Help!!! Safety Questions

My DS is 3.5 yo and 43" tall. He weighs 43 lbs. and is currently in a Britax Dec. in the middle rear seat of a Passat Wagon. His torso height is 16 3/4". He is going to outgrow his seat in a few months. I love everything about the seat except how high it sits up on the seat. Makes it difficult for me to see out the rear window.

I know my options are VERY limited. I'm worried that the Regent will sit even higher and obstruct my view even more. We tried the RA when it first came out before purchasing the Britax and it didn't work for us because of the crotch slot length. Also, I think the top slots are still only about 17 inches??? Don't remember. Any info on Safeguard sales??? Worried about the seat length in the Safeguard. I want to keep him harnessed.

Question...Is middle seat rear still safest when the vehicle has a "crumple zone" (car colapses in middle during an accident?)

Question...The Apex 65 feels so flimsy compared to the Britax Dec...Is a 5pt harness STILL safe than a booster that gets higher safety ratings for securing a child than a harnessed seat?

Please help!!! Your opinions mean so much to me from so many knowledgable people!!! T

Thanks!!!!

vicki

I don't have exact mesurements, but I was a Regent sittin right next to a Decathalon on the floor and they were pretty darn close to being the same height, as the Regent does not sit up on a base like the decathalon does. How this will look in your car may or may not vary. You could go to BRU and test out the seat.

As far as harnessing, provided the seat is used correctly, harnessing is always safer than a belt positioning booster.

The Regent has no base like a convertible seat. Top harness slots are 20" on the Regent.

I have a booster and a Regent in my Jeep. In the Suburban it's two Parkways and a Marathon. By far the boosters obstruct more. Honestly, it sounds snarky, but this won't get better, it will get worse. Boosters are the worst for blocking the rear view.