Booster for almost 3 year old 36in/37 lbs

[Spencers Mom]

We realized this weekend that Spencer’s shoulders are right at the top harness slot of this car seat. So off we went looking for a booster seat. I’m very depressed/discouraged. He’s in a Graco Sport right now. We’ve loved it. Never had any problems at all. We’ve made trips from TX to KY and back and he’s never complained or seemed uncomfortable. We have a ’03 Tahoe and the seat fits great. So now I’m a little disappointed that he’s about to out grow it. He’ll be 3 in Dec and I don’t think he’s ready for a booster only. I think he really needs to be in a harness for a little while longer. He’s approaching the 40 lb mark but no where near the height cut off for the Graco. Which “rule� do I follow? Other than the Britax is there a seat that will let him use the harness after 40? The 200++ price tag is a little more than I think we can afford.

[Joolsplus2]

Yeah, it's too bad, but the ComforSport is just one of the lowest slotted seats out there, and outgrown by kids very young almost all the time :(. He's definitely too young for a dedicated booster. The weight limit is the most important rule for a forward facing car seat, so 40 pounds is "it"... There's still nothing else out there that harnesses above 40 pounds.. 199$ free shipping is the best for a Husky, and I think $214 for a Marathon. I know it's expensive.. can you hit anyone up for a contribution? Early b-day present from grandma? That sort of thing? A Husky would easily last you till age 8 or 9, so it's not a 'grow out of it tomorrow' purchase, like, say, his shoes will be :D.
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[cluelesswonder]

We went through this debate with our 97%le daughter (off the charts since she hit 18 months and is now 3/5 yo). Your only options are Britax: Marathon goes to 65 lbs or Husky to 80 lbs.

Every so often www.babyage.com has sales on these seats AND has a flat shipping rate of $5.95. We've purchased both the MA and Husky from them without any problems at a sale price. Do a search on google.com for the seat you want and you may end up surprised at the prices you can get. The Husky is officially discontinued, but its replacement seat looks identical and has a new name so you may get a good price for a Husky now.

The other option is to try ebay (the uglier the fabric, the cheaper the seat - you can also buy a second cover for about $45 or less from ebay and occaisionally from britaxusa.com).

Other options are garage sales/flea markets/mommy clubs.

HTH,
Karen
Mom of Elsa (3.5 yo and the size of a 5 yo) and Richard (10 weeks old and 18.5 lbs)

[Percycat]

Hi Karen,
You state that the Husky is officially discontinued and has been replaced. What is the name of the replacement?

Thanks.
angela

[uccomama]

The Regent. Same seat as the Husky but different covers.

http://britaxusa.com/products.cfm?action=ShowProduct&pro_id=84B1E2B6-D119-400E-8B19F80B1343B466

Deborah

[Spencers Mom]

Well after a search of everyone we know and a lot of people we didn't know we were able to borrow two seats that have higher slots than the seat we have now. We're going to see how long that will last us since he's so close to the 40 mark. Maybe we'll be lucky and he'll slow down, a girl can hope! I did plant the contribution seed with the grandparents. How old do you think he needs to be before he's ready for a booster? Or is it a height/weight thing? Are the Husky and Marathon a booster also? or just a harness seat? Right now I don't think he would understand that he can't just get down and get his toys when ever he feels like it. PS I'm SO glad I found you guys!
Alison, Spencer's Mom

[Joolsplus2]

Phew, glad you found a taller seat for the moment :).

Kids need to usually be at least age 4 or 5 before they are really mature enough to sit properly in a booster (but of course there's nothing wrong with keeping kids harnessed longer than that if they fit their seats! my 8 yo loves his husky...)

The Husky and Marathon do not become boosters, unfortunately, but they do last a long time and with care and no crashes, can have excellent resale value ;) (214 is a good price on the MA at www.albeebaby.com and 199 is what Huskies are running right now at one or two places on clearance)

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Spencers Mom]

We went and looked at the Marathon and Husky. They are SO big and I'm just not sure about the $s for it to not convert to a booster. I just can't see Spencer staying harnessed that long. He barely goes for it now! In my search I came across another message board that linked the Canada Graco site. On that site the Cargo says it can harness to 48lbs. What's the difference between this one and the "american" seat? It also gave a link to mightytite.com for the Profile seat from Sunshine Kids?
I could pull my hair out, or cry. ;o(
Alison

[Joolsplus2]

Once you stress the "coolness" of harnessing, like a Racecar driver or Pilot, kids are smart enough to know it's safe, and don't put up a fight. I can't link to the pictures directly, but the top two rows show my kids this summer in their old seats, and their new matching Huskies (kids are now 8 and 6 and don't complain at all... now, if only I could get them to have the same attitude about vegetables... sigh...) http://photobucket.com/albums/y255/joolstag/... and my kids aren't alone http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/FFAlbum.aspx
Also, they have good resale value (we don't BUY seats used, but we can SELL seats that we know haven't been in a crash and are in good shape ;))
The Candadian Cargos MUST be used top tethered. It's the law there, so they can test their seats that way.
Is your ds still only 36 pounds? The Recaro Young Sport becomes an awesome booster (and not much more than a Cargo till 40 pounds, and a Parkway to age 10...all in one seat...)

Good luck!
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[Spencers Mom]

SO tethered I can safely use the 40lb seat to 48lbs? That would give me 11 more lbs to decide what to do! I'll start planting the racecar driver angle. I certainly want to keep him harnessed as long as possible.

[Joolsplus2]

Well, you'd have to make a 'parental decision' to knowingly misuse the Cargo (since there's nothing in the US directions that allows harnessing to 48 pounds)... Which of course I wouldn't recommend out loud, given that there are other, legal, over 40 pound seats..... but it really is the same seat....

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx