Chicco MyFit - worth the 5"?

[lady481]

Hi, a follow up to my previous thread. I didn't realize the Graco Tranzitions only allows use of the 5 point harness until 49" - which my 4 year old is now (and is also the limit of his Sequence). So there's no point in us really using this.

My research shows the Chicco MyFit allows 5 point until 54". Is it worth buying this for the additional 5" of growth before switching to the high back booster option? Or is that likely to be such a short amount of time that we should just switch him to the booster shortly? Any other options for a 4 year old that is the height of a 7 year old?

 

[SafeDad]

Hi, a follow up to my previous thread. I didn't realize the Graco Tranzitions only allows use of the 5 point harness until 49" - which my 4 year old is now (and is also the limit of his Sequence). So there's no point in us really using this.

My research shows the Chicco MyFit allows 5 point until 54". Is it worth buying this for the additional 5" of growth before switching to the high back booster option? Or is that likely to be such a short amount of time that we should just switch him to the booster shortly? Any other options for a 4 year old that is the height of a 7 year old?

An extra 5" in standing height may well be worth it for younger kids just transitioning to forward-facing, at least in terms of value if you plan to keep them in a harness for as long as possible. For an average boy, that might be enough to add an extra 2 years (from around age 7.5 to 9.5 based on CDC growth charts). On the other hand, 49" is 95th percentile for a 6-year old, so it's hard to estimate for a 4-year old who is already that tall.

If you don't feel he is ready for a booster, then the MyFit is still probably the best choice and really the only choice except perhaps for something like a RideSafer vest.

For older kids already in a harness/booster, it's also much harder to say if it is worth the cost because they could outgrow it sooner by seated torso height or by weight or just by preference to no longer be in a 5-point harness.

 

[ketchupqueen]

It's worth thinking about how standing height limits are chosen. In this case, most are 49" because of a quirk caused by the labeling and testing regulations. That doesn't mean a child over 49" who otherwise fits the seat won't actually be protected in a crash.

 

[lady481]

It's worth thinking about how standing height limits are chosen. In this case, most are 49" because of a quirk caused by the labeling and testing regulations. That doesn't mean a child over 49" who otherwise fits the seat won't actually be protected in a crash.

Thanks! Can you outline how it's determined if the child fits? 1" under the top of the headrest?

 

[MelodyoftheForest]

My understanding is that a child still fits FF if the crotch strap is not underneath them, they fit width-wise, and their ears are below the top of the seat. The 1" rule is generally for rear-facing seats, as the crash dynamics are different.

 

[ketchupqueen]

The shoulders need to be below the top harness slot as well as ears within the seat. Shoulders going above the top harness setting is the most common way forward facing seats are outgrown.