Question Harness or booster?

Unregistered · Jan 30, 2014

Hi -
We have a Britax Frontier 85 for our 45 lb 6 year old. There is no tether in our 98 Camry, and there are speakers installed in the car where the tether would go so there's nowhere to install one. I'm trying to figure out if it's safer to use the car seat in booster mode, or in harness mode if we're not using a tether. I like the idea of my son still being in harness mode, but since we can't tether it, is it safer to use it as a booster? There is no latch system in the car. Thank you!

aeormsby · Jan 30, 2014

I think the head movement numbers are close to the same for an untethered seat and a booster.

My personal feeling are I feel more comfortable with an untethered seat when you have something like the Frontier installed with the Long Belt Path, the shoulder belt coming over closer to the top of the seat makes me feel better about it. My other personal feeling is that the Frontier is a really heavy booster to not have latched. I have no idea if it truly makes a difference (probably not since having it latched is not required) but it just makes me wonder.

So, all that to say I think you could go either way with it. At 6yo and 45lb he'd definitely old enough and big enough to be in a booster. We recently started using our FR80 as a booster for my 8yo and when I tried my 6yo in it (pretty much the same size as yours) I wasn't as happy with the belt fit. I don't remember if the 85 fits better on smaller kids as a booster or not, but if you try it in booster mode make sure the fit is good.

Baylor · Jan 30, 2014

They recommend you use the Versa Tether at all times but it is required for any child 65lb to 85lbs.

I would still put him in a booster at his age and size in that car. The FR85 with Long belt path is pretty secure though. You could try it and see how it fits in there.