I realize that the safest carseat would be to keep my 5 year old daughter in a 5-point harness (so please save the safety speeches), however with carpooling, etc. I need another alternative. My daughter is 5 and weighs 40 pounds. She has now officially outgrown the convertible carseat that she had been using. I have been looking for a reasonably priced, lightweight, safe, high back booster seat. I was wondering if anyone out there has suggestions about what they like or don't like about any carseats that they have experienced. I would like to make a purchase soon. Thanks!
We just use the Graco TurboBooster, and have had no problems with it at all. Our 5 year old son loves it & feels like a big boy because he gets to use the "real" seatbelt. It's super lightweight, very inexpensive (as carseats go) & the style we have can convert to a backless booster if/when that time comes. I really don't have any complaints about it at all!
Good luck!
I did some searching about boosters, because we may be moving to one soon. I can't remember where I got this list, but it was from some site on car seat safety. i think i'm going to get the graco turbo booster.
sorry about the length of the list! i'm just glad to share!
The best bets for proper positioning of the seatbelt - which is THE MOST important thing - in booster seats were:
graco turbo booster backless with clip
fisher price safe voyage backless with clip
combi kobuk backless with clip
britax parkway and monarch
laroche bros. teddy bear
safeguard go backless with clip
volvo booster cushion
recaro young style
Not Recommended:
safety angel ride ryte backless
cosco/dorel (eddie bauer) summit
graco cargo zephyr
evenflo big kid confidence & generations
cosco/dorel traveler
compass B505 and B510
dorel/safety 1st (eddie bauer) prospect
cosco highback booster and cosco/dorel alpha omega
evenflo chase comfort touch
safety 1st/dorel intera
I have got to say we've owned it all. GRACO makes the best boosters. They do go on sale occasionally too.
We love our Britax Monarch Booster!! It is the best out there and is side impacted tested and in reenforced!! You will not be disappointed with this seat! You can find it online on many sites and they will ship it to your house for free! I also think most of the Britax Seat are going to be going on sale on most websites soon! This is the time of the year they always have their sale (Feb.)!!
We use the Turbo Booster also. We have used it for both of our children and never had any problems with it ever. I like the fact that they can be into just a plain booster when the time comes.
Good Luck!
We have the the Graco Turbo Booster for my oldest (she's 11 but small for her age). My 5yr old was in it but we had put him in the Graco Nautilus about a year ago, but pretty soon he won't be able to use the 5pt harness and will only use the straps. He is tall for his age.
So for portability I would recommend the Turbo Booster!!
Really any high back booster will be a good choice. Compass makes a good one, and the Britax boosters are ultra comfy and plush. However just purchasing a Graco Turbobooster will work great.
And yes, a 5pt harness is safest, but at 5yrs old and 40lbs, she is big enough, and old enough, mature enough, to sit in a high back belted booster safely. Just make sure the belt stays threaded through the headrest and that it falls across her shoulder properly. She is mature enough to get it. :)
