My 6yo son is 50 inches tall and weighs 47 pounds (yes, VERY tall/thin). He's currently in the SureRide, which still fits, but is not working for us. He used to be able to buckle and unbuckle himself in the Radian XTSL (which he outgrew for shoulder height). The SureRide he has a lot of trouble buckling. I think the main problem is the fact that the straps are connected beneath the seat, meaning you can pull one longer and the other gets shorter, and it's easy to pull them wonky when he's putting the shoulder straps over his shoulders and then it's impossible to buckle the shorter strap and difficult for him to pull them even once they're on. So, I'd like a new seat for him, even though money is a bit tight right now.
I would prefer to have him in a 5-point harness as long as possible. Maybe something that will convert to a high back booster? I looked at the Graco Nautilus, but it says you can use the harness until 49 inches, which he has already surpassed. Are there any 5-point harness seats that will fit a child past 50 inches in height, or am I being unrealistic? Is it just time to get a plain high back booster? Eek. I'm not ready for him to be just in a seat belt... he seems so vulnerable! He does use a regular booster and seat belt when he goes with daddy in the truck, but that is very rare.
Car setup and other (probably irrelevant) info: 97 Expedition with 3 seats across (newborn, 5yo, and 6-1/2yo). The 5yo is in an XTSL behind driver, 6-1/2yo is in the SureRide in the middle, and the baby is on the passenger side in a FlexLoc. The kids want the baby in the middle, which I may consider. The XTSL will NOT install properly in the middle position because the position of the belt is forward of the seat crease (don't know my seat/belt terminology). However, lifting an infant seat in and out of the middle is a major hassle. As it is, I let the kids out on the driver's side and then go around and get the baby. I'm thinking of reversing this and getting the baby out of the driver's seat, then letting the kids out that side - at least as long as he's in the infant carrier. Unless anyone has a different suggestion that might work better.
I would prefer to have him in a 5-point harness as long as possible. Maybe something that will convert to a high back booster? I looked at the Graco Nautilus, but it says you can use the harness until 49 inches, which he has already surpassed. Are there any 5-point harness seats that will fit a child past 50 inches in height, or am I being unrealistic? Is it just time to get a plain high back booster? Eek. I'm not ready for him to be just in a seat belt... he seems so vulnerable! He does use a regular booster and seat belt when he goes with daddy in the truck, but that is very rare.
Car setup and other (probably irrelevant) info: 97 Expedition with 3 seats across (newborn, 5yo, and 6-1/2yo). The 5yo is in an XTSL behind driver, 6-1/2yo is in the SureRide in the middle, and the baby is on the passenger side in a FlexLoc. The kids want the baby in the middle, which I may consider. The XTSL will NOT install properly in the middle position because the position of the belt is forward of the seat crease (don't know my seat/belt terminology). However, lifting an infant seat in and out of the middle is a major hassle. As it is, I let the kids out on the driver's side and then go around and get the baby. I'm thinking of reversing this and getting the baby out of the driver's seat, then letting the kids out that side - at least as long as he's in the infant carrier. Unless anyone has a different suggestion that might work better.