Growing Out of Car Seat

Please, oh please don't put your son in a booster yet. 4 is too young to be in a booster. There are several carseats that harness to 65-80lbs. Most kids don't sit correctly in a booster until at least 5yrs or older. There are a few youtube videos that show you the importance of a 5pt harness like BELLA'S GIFT, KYLE MILLER FOUNDATION, and there's one more I just can't think of it right now. There's graco naulitus, it harnesses to 65lbs, the safety first apex that harnesses to 65lbs as well, but you need adjustable headrests in your vehicle. The graco is around 150 and the safety first one is around 100. There are also others like britax marathon harnesses to 65, britax boulevard also harnesses to 65, britax radian to 80lbs, compass true fit that harnesses to 65lbs, sunshine kids radian has one that harnesses to 65 and another that harnesses to 80lbs. The britax and sunshine kids carseats are a little more though and the true fit is around 200.

I think state law requires a child to be in a car seat until they're at least 5. You may want to contact DPS and ask. I remember looking for this five years ago after my second was born to see if my oldest could go to a car seat once the little one grew out of the infant car seat.

Also, like others have stated, there are car seats that go up to 80 lbs., that's what I have. I'm not sure if they go higher than that. My oldest son is almsot 9 and still uses the booster (just the little one with no back) to make him taller so the seat belt doesn't "choke" him and he's pretty tall. Boosters aren't a safety seat, they're just to make the child fit better in the seat belt, I think. Keep your child in a car seat as long as possible for their safety.

I hope this helps.

Also, when you go to a booster, if there is no head rest or the seat is lower and no headrest, then go with the bigger booster seat with the back so there will the be a headrest. We have headrests in our car, so we use the little one with no back. At least that's what I heard is the difference between the two.

First off there is some crucial information missing from this that would help us come up with a seat for you. Such as the child's height and weight. :) At 4 though, I think your best option is a convertible seat, such as a Graco Nautilus or Britax Frontier. Both seats harness (Nautilus to 65lbs, Frontier to 80lbs), and the turn into a belt positioning booster, up to 100 lbs. The Graco Nautilus costs less (around $150) but also makes a poor high-back booster in many vehicles, you would have to try it in yours.

Hello S.,
I don't know if you are aware that children are supposed to be in car seats until they turn 5 yrs old, after that a booster is recommended, but not required by law. My suggestion is that you purchase a carseat that converts into a booster.

M.
Traffic school instructor

My 4yo is still in a 5pt harness. I really wanted the safety factor of a 5pt. Plus he is very skinny and hasn't even hit 35 lbs yet. He thinks it's cool because that's what racecar drivers wear, a 5pt harness. I've seen those videos as well, and I'd hate to lose my child just because I was eager to get him into a booster.

We went with the Graco AirBooster seat when our kids grew out of their Britax car seats. We live in AZ so the AirBooster allows the seat to stay cooler. It was also highly recommended by Consumer Reports for its safety. My boys love them and now they can even buckle and unbuckle themselves.