Question Booster recommendations

Bbroge143 · Jan 3, 2014

So, it is time that I switch my daughter to a booster. She turned 5 on 12/29. She is around 47-48 inches tall and 65lbs. She has been in the Evenflo Maestro. I know she is well past the weight limit for the harnessed part, but I just couldn't get past my nerves of her being held in by a seat belt only. She is way uncomfortable. I know the Maestro goes to 100lbs as a booster only, but we are passing it down to our younger daughter. I have been looking into the Graco Turbo Booster with safety surround and the Recaro Probooster a lot. They are my top two choices. With that being said, I am very much open to suggestions of other boosters. I would love to keep her harnessed longer, but I do not have the money for the expensive harnessed boosters like the Frontier and such. I would prefer to keep it $150 or less, less being better. Sorry this is so long. Thank you!

I also want to add that we have a 2003 Saturn ION coupe (with the suicide doors) and a 2011 Toyota Camry.

aeormsby · Jan 3, 2014

She needs to stop using the harness on the Maestro IMMEDIATELY, like not ride in it again!!!

For now convert the Maestro to a booster and look at the other booster options. The Maestro probably won't fit her well as a booster either (where are her shoulders in relation to the top slots on the Maestro?) because the height isn't adjustable.

The Graco boosters are not very tall and I would guess she's probably pretty close to outgrowing them by height also. I just got my DS the Recaro Performance booster and I like it a lot, he has much more growing room than the Graco we tried out and returned (he's shorter than your DD and only had one more notch on the Graco for growing room). The Britax Parkway booster is a good option also (nice and tall).

What kind of headrests do you have in your vehicles? The Diono Monterey could be another good option but it requires a headrest behind it.

Bbroge143 · Jan 3, 2014

I am not sure about the Saturn, but in the Toyota we have headrests on the two outside seats but not in the middle, and I believe they are adjustable. It just seems like I have little options for quality seats that she won't outgrow shortly after.

Bbroge143 · Jan 3, 2014

I have heard mixed reviews on the new Evenflo Rightfit. Do you have any experience with that?

Athena · Jan 3, 2014

Wow, that's tall! My kids are at the top of the height %s and yours is even taller, so I'd focus on taller seats. Seriously, don't waste your money on a shorter booster that won't last. I'd look at the Parkway. It still fits my 53" DD with some room to grow. Or if you could find a Frontier 85 on clearance, then I'd get that because it will make a very tall booster and she should still have room in the harness and many just turned 5yos aren't ready to booster full time. Either way, she's outgrown the Maestro by weight and possibly by height ... Are her shoulders over the harness height? HTH.

Bbroge143 · Jan 3, 2014

Athena said:
Wow, that's tall! My kids are at the top of the height %s and yours is even taller, so I'd focus on taller seats. Seriously, don't waste your money on a shorter booster that won't last. I'd look at the Parkway. It still fits my 53" DD with some room to grow. Or if you could find a Frontier 85 on clearance, then I'd get that because it will make a very tall booster and she should still have room in the harness and many just turned 5yos aren't ready to booster full time. Either way, she's outgrown the Maestro by weight and possibly by height ... Are her shoulders over the harness height? HTH.

I am so glad you mentioned the F-85. I found one for $180.

I am pretty excited right now.

austinmomtr · Jan 3, 2014

Bbroge143 said:
I am so glad you mentioned the F-85. I found one for $180. I am pretty excited right now.

Where dis you find the deal on the frontier? Thanks!

MommyShannon · Jan 3, 2014

If you use the Frontier 85 as a harnessed seat, be sure to search youtube for "Frontier 85 Long belt path install". It's tricky at first, but the videos help a lot. It's a great seat.

mping · Jan 3, 2014

My dd sits in a Graco Affix and she's almost 8 and has room to grow. She is about 51 inches tall maybe 52. I don't think her torso is particularly short. Your kids must have super long torsos to have outgrown a TB already!

Athena · Jan 3, 2014

Bbroge143 said:
I am so glad you mentioned the F-85. I found one for $180. I am pretty excited right now.

That's wonderful! My 53" DD just outgrew the harness on that seat, but she made it all the way to 7 years old (and a few months) in the harness and now it's working great as a booster for her with room to grow. Most importantly, she loves it! I hope it works as well for you as it has for us. I second looking at the videos for the long belt installation (as you've already passed the latch weight limit). You can find them on Britax' website too. At first I found the installation intimidating, but with a little time and practice, I've got it down and can do it fairly quickly now, so if you have any difficulty with it at first, remember it gets a lot easier and don't hesitate to ask for help. HTH!

Bbroge143 · Jan 3, 2014

Athena said:
That's wonderful! My 53" DD just outgrew the harness on that seat, but she made it all the way to 7 years old (and a few months) in the harness and now it's working great as a booster for her with room to grow. Most importantly, she loves it! I hope it works as well for you as it has for us. I second looking at the videos for the long belt installation (as you've already passed the latch weight limit). You can find them on Britax' website too. At first I found the installation intimidating, but with a little time and practice, I've got it down and can do it fairly quickly now, so if you have any difficulty with it at first, remember it gets a lot easier and don't hesitate to ask for help. HTH!

Thank you all so much for the advice! I searched 4 stores today in hopes to find something that I wanted. No such luck until the FR85. I am so looking forward to trying this seat out. It can be so frustrating finding the right one.

melinstar · Jan 4, 2014

Is there a particular reason there have been suggestions for the OP to view videos on FR85 long belt path install vs the short? I just changed from LATCH to belt install--my first seatbelt install--and the short path got it solid in a 2010 Mazda cx-9. Just confirming that's okay.

Athena · Jan 4, 2014

melinstar said:
Is there a particular reason there have been suggestions for the OP to view videos on FR85 long belt path install vs the short? I just changed from LATCH to belt install--my first seatbelt install--and the short path got it solid in a 2010 Mazda cx-9. Just confirming that's okay.

I didn't mean to imply there was anything wrong with using SBP. My impression is that most people have to use LBP because SBP doesn't work in many vehicles.

MommyShannon · Jan 4, 2014

melinstar said:
Is there a particular reason there have been suggestions for the OP to view videos on FR85 long belt path install vs the short? I just changed from LATCH to belt install--my first seatbelt install--and the short path got it solid in a 2010 Mazda cx-9. Just confirming that's okay.

I've just never gotten the short belt path to work in my vehicles. The SBP is pretty straight forward so if it works, great and no videos needed. If it doesn't work and you need LBP, the manual is very confusing and the videos are key to getting it right.

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