better seat for 6 year old than Britax Pinnacle ClickTight?

[panta]

We have an (almost) 6 year old, pretty tall and thin for his age. He is in a Britax Pinnacle ClickTight, which we like, and we are getting a second car seat for him for a new car.

Since we got the Britax Pinnacle ClickTight a year ago, I wanted to ask if there are newer/better car seats for this age out now, or if we should get another Pinnacle. I like the Pinnacle because it will keep him in a 5-point harness longer than the other car seats available, at least out of those available as of last year, which I assume is safer than using a seat belt with a booster seat.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[LISmama810]

A six-year-old who fits properly and will behave properly is perfectly safe in a belt-positioning booster seat. We have no evidence that boosters are less safe than harnessed seats (or vice-versa) for kids that age.

If this is a car he won't be in very regularly, I'd recommend a booster seat. I'd probably go that route even if he's going to be in it often, although a harnessed seat is fine, too, if you're more comfortable with that. The Frontier and Pinnacle are still the tallest forward-facing harnessed seats. Are there other people riding in the back seat? If not and he'll be in the center, I'd get a frontier over the Pinnacle, as the side impact cushions aren't really necessary in the middle.

 

[panta]

Thanks, Jennie. He will be on the side, with our RFing 2 year old in the middle. Given that, are boosters still as safe? What would be the advantage of a booster over a FFing car seat?

 

[carseatcoach]

Yes, as long as he can use it properly, a booster is a fine choice. So is a harnessed seat, although I'm not sure a Pinnacle will fit right next to another seat.

The biggest advantage of a booster is that it's usually quite a bit cheaper and it will last much longer than a harnessed seat. But as I wrote above, either is fine.

 

[lgenne]

The other advantage to a harnessed seat in the setup you just described is easier buckling. With a booster you'd have to buckle it between the two restraints.

What vehicle will this be in?

 

[panta]

We have a Honda CRV and Suburu outback.