Booster Seat

There is also the Radian 65 for extending 5pt harnessing. The Nautilus is at most Walmarts for $150, compared to the Regent which is a HUGE seat, is almost $300, but the Decathalons, Boulevards and Marathons go up to 65lbs as well. I would not use a booster, check this out, www.kyledavidmiller.org and you can search youtube for videos for Kyle David Miller and other kids that have died resulting from injuries using a booster and seatbelt.

nautilus at walmart burlington amazon
made by graco 5 pt harness to 65 pounds
150
but turns into a back booster then a backless booster
so comfortable and nice

If you're looking at the Radian, be aware that the top slots for the shoulder harness are the same for both the 65 and the 80. It's a better buy to get the 65 (save yourself almost $100), because your 4 year old will outgrow both at the same time because of height. Also, the Radian has had many vehicle compatibility issues... it's tough to get a secure fit. Buy one where you can return it without hassles, so that if it doesn't fit, you're not stuck with a $245-75 seat (if you get the Radian 80).

I purchased the Radian 80, so I speak from experience. It fit nicely in our 99 (latchless) Accord, but when our little guy (also 3.5) got in, he is almost to the top harness, so it won't last more than a year for him. I had ordered it on-line from Target, and am returning it to the store today. Keep that in mind when purchasing! Also, Babies R Us (in Orland Park) doesn't carry the Radian... at least not as recently as two weeks ago (2/29/08). Target does not carry the Radian in-house, only on-line.

We purchased a Regent for our CRV. It has the highest shoulder slots for a five point harness currently on the market, so it will take a lot longer for your little one to outgrow it. It is a huge seat though, so you also want to make sure it will fit nicely along with your baby's seat in your vehicle. I ordered it from babycatalog.com and purchased the $5 return shipping guarantee, that way you don't get assessed a $50 return shipping fee if it doesn't work out. BrU does carry it, and you can try it out in your car to make sure it'll fit. Also Target does carry it both in-house and on-line.

FYI Britax does do at least one (sometimes two) big sales a year, for one week, with huge discounts for their seats. The Spring one just ended (March 2nd), but I got my Regent for $204, no tax, no shipping and handling. They sometimes also hold a sale in September... Just in case you have time to wait.

As for the Accord, we are off to Walmart to purchase the Graco Nautilus.

Also, if you can hold off, Britax is coming out with a new combination seat with a 5 pt harness and high weight limit. Don't know much about it, but it's supposedly due out sometime between April and September.

Whatever the case, and one of the other moms already referenced it, but a booster (although with legal guidelines of Illinois) is not the safest place for your toddler/pre-schooler to be... a 5-pt harness is. Likewise, your baby is best kept rear-facing until he/she is 35 pounds.

If you need a new seat for your littlest guy, consider the Radian, he/she'll get lots of use, and it's rear facing as well as forward facing... and designed for little guys!

Good luck! I'm walking the same path right now. Just about to schedule an appointment with the car seat installer for the Illinois State Police (based in Ashkum), she came up to Bradley and put the Radian in for us there. Now we've gotta get that seat out, and replace it with the Nautilus, and get the Regent installed. I'd love to wait for the Frontier, but I don't have the luxury. He's 40 " tall (but safe with the shoulder straps in his current seat) and 38 pounds!

L.

Hi N.,

We did a ton of research about a year ago when we changed my oldest from the convertible to a booster. We decided on the Britax Regent. The law in Illinois is that children need to be in a child safety seat until they are 8 years old AND 80 pounds. I didn't want to have to buy more seats after this one.

The reason we chose the Regent, was because of its safety features and testing as well as still having a 5pt harness. It can change to being used with a seat belt if we chose (and I am sure that as he gets closer to 8, we will want the seat belt feature, but for now, I like the 5pt harness.)

Its comfortable (I actually had to "sit" in it as I was putting it in and it has the curved sides that if he does fall asleep his head has something to rest on. When installed correctly, I love that it just doesn't move or wiggle. When its in there, its IN there.

We are very happy with our choice. Good luck with your search!
B.

Although it is legal to move them to a booster seat that you use with a seatbelt, it is much safer to keep them in a 5 pt harness for as long as possible.

There are a few seats out there that have higher weight limits on their 5 pt harnesses:
Britax Regent
Apex 65
Radian 80 or Radian 65

There are some convertible seats also that go to 55-65 lbs, but I am thinking with an older child you are wanting something that will last longer.

I have one of the Apex 65 in my husbands car and it works well, but you have to have higher seat back (ie the whole seat needs to be supported by the seat of the car) or it is not safe. It also converts to a high back booster when you get to the point that you want to do that. I will be getting a Regent for the other car once my forthcoming infant outgrows his infant seat and then he will go into my son's Marathon and I will get my older son one of the Regents.