Booster Seat Help

I have to say that Texas has some of the most lenient car seat laws around and is completely out of line with the National Highway traffic safety Administration and the American Academy of pediatrics. My suggestion is to keep him in a 5 point car seat until he out grows it (usually around 4yrs). Even if you have to buy a new 5 point one or at the minimum a high backed booster. I wouldn't even think of placing a child in a backless booster until he is over 8 and 80 pounds. Some states require booster seats until they are 8 and 80 pounds and or 4'9. The last thing you want is to have a car accident and end up with your child physically or mentally devastated. So spend the money now, keep them safe as long as you can. Happy shopping!

High back and I would keep him in a 5 point as long as you can.

At 3, I would get him a booster with a back and probably still keep him in the 4 point harness system (not just seat belted in). The more protection around your child, the safer and more protected he will be in the event of an accident.

Don't remove him from a harness until age 4. I used high back boosters ( a must if you have shoulder belts or no head rests) but my kids weren't safe in them. They would move the seatbelt, slump down into the seat, ect. So I looked into it and found the Britax Regent. My 4 and 5 YO daughters were in it when we had a roll over accident, and I do believe that the seats saved their lives! I don't believe that boosters would have protected them in that kind of accident.

We replaced them with the Britax Frontier which goes to 80 lbs in harness and 100 lbs in booster! Well worth the money, IMO!! And I asked them what the 'expiration' on the seat was to make sure that my 2 YO could use her new seat for a good long time. They said it was 9 years. Yeah!

S., mom to a 6 YO, 5 YO, almost 4 YO, almost 2 YO and expecting a new one in a few weeks! I've used SOOOO MANY different car seats and boosters you wouldn't believe! LOL

High back definalty, but don't do away with your old one!! my little guy when we first got his booster, would not stay in. we had to put him back in the "baby" carseat for a few weeks until he was ready to try the booster again. its very important that they sit in them correctly. life or death important:)

D.
moms helping moms work from home:)
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My three year old also recently made the switch to a booster seat... I have both a high back and a no back we use as a backup... I prefer the high back because it has head support for my little one who is still lulled to sleep by long car rides... without a back or head support, they just slump over... Hope this helps :)

I would have to remind toyou that you get a high back since your son is 3 years old. I have worked in Baby Depot in the past, and going thru training on car seat, high backs are better since they will support your sons head if you do get into an accident or get hit. I recommend you get a Graco high back car seat they are highly recognized for car seat safety.

I hope this helps

My grandson is 3 Momma put him in a booster and he got out and would not stay. His Momma put him back in the carseat!!

HIgh back or low back depends on how much your child weighs and the weight restrictions on each individual booster seat.
I prefer the 5 point harness system for as long as my daughter can remain in it. My daughter is 3 and 1/2 and we have a had a Britax Marathon since she was able to sit in a foward facing position and I bought it because of the safety standards and the weight limits. She will still be able to use it for along while. From looking at carseats for my child I have on the way I have noticed that Britax carries a booster that is convertible from high back to low back. Britax is expensive but has great reveiws and my daughter and I have loved hers.
Hope this helps even a little.

booster seats are required because Shoulder harness seatbelts are designed based on an average adult sitting in the seat. The booster chair positions the child so that the seatbelt is most effective in the case of an accident.

SO...To answer your question, I would take your child's height measurements to help yo decide if one with a high back is necessary. The ones whit a high back have a place to thread the seatbelt through that holds the belt at the appropriate level for the child. Once the child's shoulders are even with or covering that space where the seatbelt is threaded, you can remove the seat back and use just the seat. Take yourchild with you when you are looking for the right booster. Just because he is tall (if he is) doesn't mean the size is in his torso. If his torso is short but his legs are long you will want a high back seat until his torso grows. HAve your child sit in the seat while it is on the floor and see where his shoulders are in comparison to where the seatbelt goes.

I hope this information was helpful... ;-)

I highly recommend the Britax Frontier, we bought it recently for my 3 year old daughter, it's very safe it has side impact protection and can be use with the 5 point harness until she reaches 80 pounds and then use it with the car seat belt as a booster seat. My daughter loves it and it's also very comfortable, a little pricey but you can find it online for $30 less than it retails at stores and with free shipping!

Car seat laws stand that until age 4 they still need a seat with the back, can't use backless boosters until older than 4. We have a Graco Turbobooster Safeseat Youth Booster - it scored highest in crash tests and safety ratings and I believe it only cost in the $30-40 range. It has a high back, but one that detatches so you can use it without the back when the child gets older.

Definitely go with a high-back. Children shouldn't sit in a backless booster until they are at least 4 and 40 pounds. I still have my 6 year-old (who weighs about 40 pounds) sitting in a high-back booster. I also have my 4-year-old (who weighs about 30) sitting in a 5-point harness in my car, where she rides the most. Her car seat is good with the 5-point harness to 40 pounds, then converts to a booster that is good up to a 100 pounds. Watch this movie on youtube on the importance of a 5-point harness for as long as possible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ.

Please listen to Stephanie B. Children should be in a five-point harness car seat for optimal safety. I purchased a Recaro because it is good up until 80 pounds. See this link for my info on the five point harness versus booster seats. It makes your choice really easy after you listen to one family's story. I was given this source when I posted a similar question on Mamasource. I narrowed my choices down to the Britax and the Recaro. Both were of equal safety, but the Recaro seemed more comfortable and had side impact protection.

http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/4211/Car_Seat_Safety...

My grandson will be 3 next month and I have a booster with the back on it for him and it is best and I think legally required in Texas to have that back on it. The back holds the seatbelt in place and if he falls asleep it has the little props on each side for him to rest his head against. Without the back they can just put their arm over the shoulder belt and that is not good also I have noticed that when the back is not on it the belt comes across his throat and that is not good either especially of he is sleeping. The book tells you all the requirments. I just feel safer with the back on and I think you would too. God bless. L.S.

We have the Graco Nautilus and love it. My very tall 4 year old can still be in a 5 point harness, and should be able to stay in one for at least another year. It harnesses up to 65 lbs and I think the top slots are 17.5 inches. After the child outgrows the harness, it turns into a high back booster, and can also be used as a backless booster.

High back is the way to go. Much safer. I would definitely stick with a 5 point harness too! You can't trust a 3 year old in a regular belt. check out the Britax Frontier. Great seat. You'll never need to buy another.

We loved our Graco high back turbo booster seat. It converts to backless when your child reaches the right height and weight requirements. See this attachment for more information about this product:
http://www.gracobaby.com/Catalog/Pages/ProductListingPage...#

I moved my son to a booster no back not too long ago. I really went back and forth whether or not to get the high back but because of my son's tall stature I decided the seat would probably be just fine. I would definitely recommend the high back and one that has sides. My son is no comfortable in the seat and ends up moving around alot to the point where the seat belt does not stay in position. He tends to fall asleep in the car on long rides and the no back chair just does not accomodate that. I would suggest spend a little more money now and get one that has a high back and sides. I'm finding with my son that is an easier transition from the car seat. Good Luck.
L.