Just realized our Marathon is expired...

L

La-Di-Ma

New member

• Feb 15, 2014

• #1

and I need to know what to do next!

DD1 is almost 7, but very big for her age-she's 80lbs and 4'8", currently riding in a Britax Frontier in booster mode.
DD2 is just 4, and normal sized-35 lbs, 40"-ish, and has been happily been riding in the Marathon we purchased when her sister was a few months old, manufactured Sept '07.

Due to sitting in an unused car for a couple of months, the Marathon got mouldy-ick! And when I double checked the Britax site today, I learned it had a 6 year life, not the 7 years I had originally thought.

My first thought is to put the straps back in the Frontier and move DD2 into it. DD1 technically only has 1" to grow (and for her that could be a matter of months) before she's legally out of a booster in BC. Is there a compelling argument to keep her in a high-back to 4'9" and beyond, or can we feel ok about buying a simpler booster for her?

Any other suggestions? Do I really have to retire a Marathon at 6 years? I used to be so militant about this, and now I'm feeling so meh...

 

stephie1012

New member

• Feb 15, 2014

• #2

I would buy a backless booster for the 8 year old. Pass down the frontier and trash the moldy marathon.

 

aeormsby

New member

• Feb 15, 2014

• #3

I'd definitely get rid of the Marathon. No point in buying another harnessed seat when you have one so I'd put the harness back in the Frontier for the 4yo and find a HBB for your older DD.

Kids need to use a booster until they fit correctly with only a seatbelt. Keep in mind that vehicle seatbelts are designed for full grown males so most kids need some kind of a booster until they're 9-12 years old. This is how to determine if the seatbelt fits correctly: http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm

You could go with either a NBB (no-back booster) or HBB (high back booster). A couple reasons to go with the HBB instead of the NBB would be sleeping (HBB provides more support to keep kids upright); vehicle headrests (if the vehicle doesn't have headrests a HBB will provide head support); or for kids that need more of a reminder to stay in position or comfort.

 

MommyShannon

New member

• Feb 15, 2014

• #4

I agree. I'd get a no back booster. At her height, she has probably outgrown every high back booster available. The Frontier 85 is taller than any booster.
ETA: you can measure her torso to be sure.

 

L

La-Di-Ma

New member

• Feb 15, 2014

• #5

Thanks for the answers! She's long-torsoed, so yes, likely outgrown all the HBBs we can readily get. I won't feel guilty about moving her to a backless.

Now to figure out where we put those pesky straps

 

canadiangie

New member

• Feb 16, 2014

• #6

Just wanted to mention that I saw the Evenflo Amp backless at Canadian Tire a few weeks back and the seat looked really roomy - more roomy than some others. And the colour choices were cute. There was a black/aqua blue, and a black/purple-pink with flowers. And I think around $30.

I too agree that at 8 & 80 a backless is a great option, and hopefully you find the harness for the Frontier because it would be perfect for your 4yo.

 

L

La-Di-Ma

New member

• Feb 17, 2014

• #7

Replying to my own thread to clarify a bit: big girl is 6, almost 7, not 8 (although she's bigger than most 8 year olds) and I have just realized that the car has no headrests in the back seat.

Does that influence the advice on whether to keep big girl in the Frontier? I am looking at the Pioneer on Amazon.ca-this is the first I've heard of it in Canada, and I'm wondering whether it's worth purchasing that for my little girl and keeping big girl in the Frontier.

 

A

ahgirls

New member

• Feb 17, 2014

• #8

Without a headrest she needs a high back booster for neck protection in a crash. Does your car have air bags in front driver & passenger side?

Your dd is definitely tall. Don't you hate people expecting more out of her due to her height? Look at the face people not the height!

 

L

La-Di-Ma

New member

• Feb 17, 2014

• #9

Yes, car has airbags in front. It's a new to us '99.

 

MommyShannon

New member

• Feb 17, 2014

• #10

I'd keep the Frontier then. It's the tallest booster available and you will need it for her.

 

Keeanh

Well-known member

• Feb 17, 2014

• #11

What vehicle is it? And how long are you planning to keep it? For now I'd grab a Titan 65 at Walmart to use for the 4yo. It's $100. Do you have a tether anchor?

 

L

La-Di-Ma

New member

• Feb 17, 2014

• #12

It's a Ford Escort, and it's a for now car, that will be ours until we find the right deal on something bigger and/or newer, so it could be months, could be years. It does not currently have anchors, but we will either mover the anchors from our previous Escort or take it to the dealership and get them to put them in, depending upon how complicated this proves to be.

The 4 year old is still under 35lbs so she'll rear-face in Grandma's True Fit until we get the anchors in. I'm just researching options for a new harnessed seat for her now, and it's been so long since I've had to do this! I'm tempted by that kiwi Pioneer purely because of the colour, and because I know she wants cupholders, but I'll have a look at the Titan. Thanks!

 

Pixelated

Moderator - CPST Instructor

• Feb 17, 2014

• #13

Unless your previous Escort is a 97-99 or 98-99 model year, depending on if it's a wagon or sedan, the tether anchor kit isn't interchangeable, the threading and bolt size is different.

Do you have a wagon or sedan? I could give you the part number.

 

L

La-Di-Ma

New member

• Feb 18, 2014

• #14

Thanks-good to know! The previous Escort is a 98. They're both sedans. The back ledge on this newer one does seem to be a little more sloped, and the upholstery on it is continuous, so there's no obvious place from the top to see where the bolt goes. I haven't checked from the trunk yet (this has been delegated to DH).

Big girl's head almost touches the ceiling sitting in her Frontier with the recline thingy in booster position. Maybe these back seats have hardly been sat in so they're not squished much? Not sure what the solution to this one is.

 

Keeanh

Well-known member

• Feb 18, 2014

• #15

Would the seatback be high enough for your big girl if she used an Incognito? It's only an inch or so thick.

If it were my vehicle and my child, I would make the Frontier last as long as possible and then I would add my own headrests. I have a few ideas in my head of how you could probably make it work. I had headrests added to my 15p van and it was really easy.

 

L

La-Di-Ma

New member

• Feb 18, 2014

• #16

Yes, I'm definitely sold on the idea of keeping the Big Girl in the Frontier. I checked today to see how much room she has in terms of raising the top of that, and there's many, many inches to go. And since the car's not necessarily a forever car, we'll just make it work!