What Age for What Car Seats?

I would make the decision based on her weight. The age a child should be when changing their seats in the car is based on the average weight of that particular age. Also, all carseats and booster seats have a weight limit. If she has not reached the weight limit in the seat she is in now, do not switch her until she is at the appropriate age or she reaches the weight limit (which ever comes first).

Most kids outgrow convertible carseats in height first, at 40" at the latest but depends on their body makeup whether they are more torso, leg, etc. They outgrow the seat typically when the top of their ears are past the top of the seat or their shoulders are past the top harness slot. A backless booster will not even take a child under 40 lbs. High back boosters typically have a minimum of 30 lbs and 3 yrs but a harness is safer especially before 40 lbs. Harnessed boosters are taller so can accomodate more height to get them to 40 lbs. If you want to go past 40 lbs there are pricey options like the Britax someone mentioned or cheaper options like the Cosco Apex or Graco Nautilus. I personally wouldnt put a child under 40 lbs in anything other than a harness and would want them to be mature at at least close to 4 yrs old. Many harnessed boosters can become a belt positioning when you are done

We switched my son at 3.5. But it all depends on the kid. if she's ready to be in just a seatbelt and not the harness? do you think she will be able to stay in the seat? Some kids are ready for that some not. We went to the Graco High back booster we have one for our 7 yr old and our now 4 yr old they work great very comphy seat and the new one has pads on the back and head rest. If you don't think she's ready to sit without the harness I would go with something like the high back booster with harness , one of those like the alpha omega, but not that one. But really you never know if she will stay sitting if you try it. I didn't think Jayson would stay but we've had no problems.

Good luck :)

The law says you can put your child in a booster at 40lbs. However, I will tell you that many children die because of it! I believe a child should be harnessed as long as possible. I personally will not take my child out of a harness until at least 65lbs. It is critical for their spinal health and their life in some situations! Especially when a child is like yours 'skinny and tall' she would be very unsafe is a booster at this time. It happens all the time, a child is 40lbs and in a 'proper' booster but yet in a 40 mph crash, they fly out and hit the windsheild. Please harness! We use the Britax Boulavard and LOVE it. If I were in your situation and getting a seat now, I would look at the Nautilus 3-in-1 carseat by Graco. It will allow the harness to 65lbs and then a safe booster. Best of luck to you guys!

One option you may want to consider is a combination seat. It is a booster seat with a 5 point harness (I think these are recommended for children over 34 lbs). The 5 point harness is made to be removed once the child is over age 4 and 40 lbs (at which point the child would use the regular seat belt with the seat).

Below are two websites that I found very helpful. At the second website I listed you can enter your cars make and model and it will list seats with the best safety rating for your particular car.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/nhtsa_eou/info.jsp?type=combi...

http://www.carseatdata.org/search

We have recently purchased a combination seat for my 3 year old that is 35 lbs and 37 inchs and after doing all the research we came down to two seats: Graco Natualis ($130) and the Evenflo Chase ($70). I have also heard/read great things about some others, but they were much more pricey.

Go to KYLEDAVIDMILLER.ORG to see why you and all other parents out there, need to keep your child in a 5point harness. In a car crash in a 5point harness the crash forces are evenly distributed through out the childs body. in a seat belt crash, the seat belt could dig in to your childs body and cause internal bleeding and your child could die befor making it to hospital. If your child is not sitting right in the booster, could go flying out under the seat belt. Check out car-seat.org there are car seat certifed techs, that will help you decided what car seat would work best for your car, budget and child. the best car seat is one used right every single time and installed right. here is my list of car seats......
1 Graco Nautilus $160 harness 65lb after harness, hbb, when out grow hbb use as low booster. harness and hbb good for 6yrs, low booster good for 9years. It now comes in a girl pink color and not boring gray.
2 True Fit $190 harness only 65lb expires in 6years. Easy to install with seat, it has seat belt locks offs. No re-threading harness, pull out yellow knobs by the head, pull up the knobs untill harness is at or just above your childs shoulder.
3 Britax Frontier hanress 65lbs, after harness is a hbb. seat expires 6years.
4 britax Regent $280 harness only this is a very big seat. if installing with seatbelt, you will need to install using long belt path. when child his 40lbs you have to use seatbelt and not LATCH. Also Tether must be used when child hits 50lb, you can use tether below 50lbs. If you do not tether the seat when your child is at 50lbs+ britax is not at fault if your child is hurt in an accident because you did not install your seat correctly.
5 Britax Mathron $280 harness only 65lbs. very easy seat to install with LATCH insall or Seatbelt. expires in 6years
6 britax boulvard $309 harness only 65lbs. expies in 6years
7 Reacro Signo $290 harness only 70lb not sure when it expires, check your manual
8 Radian 80 or 65 $250 and $200 very very slim seat, abel to do three across in any car with these seats. expires in 6years Harness only to 80lbs or 65lbs I would suggest the radian 65 because the harness slots are the same for both seats. there will be a new Radian seat coming out in January for about $300.
In my opinion I would suggest True fit or Graco nautilus. The nautilus is an easy install and budget friendly. I would go with the true fit because it is a roomier seat. What ever you do, do not put your child in a booster at 3years old, dont listen to your dr that says to booster at 40lbs, they dont know, go read the American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org) they suggest to harness as long as possible. you did not carry your child for 10m and go through labor to lose your child at a young age in a booster seat.

3yrs old is probably too soon for a booster seat. Stick with the harness straps as long as possible. It will keep her safer than a booster seat with a back on it and the car seat belt. I don't know anything about the Eddie Bauer brands, but we switched our Graco front facer for a Britax Marathon cause the Graco one was garbage!! The Marathon also goes up to 65lbs!! That means my 8yr old can sit in it even though she is probably too tall for the harness straps!! lol But she is about 50lbs and around 50in and is still in a backless booster because my honda seat belt sits too high up the side of her neck without it.

Here is a link to a pamphlet I found for GA and child restraint guidelines. You'll need Adobe to open it. You'll be able to right click on it and rotate it as well so you'll be able to read the 4 steps for kids which I think sums it up pretty well.

http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/ChildPassengerc3.pdf

Good luck!
S.

I believe the law is 4 years old and 40 lbs. She should meet both requirements.