Britax Parkway SG or SGL for older child(11)?

[Saramomofmany]

We don't have head rests in our big 15 passenger van, so I want to keep my
11 year old in a booster. He is currently in a Britax Frontier in the booster mode, but it is so wide, and with expecting baby #8, we are in a position that we need to do 3 across in the row he is in. Someone on here suggested a Britax Parkway SGL.

I'm curious if anyone has used a SG or SGL with an older child(son is 11). He's skinny though. He's about 73 pounds & 58 1/4"tall and his seating height to his shoulders is 20 1/4".

I am also wondering about the SGL vs the SG. He would be in a position where he won't have latch to use with the SGL, so is there any reason to choose the SGL over the SG? If the SGL would get him safely boosted with a head rest longer, then I'm all for it, but I'm not sure if that's the case. Is the only difference between the two that the SGL has the latch hook ups?

I wish we had a store in the area that sold them in-person to try them out. Target & Babies R Us both said they don't sell the SGL in stores.

Thanks!! Sara

 

[Jessica61624]

Which frontier do you have? The parkway is 21.5in tall. Are you sure he's 30in butt to shoulder?

 

[Saramomofmany]

Which frontier do you have? The parkway is 21.5in tall. Are you sure he's 30in butt to shoulder?

We have the Frontier 85 I believe.

And no, I'm so silly, I measured from his butt to the top of his head duh.

Butt to shoulders is: 20 1/4".

When you say the Parkway is 21.5 in tall, is that to the max shoulder spot?

 

[Jessica61624]

We have the Frontier 85 I believe.

And no, I'm so silly, I measured from his butt to the top of his head duh.

Butt to shoulders is: 20 1/4".

When you say the Parkway is 21.5 in tall, is that to the max shoulder spot?

Yes that is the highest position the parkway goes. Probably not worth it for him then.

 

[Saramomofmany]

Any clue how fast kids generally grow in the butt to shoulder area? If it even lasted a year it probably is worth it since the next child(9 yo) could use it after the 11 yo outgrew it.

 

[Jessica61624]

Any clue how fast kids generally grow in the butt to shoulder area? If it even lasted a year it probably is worth it since the next child(9 yo) could use it after the 11 yo outgrew it.

I believe they say 1in or so per year.

 

[HEVY]

He is two inches taller than my daughter with a slightly taller torso, she is 5-stepping in many different cars, is there a reason why your DS can't 5-step? Is there no headrest in the car for him?

I know what the stats are for height, however my FR85 is higher than the PWSGL. I guess it all depends on the car it is installed in and the recline of the seats.

 

[Saramomofmany]

He is two inches taller than my daughter with a slightly taller torso, she is 5-stepping in many different cars, is there a reason why your DS can't 5-step? Is there no headrest in the car for him?

I know what the stats are for height, however my FR85 is higher than the PWSGL. I guess it all depends on the car it is installed in and the recline of the seats.

Yeah, it's because of the no head rests.

 

[Saramomofmany]

I believe they say 1in or so per year.

Ok, cool, thanks.