I got some great advice from a carseat tech here locally but I still have some questions. So, I'll start from the beginning.
I have two boys. DS8 is 8 yo at definitely in booster range. We have him in either a Recaro Performance booster or the Vivo. DS4 is 4, turning 5 in Dec. We did some booster training around town to prepare him for a potential short taxi drive. He is currently in Frontier 85s in harness mode.
DS4 is right at the 40 pound mark. Sometimes, he measures a little under, but sometimes right at 40. He is 42" tall. His seated height is right around 15" (DH is all torso and both boys seem to have gotten that trait, which has been annoying with trying to keep them rear facing as long as possible, etc). In the Frontier 85, the top of his head extends above the shell (which I know is fine, but just giving you an idea).
Both boys have a metabolic disorder. The trip we are taking is to Cleveland to see an expert in this disorder to get DS4 on a regime to get him stable. We have been told to expect some catchup growth to happen. Looking at his growth chart, if he stayed on this curve, he would outgrow the Frontier harness in seated height by April 2016. I don't like to go right up to the very max because I worry about an inch of growth I miss, so once within an inch of the max, I switch over as long as my kids are safely in the range of the next step.
DS4, wanting to be just like his brother has not been happy about being moved back into the harness seat. Not at all. And maybe I feel awful because I am dragging him to a hospital for IVs and arterial lines and he has been very clear he does not want to go. So, there may be some mommy guilt here. Being honest!
It is very possible that he will grow (height) very close to the max of the harness mode in the Frontier faster than I plan. Maybe weight, but I would prefer him be a few pounds over 40 if the min is 40. The Recaro is rated to 30 pounds and he has a pretty perfect fit in the Vivo and Performance booster.
So, here is my question. Do I move him to the Recaros, convert the Frontiers to booster modes and put DS8 in those? I will eventually phase out the Frontiers as I like the Recaros (those deep wings are the BEST!). Although I did notice that DS8 looked like his shoulders were squished in the Recaros and I think the Frontiers are wider. So, basically I am asking about putting DS4 in the Recaros, move DS8 to the Frontiers.
DS4 acted up a little bit in the boosters but once we had a good talk about why he needs to sit correctly, he has been really great. And I will move him so I can see him easily to keep a closer eye on him. But his seems to really understand what is being asked. The advice I got before was not to move a child to booster until 5, not matter how mature and regardless of weight/height.
When he does field trips with school, he is in a booster (another reason he doesn't want to be harnessed).
So, how bad would it be to switch?
I have two boys. DS8 is 8 yo at definitely in booster range. We have him in either a Recaro Performance booster or the Vivo. DS4 is 4, turning 5 in Dec. We did some booster training around town to prepare him for a potential short taxi drive. He is currently in Frontier 85s in harness mode.
DS4 is right at the 40 pound mark. Sometimes, he measures a little under, but sometimes right at 40. He is 42" tall. His seated height is right around 15" (DH is all torso and both boys seem to have gotten that trait, which has been annoying with trying to keep them rear facing as long as possible, etc). In the Frontier 85, the top of his head extends above the shell (which I know is fine, but just giving you an idea).
Both boys have a metabolic disorder. The trip we are taking is to Cleveland to see an expert in this disorder to get DS4 on a regime to get him stable. We have been told to expect some catchup growth to happen. Looking at his growth chart, if he stayed on this curve, he would outgrow the Frontier harness in seated height by April 2016. I don't like to go right up to the very max because I worry about an inch of growth I miss, so once within an inch of the max, I switch over as long as my kids are safely in the range of the next step.
DS4, wanting to be just like his brother has not been happy about being moved back into the harness seat. Not at all. And maybe I feel awful because I am dragging him to a hospital for IVs and arterial lines and he has been very clear he does not want to go. So, there may be some mommy guilt here. Being honest!
It is very possible that he will grow (height) very close to the max of the harness mode in the Frontier faster than I plan. Maybe weight, but I would prefer him be a few pounds over 40 if the min is 40. The Recaro is rated to 30 pounds and he has a pretty perfect fit in the Vivo and Performance booster.
So, here is my question. Do I move him to the Recaros, convert the Frontiers to booster modes and put DS8 in those? I will eventually phase out the Frontiers as I like the Recaros (those deep wings are the BEST!). Although I did notice that DS8 looked like his shoulders were squished in the Recaros and I think the Frontiers are wider. So, basically I am asking about putting DS4 in the Recaros, move DS8 to the Frontiers.
DS4 acted up a little bit in the boosters but once we had a good talk about why he needs to sit correctly, he has been really great. And I will move him so I can see him easily to keep a closer eye on him. But his seems to really understand what is being asked. The advice I got before was not to move a child to booster until 5, not matter how mature and regardless of weight/height.
When he does field trips with school, he is in a booster (another reason he doesn't want to be harnessed).
So, how bad would it be to switch?