Question Best Harnessed booster for tall 4yo?

Unregistered · Aug 12, 2015

Hi there!

I'm hoping to get some help/advice about what car seat we should get for our daughter.

She is 4 turning 5 in October. She weighs 45 pounds, Measures 45" tall and her sitting shoulder height is about 13" We are currently using an Evenflo Maestro...the side pannel broke when i leaned on it hence our search for a new seat. She also looked like she was getting too tall for it, when she sits up straight her head is at the top if not just past the top of the seat.

We have been looking at the Britax Frontier as an main contender but have read some reviews about the straps not tightening and the seat being very uncomfortable which makes me nervous. We go on a lot of road trips and she spends enough time in a car to warrant the need for something very comfortable. Does anyone have experience with this seat? Do your kids find it comfortable? Will it last long term? I have also looked at the Graco Nautilus, Diono Rainier and Radian RXT & Harmony Defender and I'm now totally confused. They all seem to have draw backs....

I would prefer to get something that will last until she no longer needs a car seat but safety and comfort are at the top of my list. I could definitely use some input at this point, I'm so lost

Keeyamah · Aug 12, 2015

Well, you can eliminate the Diono's from your list, as they are not really usable as a booster because they can't be used in booster mode until 50lbs and the belt guide isn't adjustable, so when the harness is outgrown by height (shoulders over the top slot), so is the booster mode, pretty much. Very few kids can actually use it.

My almost 6 yr old has used a Britax Frontier 85 (precursor to the 90) and found it very comfortable for even very long drives. However, it won't be the last seat she'll need because it does not become a backless booster, but those can be found for as little as $13-15 (and some are very $$$).

And kiddos distracted me so I can't remember the other seats you mentioned, I'll come back and edit my post with any new thoughts

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The Harmony Defender can be tricky to install and officially doesn't allow any of the seat to overhang off the vehicle seat, though I have read about people calling and e-mailing and getting installs approved on an individual basis. Other than that, it seems to be a pretty good seat all around.

The Nautilus can be wide, which is something to take into account if you have other back seat passengers, like older siblings or friends, etc. It does become both a high back booster and a backless booster, as does the Harmony, so both have the potential to be the last seat she'll need.

bnsnyde · Aug 12, 2015

I agree a Nautilus might be a good bet.

Radian RXT? Not for a tall 4 YO. I took mine out at 3.5.

Frontier could also be a great choice. Ours was hard to tighten at times but nothing that would make me not consider it for a tall child if I had the space for the wide seat. My 8 YO had trouble tightening the harness. Nothing I couldn't get tight with a bit of a pull down. But I wanted as fast and easy as humanly possible as we had to buckle 5 other kids as well.

Our tall new 4 YO (49 lbs. and 46 inches) uses an Evenflo Sure Ride but only because we needed easy 3 in a row and it will fit a LONG time. I have no idea how comfy it is, honestly, lol. It's not very expensive and could also make a good spare. Easy to install!!!! Nice tall sides protects his head well. I like that for sure.