What to do-graduate to booster seats?

NOAHSMOM

New member
My son currently has two GNs, one in my car and one in my hallway that used to be in his dad's car. His dad no longer wants to have ds in a 5 point harness, which I am not happy about due to ds just fits the minimum of booster use and he has plenty of room in the GNs to use the harness for at least two more years.

His spare seat, Compass B10 is in his dad's car at this point. I like this seat for its portability, but doesn't have the best of all fits for ds. I want to continue using the GNs w/the harness, but there's nothing I can do to force his dad to cooperate.

So ds is not happy about using the harness in my car and not his dad's and it seems that it would be better to be consistent. I would rather sell the GNs at this point and get dedicated boosters, since I got the GNs for the harness and that was my plan and it seems like a waste not to use the harness.

Any thoughts of how I can use some sort of mind control to get my ex to be obedient? Would the Vivo or Monterey be the best boosters? I don't think either are around here to try out.
 
ADS

kater-tot82

New member
I wish I had great advice to give you, but we are kind of in the same boat here. My stepdaughter is just about the same size as your son and her Biological Mom (we'll call her BM) has wanted her in a booster since age 3. We managed to keep her harnessed for another year and then last year, right around 4.5-5 years old, she outgrew the Cosco combo seat BM had and it's been in booster mode since then. BM refuses to buy a better booster seat and doesn't even understand the point of harnessing.
Does your DS spend more time with you than his dad? Since DD is with us basically full-time, she doesn't complain at all about riding in her Regent and Nautilus and being harnessed. There are a lot of things that are different between the 2 houses and the harnessed car seats are just something that falls under being our rules at our house. Would your DS understand that?
I have worked to make DD a better booster rider due to the fact that BM doesn't enforce anything. Could you talk to your ex about the important of keeping DS harnessed? Or ask him why he doesn't want to do it? Can DS buckle himself? My DD has a hard time buckling boosters so the harnessed seats are actually easier.
If the ex is completely refusing and you want to be consistent and you think DS is mature enough to be a full-time booster rider, then selling the GNs and getting dedicated boosters isn't a bad option. I know how hard dealing with exes can be so maybe working with DS to stay harnessed in your car and getting a booster for dad's would work. I don't know much about the Vivo or Monterey (my DD doesn't have the maturity to be a full-time booster rider and we take very long trips to visit family at least 8 times a year), but I'm sure other people can help you there.
Best of luck to you...it's hard sometimes.
 

Amaris

New member
If you think it will make a difference the GN manual actually says that as long as the child fits in the 5pt harness they recommend you use it.
 

NOAHSMOM

New member
He has it in his brain that since he is 5 he is old enough plus he likes the convience factor (takes less time for ds to buckle). He spends about equal time with us. Exdh has a live-in gf who has a 6 yr old and he has been in a booster for awhile, so that comes into play to, both with ds and his dad. I've told him why a harness is safer (at this point). When I bought him a GN last year he agreed to use it.
 

LISmama810

Admin - CPS Technician
There are a lot of things that are different between the 2 houses and the harnessed car seats are just something that falls under being our rules at our house. Would your DS understand that?

I completely agree. Just because your ex wants to use a booster doesn't mean you need to.

At 5.5, I'm ok with your son being in a booster with his dad. (I'd prefer that he be in the Nautilus as long as he fits, but I wouldn't make a battle over it.) If you decide to booster him, too, that's fine, but keep him harnessed if you want to.
 

Kat_Momof3

New member
I'd just tell your son that at his dad's he follow's his rules and at your house he follows your rules.

I'm sure that if you talk to your ex (not knowing the guy personally, though), that he would tell your son the same, and back up that he has to follow your rules.

after all, the important thing here is that the seats you are using both fit him correctly and are used correctly.

I would go ahead and sell the booster your ex isn't using because the kid is over 5... and I wouldn't be fighting an ex on that rather than just asking for support on your rule.

Heck, if he's hesitant, point out that it's safer and you feel it's needed in your car (if needed, make reference to the fact you're driving... most guys think they drive better than their wives/exes).

As for the fit of the booster, get him a different booster... I vote the vivo... the only issue with fit on the compass I've seen has been the lapbelt being too high, and that's definitely not an issue with the Vivo.

Another good bet is the Turbobooster... and if his dad's girlfriend's kid is using a booster, you might be able to swing them having ones that are alike if you get him a turbo, even if they don't have the same cover, because it's the most popular booster.
 

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