Buy more Radians or put in booster?

[Unregistered]

I have a tiny 6.5 year-old in a Radian (we have 4, they are all the highest weight limit, don't know exact model off the top of my head) 2 in our cars and one with each set of grandparents.

Our (again, tiny!) 20-month-old is finally outgrowing his Keyfit.

My plan for the grandparents is to rear-face the Radians and buy Ride Safer Travel vests so they don't have to have two permanent car seats installed.

Should I buy two more Radians for us or is my 6.5 year old fine in a booster? We used a Maestro as his travel seat, is he ready/safe enough in that seat for everyday?

What would you guys do??

Thanks!

 

[bree]

I have a tiny 6.5 year-old in a Radian (we have 4, they are all the highest weight limit, don't know exact model off the top of my head) 2 in our cars and one with each set of grandparents.

Our (again, tiny!) 20-month-old is finally outgrowing his Keyfit.

My plan for the grandparents is to rear-face the Radians and buy Ride Safer Travel vests so they don't have to have two permanent car seats installed.

Should I buy two more Radians for us or is my 6.5 year old fine in a booster? We used a Maestro as his travel seat, is he ready/safe enough in that seat for everyday?

What would you guys do??

Thanks!

Hi and welcome! How are you using the Maestro? The Maestro is a combination seat (a seat that is forward-facing with a harness that later becomes a booster). If your 6 year old is using the Maestro with the harness, that is exactly the same as using the Radian forward-facing with the harness.

If you are using the Maestro in booster mode, then as long as your 6.5 year old is mature enough to sit properly throughout every car ride, then a booster that positions the seatbelt well is a good choice for full-time seat. Some would suggest that your 6.5 year old be at least 40 pounds before using a booster (for instance, that's a minimum in some states & in Canada), but provided that your child meets the weight minimums for the booster you are using, then he would be within the guidelines for using that seat.

My son has been using a booster full-time since he was 6.5, and I've been happy with that situation, but there are some kids in that age range who aren't quite ready for full-time boostering, but other seats are worth considering, given that you already convertibles to rear-face your younger child; you could look into another Maestro or other combinations seats, like the Graco Nautilus or Britax Frontier.

 

[Unregistered]

Thank you! We have only used the Maestro as a forward-facing harness for travel. I was thinking of buying another one instead of two more Radians. We would use it harnessed for a while. My kiddo doesn't mind and I feel better. It will then be his booster.
Sounds like that is a good plan!

Thank you so much!