Question on Transitioning to a Convertable Car Seat

I hadn't heard a thing about kids in accidents in the booster seats...so I just bought the Evenflo "big kid" booster for my 4 yr old who weighs 32 pounds.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-2/qid=118896469...
It's a belt-positioning booster that converts to the no-back booster. If I followed all the weight and height recommendations for car seats, she'd be in one til she's 12! At any rate, she was beginning to be bothered by the crotch part of the 5-pt harness, and one time we needed to borrow a seat that happened to be the belt-positioning booster and she loved it. So, we bumped the little brother up from the convertible seat (used forward facing, but he was getting too tall for) to her 5-pt forward-only seat (with higher straps) and got the "big kid" seat. The way the strap-positioner is designed, the shoulder strap actually fits her quite snugly and hits where it's supposed to, as does the lap belt.
Now I'm wondering if I should be worried....
But then again, there are scary stories about everything, aren't there?

I have been in the same quandry as of late. Only my daughter is just about to turn 1. I have decided on the Raidian 80 or the radian 65 they are very spendy but alow for the most flexibility in a car seat that stays a 5 point harnes until they can sit in a seat without a booster of any kind. The 65 Will go up to 65 lbs and the 80 obviously to 80 lbs. Keeping them in a 5 point harnes the entire time, Which is safest.

Just a note....I have done a lot of research and found that kids should be in a 5 point harness, not just a booster until they are big enough for a regular seatbelt by itself. Check it out, there are seats out there, with a 5 point harness, for kids up to 65 lbs. :)

Hi P.,

I have a 12 month old little boy who is very long too. After doing a free care seat check with a State Trooper in Hurst I learned some things that really helped. I would totally recomend meeting with him. He also helped me decide what car seats I needed for both of my children. He can also give you a listing of other free checks in your area.
Give him a call.
Lonney Haschel
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Good Luck,
H.

Check out this you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azgBhZfcqaQ

I just got the Evenflo Triumph DLX convertible car seat, and love it! It would work great for both kids, and is a very reasonable price (150). It goes all the way up to 50 lbs and 50 inches, very comfy, super easy to adjust, and great safety ratings. It has 3 recline options, so you shouldn't have a slumping issue either. Check into it! Feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Absolutely go with the car seat with the five point harness. I too have heard terrible stories about children involved in accidents and the outcome with and without the five point harness. I know I won't take the risk with my kids. I have the Evenflo Triumph with my 4 year old and 14 month old and have been very pleased. It gets great safety ratings, is easy to use, and comfortable for my kiddos but is more reasonable than the Britax seats.

We were in the exact same situation with our kids. My older daughter (will be 3 in October) is 31 pounds and 36-1/2", which isn't enough to have her in just a booster with a seatbelt, but there are several models available of a convertible/booster seat. We purchased the Evenflo Generations, which allows you to use the 5-point harness until they're tall/big enough to use the seatbelt. Then, when they're big enough, you can remove the 5-point harness assembly and have them use the seat with the seatbelt.
Our baby's head also slumps forward when she's in the convertible seat, but it did that in her infant carrier too. She's too big for the head positioners, so unfortunately we just have to let her head slump. Amazingly, it doesn't seem to bother her!

We have the Britax Marathon for my 6 month old who out grew his carrier carseat at 5 months and my 2 year old daughter. My son is rear facing and has never slumped forward while sleeping. It has a recline position so that will not happen. My daughter is very tall and this carseat goes up to 49 inches and 65 pounds. I would probably buy your son the Marathon so that he does not slump and let your daughter keep her carseat unless you just want to buy two. They are well worth the money we loved them so much we even bought an extra one for my husbands truck.

Definitely keep her in a five-pt harness. I forget exactly what the rule is but in June of 08 it's becoming law that they have to be four years old AND so many inches tall to be in a booster seat. But I would get a 5-pt harness that converts to a booster seat because that same law is going to keep them in booster seats until theyare 8 years old! I just took my five year old to the pedi yesterday and they had a sign about that hanging up in the office. So to get the exact heights that go with those ages you could call your pedi.

as for teh 7 month old... i would suggest using the head supports like when they are newborns... that would be better than shoving a blanket there since he would i'm sure move it.

I would not put her in a booster seat. I have heard to many horror stories about little ones with out 5 point harnesses. There is a mother;s story on youtube about it that is so sad. A 5 point harness is a necessity for her in my opinion. As far as the baby slumping, you can take your seat to a local fire station and they will tell you if it is installed correctly. You can ask them about putting a folded towel under it to see if the tilt would be ok.

I second the suggestion from another mom on visiting with a car seat expert. Harris Hospitals offer safety seat checks and advise too - call 1-888-4-HARRIS for date and location. Anyways, I was talking with one of these car seat guides and pretty much outlined the same situation - moving my almost 4year old into a safety harness/booster that uses seat belt - they advised against it and we worked something out for my situation (not wanting to buy tons of seats) All this to say, I am sure you could get good info from them, or the stat trooper, etc. :)

I just wanted to let you know that there is seat out there called the Safety First Apex 65 (I saw one at Baby Depot today, and walmart online has them too) for your daughter. It will harness her for up to 65 lbs, and it is reasonably priced. My 4 year old is in a booster, but we are buying this one to go back to the 5 pt because she slumps in her seat, moves the seat belt around, etc, and I have terrible visions of something happening to her because she has wiggled around so much that she is no longer in the seat properly. There are horror stories out there, and I dont want my kiddo to be one of them!! ~A.~