My toddler will be three in May. I have tried researching this online, but come up with no specific answer, so I'll try what I should've tried first...you guys!!!
I have the straps as loose as they will go on her car seat, but still have a hard time buckling her in. Her shoulders are definitely above the top notch where the straps come out, so they have to go up and over her shoulders and back down. It is a five point harness, and especially with the winter coats (and hers is not puffy), it's almost impossible. I feel like this is probably unsafe.
However, as tall as she is (a full two inches taller than her sister was at this age, who wasn't short), she only weighs 30 pounds, and everything I find seems to suggest that they should be 40 pounds before a booster seat. Now, she'll probably be five or six before she hits that, because she hasn't gained more than a pound or two in the last year.
Any suggestions? I cannot afford a super expensive Britax seat, and I do have three children that have to fit in the back of my car (which is not a large car.) The other two don't need to be in boosters, but I'd LIKE to keep my 7 year old in a booster when she turns 8 (much to her chagrin) because she's not close to that 4 ft. 9 mark.
I had my car seat installed professionally, and I do know how to install a car seat. I think what I said was her coat is NOT puffy...sure, it may be ten below zero outside right now, but she's worn a thin coat all winter because of this situation. ;) The police in my town literally told me they are no longer allowed to inspect or install car seats because of liability. Go figure. They also wouldn't come pry my door open when the seat belt got stuck in it, because anyone might "sue" them for damage to the car. Well, that was fun.
I don't live in an extremely community friendly place. What I am looking for is hopefully someone who has had a similar experience with a very tall child and can recommend to me what they used. I have reworded this sentence four times now, because each way I put it just sounds too snarky...I don't feel like I am uneducated about safety and car seats, but my child is a head taller than most kids her age and what is SUPPOSED to be working for her isn't.
***Thank you for offering suggestions, mamas. I will go to the store and see if I can find a 5 point harness seat that will last her longer. And again...if you're telling me you'd put your child in the car without a coat during a MN winter, then you don't live here. ;) Her coat is about the size of a sweatshirt...she has to have SOMETHING on.
My 8.5 year old, 3rd grade daughter was in the Graco Nautilus until this year. (She was the only one in a "baby seat" and started to feel self-conscious about it. Fine.) You really want them with full body protection (with head protection) as long as possible. She is now in a booster. I would never put a 3 yr old in a booster.
Importance of a 5-Point Harness Carseat - Kyle David Miller
http://vimeo.com/2994502
We too use the Graco Nautalis - works like a charm for the taller kids and you can take the back off for a reg booster when the time is right.
I had a Graco Nautilus carseat and loved it. My daughter is tall for her age. She is about the size of a 6 yr old and people ask why she is not in kindergarten. She is going to be 5 in March. Graco fit her perfectly. When my van was stolen in December, they stole the carseat so I have used a regular booster.
however, my daughter is 45 pounds so big difference from your daughter.
Do you have a Babies R Us near you? They may be able to help. Take your daughter to the store and see what seat she fits in well. Look for one that fits to 85 pounds if not more. A children's hospital may also be able to help make sure it is installed correctly.
check out safekids.org to see if they hjave anything near you
My son has always been tall for his age as well. I remember when he turned three my pediatrician told me it was fine for him to sit in a booster seat. We got him the kind that had a back that you can detach later. I believe he weighed about 35lbs at age 3 and was nearly four feet tall. Hope that helps.
I know exactly what you mean!!!! I have a 52 pound 3 year old and a 36 pound not yet 2 year old. They are both tall, but I don't want them in booster seats yet obviously. I did a lot of research and I found some good options. The best one is the Diono/Sunshine Kids because it has safety ratings.
I did find a couple at Walmart that should work for your little one and are not too expensive.
Kids Embrace is $120 but it only come is Dora or Dale Earnhart jr. This is the one I almost bought, and it can be harnessed to 65 pounds.
The Evenflo Maestro is about $80 and can be harnessed to 50 pounds.
I know this is hard, but see what you can do to keep her out of a booster because even though she is the right weight and height, every one I have read says that they need to be 4 to go into one. But, I am kind of a safety freak...Good luck!
For most 5-point harnesses, if she is rear-facing, the straps should be at or below the shoulders. If forward facing, at or above the shoulders. The tips of her ears should also be lower than the top of the shell.
Some harnessed seats have low size limits. At 3 years old, she is too young for a booster so you will have to get another harnessing seat with a larger height/weight capacity.
Look here to find local help: http://www.safekids.org/in-your-area/ You can search for Child Passenger Safety Techs and upcoming inspection events.
People seem concerned about the coat issue, so I'll offer this: to test the coat, put the in the carseat with it on. Then without loosening the straps, take her out. Remove the coat and put her back in the seat. If you have to tighten the straps to get them snug again, the coat shouldn't be worn in the seat. If that is the case, you can put her in the seat without the coat, then put the coat on her backwards over the straps. Hood down, of course. :-D
I have a 12 year old in a booster, because he does not fit in the seatbelt. It cuts him right across the stomach and neck. Even though our state law only requires it to age 8, that is clearly not the appropriate choice for him. If you treat car safety in an unemotional and factual way, kids won't even think about being embarrassed.
Every car seat is different and have their own height/weight guidelines. Once the child exceeds EITHER the height OR weight limit they need to move to a new one. Sometimes due to proportion, even if they haven't outgrown the seat's limits they still have to change...which sounds like may be your situation (or she may have already exceeded the height limits as well as not physically working for her).
They really shouldn't have their coats on when in the car seat anyway (I know it's a pain)...even if not "puffy".
I would suggest that you go to a store that has a larger selection of seats and find out which ones start at or below your daughters height and weight and will work best. You could also look on line and check the specs and ratings to know which ones may work.
Good luck.
Take her to the store and have her sit in different seats and see which one fits the bill. :)
Sunshine Radian was often recommended when my kids were younger. They are narrow but hold a taller child. The Britax Marathon is great - you might be able to get one used. I normally don't recommend used car seats - it's hard to know if they've been in an accident or how old they are - but if you know the person you get it from, it might be fine. My 7 year old is still in his Marathon. The Graco Nautilus is also good and will convert to a belt-positioning booster later.
The bottom line is that she is absolutely well over a year too young for a pure booster seat and needs that 5-point harness until at least age 4. The recommendation is for AT LEAST 40 lbs AND AT LEAST 4 years old. There are many reasons for this that you can google, but the bottom line is that children are safest in a 5-point harness for as long as possible and for most kids, as long as possible is well over age 4. My younger kids were in 5-point seats until at least age 6 and then boosters until 9 or 10.
What seat do you have her in to begin with? Some seats really won't get your very far because the top slots are so low. They may say 3-in-1, last seat you ever need, or up to 40 lbs, but with the harness height, you're really looking at 2.5.
Graco Nautilus will be your cheapest bet. You won't have any problem with height on that one and it's much cheaper than the Britax. Sunshine radians also have a high harness height, but are ore expensive. She is not ready for a booster.
Try the Graco Nautilus. It's a five point harness that later converts to a booster seat. It's about $75-100 cheaper than the equivalent Britax Frontier. We have one of each. We prefer the Britax, but the Graco is also quite good and my son likes both. He was probably right around his 4th birthday when he moved to that seat.
Double check that she meets the minimum requirements of the seat, but I think she'll be fine for using it harnessed.
We have the graco Natilis. My son is 4.5. Car seats are expensive, but when you think about it $100 for your childs protection is nothing. Walmart has the natalis as does Target.. Not sure if babies r us is still running the trade in event.
Good Luck
I haven't read any responses, but I do live about two hours west of you so I do UNDERSTAND the whole MN winter thing! My kids happen to be on the shorter side of things, but when I was moving my oldest to a bigger seat I looked into one that had the five point harness and could switch to a booster type. We got the Evenflo Maestro, which goes from 20-100 lbs and 29-57 inches. I was looking through the manual and it says that the internal 5 point harness can be used from 20-50 pounds and the maximum height is 50 inches. After that you have to use it has a booster with the shoulder seat belt. I hope that gives you an idea of what a fellow Minnesotan uses! :) Good luck!
Much too young for a booster. In fact, I'm trying to decide if I move my 5 year old not a booster or just keep her in her carseats. If I can figure out how to use a lap belt, and if I can get two big carseats in my last row, may just keep her in her carseats till she is 7.
Puffy coats have no place in any safety seat.
That's a basic fact.
What you need to do is go to an AUTHORITY on child safety seats, not opinions of other parents (btw, 7 of 10 use or install their own seats improperly!)
Every police department, fire department, etc should have a trained child safety seat professional that can look at your child, IN his/her seat, in YOUR vehicle and TEACH you what you need to know.
You can also find a FREE inspection event at www.sestcheck.org.
You want facts, nor ideas or opinions, right?
Your child's safety is worth an hour of your time!
Good luck!
If the tops of your child's ears are above the top of the carseat, it is time to move on. I have a tall child who was in a booster seat at 3--however I'd look for the "convertible" kind that has a built-in harness to use when she is younger and then you can use the seatbelt instead when she's older. They're a little more expensive, but safer. You should be able to find it in brands other than Britax and it's still cheaper than a full carseat :)
Age is less important than size when it comes to carseat/booster seat safety. If you're still concerned, check with your pediatrician. He/she should be able to advise you. And I live in Wisconsin and would absolutely not put a child in the car without her coat on!
J.
I do live in Minnesota and we put my 5 and 3 year old in their 5 point harness convertible carseats, buckle them and then put their coats on backwards so they are warm. They also have their blankets they bring with them. My infant also does not have a coat in while in the carseat but has a cover. Our seats are rated to 60 lbs. We have the 1st years convertible seats. My 5 year old has the graco forward only carseat that has a 5 point harness that you can eventually use with out the harness to use a booster with a back and a backless booster. However, she is only 32 lbs so she won't be without a harness for awhile. It works and I know they are safe and I don't have to worry about replacing a seat because the winter coat is taking up so much of the harness room.
There are high back boosters that will fit a child 20 lbs and go up to 100 lbs. There are some with 5 point harness that the harness goes up to 40 lbs.
Here is one that is harness to 40 lbs and then belt to 100
It's on sale half price!
http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Summit-Seat-Victorian/dp...
http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Vantage-Booster-Arizona/...
This one is good, but expensive
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005MQR708
My daughter (big for her age, height and weight) is in a Graco Nautilus. Has a 5-point harness and converts into a belt positioning booster. But I don't remember what the height/weight restrictions are on it, to be honest!
About the coat, when you get her in the car, take it off long enough to put her in her carseat, then have her wear it backwards for the car ride -- that's what we used to do with my daughter when she was cold and didn't want to go without her coat. We have also kept a warm blanket in the car that she can cover up with too, so she wasn't wearing her coat in the car.
There is also a website that you can search for car seat checks in your area - http://www.seatcheck.org/
I"m assuming the straps are already in the highest possible slot. Check out other car seats, I'm sure there are some out there that don't cost a fortune. My daughter has always been tall for her age as well. I am pretty sure she stayed in a 5 point harness until she was 4 or older. The straps really need to be at or above her shoulders - you're right that it's not as safe with them coming from below.
a lot has to do with their height too though ... so if you can't find a 5 point harness with tall enough should slots, get a booster seat and make sure the seat belt fits her correctly - across her hip bones, and across her shoulder - not stomach and neck.
I would think you could find a 5 point harness that is tall enough and then can become a booster seat as well.
good luck.
if you still have troubles, try calling a hospital, or WIC clinic or look online for car seat technicians in your area
I know you may not want to buy a Britax, but you may have to. My 7 year old is still in a 5 point harness (he's in the Britax Frontier). He is 41lbs and can go to a booster, but we haven't moved him yet. The Britax Frontier is rated to 85lbs and 57 inches, when using the 5-point harness. When used as a booster, it is rated to 120lbs and 65". This would give her plenty of room to grow!
Like another mom said try the Greco Nautilus. I love this car seat it is big an comfy my son fits in it just fine. He is 5 going to be 6 in July. He wore the 5 point harness until last fall and still had room to be in it for a lot longer but he was playing football and had to wear a cup and I couldn't buckle him in with that thing so I switched it to a high back booster. It is a great seat and not such an investment. I did a ton of research before I got it and it is in my opinion better then the Britex brand and a lot less expensive.
I talked with my kid's pediatrician about this very situation. My eldest was tall and lean, and grew out of her carseat at three. She's been in a booster seat since. Talk with your child's pediatrician and see what they say?
