Question Boosters for Big Kids: What to Do?

Violet6000 · Feb 25, 2009

Hello, everyone!
.
The more I research, the more I think I need different and more expensive seats!

Now I'm wondering if my 62-lb, 53", 8-yr-old might be better off in a Monterrey (sp?) as opposed to a Graco TurboBooster...?

What is currently considered the best booster for older kids? I like the idea of a back b/c of the wings and also the fact that, even at 8, my daughter wiggles about on long rides. Also, is there an age when a child should not use a booster? Such as maybe when a booster makes them too tall? I noticed the Monterrey seems to accommodate quite tall children...

Thank you very much for any input!

Violet

Dana98327 · Feb 25, 2009

We ended up going with the Monterey unit this past fall, the back was what sold it for me. My daughter just turned 13 and still fits her fine.

Thanksgiving_Twins_Mom · Feb 25, 2009

The 5-Step Test explains how to tell if your child still needs a booster (source: http://www.carseat.org/, click "5 step test").
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.

This link has a nice comparison of how different boosters fit an older child:
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/Boosterfit.aspx

The Graco Air Booster, pictured in the above link, is a nice and reasonably-priced seat for older, long-legged kids. I just got one last week for my leggy 7YO at Big Lots for $55 (regular retail is more like $89)

Today's carseatblog has an informative review of the Monterey:
http://carseatblog.com/

mfrasier · Feb 25, 2009

I would recommend the Graco Air Booster. It has a lot of leg support for taller kids.
Oh by the way I saw one at Big Lots today for about 55 dollars

ZephyrBlue · Feb 25, 2009

We have the Monterey and Air Booster- my almost 9yo rides in the Monterey 95% of the time. If you see them side by side, there's no comparison in the sturdiness of the Monterey and the side impact protection (deep head and torso wings, completely lined with EPS foam- much deeper than the wings on the AB). The AB does provide more seat depth, but my DD says the Monterey is much more comfy.

laccaycol · Feb 26, 2009

The Monterey is a good booster the best one i have had so far. My son loves it and doesnt like to ride in any other seat. He is also 8 years old 67 pounds about the same as yours. My niece loves the monterey as well and when i have her she always asks if she can ride in the comfy seat.

Violet6000 · Feb 26, 2009

Thank you so much for these excellent ideas! I think I'm going to go for at least one Monterey; we have a quite new high back Graco TurboBooster, which I think will work for the second car (for now!)

joolsplus3 · Feb 26, 2009

I hope the Monterey works out, it probably will (I think my 11 yo would still fit in it, lol). I like to add a sixth step to that 5 step test listed above: Feet flat on the floor. Kids may fit the 5 step test pretty well, except they will scootch down to rest their feet on the floor which makes the lapbelt ride up on the abdomen (well, I guess they aren't passing the fifth step, then, lol, 'sitting properly the whole trip', but it's a LOT easier to just stick a kid in the car for a second and if they don't fit with feet flat on the floor, bum all the way back, then you don't have to guess about whether they'll sit properly on a longer trip :thumbsup

Question Boosters for Big Kids: What to Do?

Violet6000

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Dana98327

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Thanksgiving_Twins_Mom

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mfrasier

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ZephyrBlue

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laccaycol

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Violet6000

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joolsplus3

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