Booster questions...

[TaChapm]

I am looking to get Jackson a booster for my DH's truck. We have Marathons for my car but can't swing getting marathons for DH's truck. It is very rare that Jackson rides in DH truck but for those rare occasions I would like to have something for his truck.

Here is the situation. The center of the back seat only has a lap belt (no Latch). Both outboard seats have shoulder straps but they are not the type that you can pull out and have them retract and lock in place. I would like to find some type of a booster that can keep him in a 5pt harness that won't break the bank. It seems like I remember someone saying that there were more seats coming out with the higher weight limits but I could have been dreaming that. If I can't keep him harnessed how would you handle the booster situation and can someone tell me a good booster without spending too much.

Ideally I would have them in nothing but Britax but it just isn't possible right now considering 3# is on the way and we are going to have to be buying 2 new seats for that baby.

Tara
Mommy to Jackson 11-10-02
Tyler William 6-9-05
OMG!!! Baby #3 Due September 5, 2006!

http://b4.lilypie.com/gzWfm8.png

http://b1.lilypie.com/kLMem8.png

http://bd.lilypie.com/UEZ3m8.png

[SusanMae]

Ohhhh---I just typed this big long response and the stupid computer didn't post it...got a bunch of gobbidy gook!!!!

Well I'll try again!

The bare MINIMUM for a booster is 4 years AND 40 pounds. He also must understand that he needs to stay put---not wiggle all around. It's important for him to remain in a harness as long as possible--each step in carseats closer to just using the belt is a step DOWN in safety. As far as I can tell I've come up with 3 options for you. My last post had lots of cool links!!!

So here we go:

The Recaro Young Start---harnessed seat with high top slots to 40# then converts to a BPB, with seat belt lock offs(helps with the wiggles). Target.com has it on sale for $225 right now. It's listed as under the convertible seats. It looks like a race car seat which your son would probably LOVE.

The Cosco Apex(could be found as the Alpha Elite)----This seat harnesses to 65# and then is a bpb. The only down fall to this seat is that you MUST, MUST, MUST have high seat backs or head rests. The top of the childs ears must NOT be higher than the vehicle's seat. This seat can be found at TRU and BRU. It's about $130ish.

The last seat is the Eddie Bauer Cubby/Safety 1st Prospect. It's turned up in Target. It harnesses to 40# and has tall top slots, then becomes a bpb. I can't find it online except at safety1st.com and only as the prospect.

Hope this helped.

Susan

[TaChapm]

OK...Jackson reached the 40 lb. mark at 2 years (95% in height and weight) but is not 4 so what is a person to do if the minimum for a booster is 4 years.

I hate trying to figure all this out. The Recaro is out of our price range and wouldn't have him harnessed. The Cosco sounds good but DH truck does not have the high seat back. Eddie Bauer still wouldn't have him harnessed. It just seems like there are no options.

Thanks for the help though!

Tara
Mommy to Jackson 11-10-02
Tyler William 6-9-05
OMG!!! Baby #3 Due September 5, 2006!

http://b4.lilypie.com/gzWfm8.png

http://b1.lilypie.com/kLMem8.png

http://bd.lilypie.com/UEZ3m8.png

[UsMominOz]

Their is also the Radian, harnessed to 65 lbs ff, 33lbs rf and has a tether you can use both ways, $179 w/ free shipping at Albee Baby

http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?follow-pro=1&catalog=albee-baby&vwcatalog=albee-baby&query=sunshine%20kids%20radian&x=4&y=6

But some people have had problems getting a tight fit ff.

HTH,

Karleen

[bubbaray]

What about buying two Britax Regents for your oldest and using "his" MA's for the new baby??


Melissa

Maya Papaya!
http://lilypie.com/baby2/040411/3/4/1/-8/.png[/img][/url]

[TaChapm]

I don't think I can fit 2 Marathons and a Regent into my Tahoe. I still need to go and try it because I had thought about doing this for the new baby. Right now we only have 1 marathon for each of the boys so there is not a spare to give up. We have never really needed a seat for DH truck but the other night when Tyler was in the ER really made us wish we had the extra seat in DH truck.

Tara
Mommy to Jackson 11-10-02
Tyler William 6-9-05
OMG!!! Baby #3 Due September 5, 2006!

http://b4.lilypie.com/gzWfm8.png

http://b1.lilypie.com/kLMem8.png

http://bd.lilypie.com/UEZ3m8.png

[tribecamom]

they run about 60-70 shipped, work with a lapbelt and I think for very occasional use not a bad option for DH's truck...unfortunately Ebay is the only source

more expensive but still I think an option if there is a tether spot is a RiderSaferVest

hth

[o_mom]

I would look into the Cosco Apex further - try it out. Since it sits lower on the seat - like a combo seat, he may not be above the seat back for a long while. Also, call Cosco and ask for clarification on the high seatback thing. From the posts here, it has not been clear if the "high seat back" only applies to booster use or both harness and booster - though I wouldn't hold my breath.

[starrynight]

I think he would be fine in a harnessed seat like the apex or radian, it's still a booster but with a harness. When your kid is young but over 40lbs sometimes you do what you have to, back when my oldest was little he was in a harnessed booster at 2 (too tall for convertible seats) and out of a harness at 3, I had no choice. No seats harnessed past 40lbs at that time. I'm not saying it's ok to do that now with other seats available but with a truck you are limited enough already, it's hard :( I hope you find something!

[KrisM]

If he's really in the truck so rarely, can you just swap a seat out of your car? I have a Wizard and it's so easy to install, I wouldn't hesitate to do this. Oh, I do have LATCH, but the few times I've done it with a belt haven't been bad (after the 1st time anyway).