Is there any reason not to do this?

EmmaCPST

CPST Instructor

• Jul 18, 2012

• #1

I talked to a Grandma today who has two grandsons - 3 and 5. She has a Maestro that she's been using for the 3 year old and but she's going to start taking the 5 year old to school on different days of the week than when she has the 3 year old. The 5 year old is 55 pounds, so her idea is that since the Maestro is LATCHed in for the 3 year old, she can just loosen the harness and pull it to the sides and put the 5 year old in it as a booster with the seat belt.

I couldn't think of any reason not to for as long as the 5 year old fits properly? Anyone else have any care either way about it? She really explain but for whatever reason she really doesn't want another seat in the car.

 

K

Keeyamah

Active member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #2

On a different board I'm on, a mom asked this about the Nautilus and when she contacted Graco, they said no, because (once you read through the semi-legalize) the seat hadn't been crash tested that way. So, IDK.

 

B

babyherder

Well-known member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #3

Officially I think you need to remove the harness before using it as a booster.

 

tiggercat

New member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #4

Does evenflo permit using latch in booster mode?

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org

 

EmmaCPST

CPST Instructor

• Jul 18, 2012

• #5

tiggercat said:

Does evenflo permit using latch in booster mode?

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org

Click to expand...

Yep

 

tiggercat

New member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #6

EmmaCPST said:

Yep

Click to expand...

Then I'd be ok with it, as long as the harness was moved well out of the way. It is technically against manufacturer's directions.

Sent from my iPod touch using Car-Seat.Org

 

emandbri

Well-known member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #7

I'd be fine with it, Benjamin had used my nautilus that way, I was sad when Elizabeth reached the latch limit because it gave me some flexibility.

I loosened the harness, put it on the sides and then tightened it again.

 

Kat_Momof3

New member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #8

the maestro is so short as a booster... I'd be worried he'd be too tall for it.

 

G

gigi

New member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #9

It isn't THAT short for a 5 year old, I don't think. My 5 yo is average size (43",44 lbs, 5t shirts, 4 or 5 pants, 16"ish torso) and has a good 3" of harness growth (he's 1" below the second slots from the top). He could use the booster for at least a couple more years I think...so this bigger 5 y.o. has a good chance of fitting, I think. Maybe not forever but probably will fit right now.

 

S

sparkyd

Active member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #10

One thing to consider is how it is supposed to be LATCHed for booster mode. Is it supposed to be tight with less than one inch of movement (like for harnessed mode) or do they specifically say to LATCH it loosely for booster mode? If I remember correctly that is the deal with the Nautilus - you aren't supposed to tighten up the LATCH the same way in each mode. That would make the seat perform differently in a crash. :twocents:

 

Kat_Momof3

New member

• Jul 18, 2012

• #11

I just mean that it will depend on how he's built... if he's tall for his age and especially if he has a long torso, while he may not be too tall for it immediately, it could be very soon.

an evenflo amp highback would be so easy and inexpensive to pick up for using with him.

 

mamakc

Active member

• Jul 19, 2012

• #12

I wouldn't do it. I would get a $14 backless booster for the 5 year old in that car.

-Krista
DD~5.5~ FF Radian xtsl/HBturbo/monterey
DS~3.5~ FF Avenue/Maestro
DN~2~ RF Coccoro