Need a new seat soon.

[mom2juliarose]

DS is 5y2m and riding in an R100 in my car and a Radian 65 in DH's car. Unfortunately, the crotch buckle is really short and snug on him now. It's OK for brief periods of time, and he's only in DH's car once a week, so we'll keep him in the Radian 65 until it expires in September, and then I feel comfortable moving him to a dedicated booster (he'll be 2 months shy of 6 then) in that car since it's used so little.

We'll use the R100 for the baby in DH's car. We have him in a NextFit in my car. I think what I'd like is a harnessed booster seat that actually makes a good booster. The Nautilus? I'm not sure we have the $$ for a Britax. What else might work? It would also be nice if it had a long-ish life so that we could pass it down to the baby when the R100 expires in 2020 (he'll be 5).

I need to check his stats. He's about 3/4-1/2" below the top slots on the R100, he weighs 45 pounds, and is tall with an average torso, for some reference.

 

[ketchupqueen]

What vehicle and space constraints are you dealing with?

The Defender, SecureKid, or Tranzitions may all work for you... I don't know about comparative crotch strap lengths though.

 

[rin2809]

I have loved our Nautilus/Argos seats that we have for my son. We have only ever used them in harness mode, so I can't speak personally to the booster functionality, but have heard good things. I feel like there is plenty of room in the crotch strap, but my kid is also ridiculously skinny, so I may not be the best gauge for you on that.

We have also had good luck with the Harmony Defender that DS uses in Grandma's car. To me, it lacks a few of the nicer features of the Nautilus: Recline (what little there is), nice cup holders and storage cubbies, and better headwings. But it seems to be comfortable.

 

[cookie123]

Doesn't the Radian have a longer crotch strap available? You could go that route until expiration. Then maybe go for a High back booster seat if he's close enough to 6 that you're comfortable.

 

[mom2juliarose]

Doesn't the Radian have a longer crotch strap available? You could go that route until expiration. Then maybe go for a High back booster seat if he's close enough to 6 that you're comfortable.

We has the longer crotch strap on the Radian. It's the same length as the R100 one. We will get him a HBB for that car when the Radian expires (although it is snug, he uses it so infrequently that he can survive for 7 months).

I just want something that works well as a booster AND a harnessed seat, so I don't have to buy a booster for my car so soon.

The car I need it for is a 2013 Odyssey but it can be for any seating position.

 

[ketchupqueen]

I'm sure you know, but even the combination seats that do perfectly well as a booster aren't going to ever be as easy to use as a dedicated booster buckling wise and all. (Performance Sport possible exception, but I don't like IT in harness mode!) they just tend to be larger and more awkwardly shaped (and due to their heavier weight I personally prefer only to use them with LATCH.)

 

[mom2juliarose]

I'm sure you know, but even the combination seats that do perfectly well as a booster aren't going to ever be as easy to use as a dedicated booster buckling wise and all. (Performance Sport possible exception, but I don't like IT in harness mode!) they just tend to be larger and more awkwardly shaped (and due to their heavier weight I personally prefer only to use them with LATCH.)

I know. I'm just having a hard time convincing DH that we should get a new seat for him... he's like, "Why not just put him in a booster?" I'm going to see how long we can go with the crotch buckle being snug... It's hard to get him in but he's not complaining YET that it hurts.