt harness is still best as she's likely too young for a seat-belt booster seat, right???

Emma just turned 4 and is 43" tall and 42 lbs. She's a tall girl, so I want a seat that will accomodate her as long as possible, preferably until she no longer needs a booster seat (4' 9" or 80 lbs, right?).

Her dad drives a 2007 Toyota Tacoma with an extended cab (small/tiny back seats) so we need a small seat that can fit in there--currently she rides in her Marathon in this truck. I presume she's outgrown the Marathon???

Looking to purchase new seat today and would appreciate any feedback.

Thank you kindly!

I'd get another combination seat, neither a booster nor convertible. But why does she need another seat?

Seats are outgrown forward facing when the shoulders go above the top slots, or the tops of the ears go above the top of the shell, or the weight limit is reached. We don't know if she's too big for her Marathon. If her shoulders and ears are lower than where they can be, she's fine, since she is under the weight limit. If that's the case, could you leave her in the Marathon until she does outgrow it, then maybe buy a booster?

Kids need boosters until about 12 years old. Your Frontier is the longest lasting harness and booster out there, but she'll still need a backless at some point. Those can be had for about $10. You want her in a booster until she doesn't fit any more. So in a backless booster that means the tops of her ears have gone over any support that's there from the car, the shoulder belt is coming down her arm, or she goes over the weight limit of the booster.

I'd look at another Frontier, Graco Nautilus or Argos, Evenflo SecureKid, and Recaro ProSport for her now for another seat. Are you passing down her convertibles to a younger child?

Wendy

Thank you for all that helpful information!!

I wanted to get her an extra seat for my ex-hubby's girlfriend's car so they don't have to keep trading off the Marathon from vehicle to vehicle. When Emma outgrows all her current seats, ex-hub's gf has several backless booster seats from her daughter that we can use. I guess I'll hold off on purchasing another seat just yet, or maybe just get the Radian back from my mom as she recently moved farther away so my daughter won't be going there as often--hence the needed extra help from ex-hubby's gf.

Nice to know that she hasn't yet outgrown the marathon and to know how to tell when she'll out grow it.

Grateful for all your help!

Keep in mind, carseats expire. In four years or so when a backless is appropriate, it's very likely the backless boosters from your ex-hubby's girlfriend's daughter will be expired and unsafe. Just get her a $10 backless when the time comes.

Wendy

Thank you, I will do that! Her daughter is 9, so I'd imagine they would be expired by the time Emma is ready for one.