Which booster seats can use top tethers again?

[MommyG]

Sorry if this has been asked....I did do a search and didn't come up with the exact answer.


If I wanted one booster only seat in the back of my sedan (not a combo seat) is Safeguard my only choice?

Thanks!

 

[Evolily]

Do you want a 5 point harness or a belt positioning booster???

I think the Safeguard seats are only 5 point harness seats. I know the safeguard GO says it's a booster, but it's really a harness seat that transitions into a booster. All of the high weight harness seats I know of have the top tether option. As for boosters that top tether I think your options are more limited.

For high weight harness seats that are forward facing only the options I know of (from cheapest to most expensive) are the Cosco Apex 65, the Graco Nautilus, the Britax Regent, and the Britax Frontier. The Nautilus and Frontier both convert into nice booster seats, the Regent will harness the longest, and the Apex needs a headrest behind it to be used. The Apex also converts into a booster but I've heard not so great reviews of how good it is as a booster. We have the Nautilus and I really like it!

 

[wendytthomas]

Just a top tether, or LATCH too?

Recaro Start tethers. That's the only one I can think of that tethers only.

The Monterey, Frontier, and Nautilus can be LATCHed in booster mode. Since not all cars have LATCH I would assume that a top tether only would be ok as well (though I don't know that the Monterey has a top tether). The Jane Indy Plus can be LATCHed. The Clek Olli and Oobr I believe are both LATCHed.

The Go doesn't use the tether in booster mode. The tether is only to hold the harness up.

Wendy

 

[MommyG]

Ah, thanks. I was looking for top tether, because I didn't know some also permitted LATCH for that big of a kid.

I have a Camry....can I LATCH a kid over 40 lbs in that one....? I know I can't in my Honda. My biggest is about 45 lbs and the seat would be for him.

Thanks!

 

[LISmama810]

Ah, thanks. I was looking for top tether, because I didn't know some also permitted LATCH for that big of a kid.

I have a Camry....can I LATCH a kid over 40 lbs in that one....? I know I can't in my Honda. My biggest is about 45 lbs and the seat would be for him.

Thanks!

I know you were asking about a booster in your first post, but now I'm not sure if you're asking about a booster or a harnessed seat.

If you're asking about a harnessed seat, it will depend. Toyota defers to the LATCH limits of the child restraint, which are usually 40 or 48 pounds. After that point (or before), it's perfectly fine to install with a seatbelt instead.

For a booster (or a combination seat being used in booster mode), you can LATCH it at any weight, presuming, of course, that the seat allows LATCHing in booster mode. In that case, LATCH is only holding the weight of the seat, not the seat and the child, so it will automatically be under the weight limit.

 

[Kat_Momof3]

With the Nautilus, it has been confirmed that when the vehicle doesn't have latch, you can use the top tether or have it not fixed by either one when in booster mode.

The frontier is confusing and we aren't perfectly sure you can use it as a booster without having it in with latch.

as the pp's mentioned, having a booster latch, tether, or both, is still new and very hard to find.

the ones they listed are all I know of, either.

for latch limits, it is different with a booster than with a harnessed seat.

the latch for a booster is only holding the seat to prevent it being a projectile and isn't actually holding or restraining the child, so the weight limit is not an issue.

for a harnessed seat, toyota says 48lbs.

at 45lbs, how old and how tall is your child??

I would consider keeping him/her in a harness at that weight before looking at boosters.

if he is under 6yrs old, definitely harness, over 6, depends on the kid.

 

[MommyG]

He's almost 7. He actually does well in the seat belt.

Cool that I can use LATCH, too, now always. I never thought of that....it only does hold the seat at this point!

So, I have an unexpired CarGo that I use as a spare in harness mode right now for another kid, but I can also use that if I take the harness off. I was hesitant to use that because I was looking for something better.

Is it safe to just use that then (I can tether and use LATCH with that as well.)

 

[LISmama810]

I think the Cargo allows you to use the top tether in booster mode, but not the lower anchors. I'm sure someone else will clarify if that's not the case.

Combination seats usually don't make the best boosters (the Nautilus and Frontier are exceptions to the rule). Check to see how your son fits in it. The lap belt should sit on his hips, not his belly, and the shoulder belt should cross the middle of his shoulder.

 

[Kat_Momof3]

the cargo tends to make a horrid booster because of the closed shoulderbelt guides.

I don't remember if it allows you to use latch... I think it's just the top tether and that might not be the case anymore.

Anyway, I'd get a different booster.

At 7, he's definitely at an age where he should know how to behave in a booster, so if you want him in one, that's fine.

 

[emandbri]

There was another thread that said that you could latch the cargo and the nuautlis.

The monterey has the lower anchors but no tether and I'm fairly sure it is the same on the jane indy plus and the oobr is due out in Feb.