Not keen on 4 year old in backless booster- am I crazy?

[KrisM]

What is your goal? I'm not following it well. You need a harnessed seat for your 4 yo?

One of our cars only fits 2 seats right now. We have in it an older Radian and a Probooster. DH can take any 2 kids, as DD is 5.5 and fits in the Radian and is fine in a booster. So, depending on who she's with, she sits harnessed or in the booster. It works really well.

If all 3 kids are going somewhere, they're in the van. We also do have a RideSafer vest for the 2 seat car, just in case all 3 need to fit in.

Anyway, my near 8 year old is only in a backless when he's riding with a friend. DD is 5.5 and has not riden in a backless and I wouldn't be comfortable with that. She will move to a high-back in a few months.

[essnce629]

Frontier makes a fantastic booster... http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/...best_bets.aspx
http://carseatblog.com/5671/too-old-...ster-says-who/

It's a bit more of a pain for kids younger than 7 to buckle, but it can be used with LATCH and is the tallest on the market.

Yes, we LOVE the Frontier as a booster! We just switched from harness mode to booster mode about 3 weeks ago and it's been great. I specifically sold my FR80 for the FR85 when it came out since I knew DS2 was going to be really tall and I wanted the higher harness height and the tallest booster. I'm 5'7 and can almost fit in the booster with it raised all the way to the top! It's a great belt fit for DS1 and he can buckle easily-- but he's also 8 1/2.

[peanut520]

Frontier makes a fantastic booster... http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/...best_bets.aspx
http://carseatblog.com/5671/too-old-...ster-says-who/

It's a bit more of a pain for kids younger than 7 to buckle, but it can be used with LATCH and is the tallest on the market.

Yes, we LOVE the Frontier as a booster! We just switched from harness mode to booster mode about 3 weeks ago and it's been great. I specifically sold my FR80 for the FR85 when it came out since I knew DS2 was going to be really tall and I wanted the higher harness height and the tallest booster. I'm 5'7 and can almost fit in the booster with it raised all the way to the top! It's a great belt fit for DS1 and he can buckle easily-- but he's also 8 1/2.

Thanks everyone, this is why i love this board for all the great info! maybe i was thinking of the fr80, but regardless she is not going to have that option for quite some time.

[AnnieW625]

My 4 yr. old rode in a backless booster in my DCP's car last year for 10 minutes three times a week. I was fine with that, but on a regular basis DD1 is almost 6 yrs. old and still uses a high back booster for most trips other than field trips. We tried her in a low back booster on a recent trip where we flew and had a rental car, and even DH who wasn't sure DD1 needed the back for the booster all of the time said that for future travels we'll be traveling with it.

My DD1 is 44" tall and about 46lbs.

I agree with Jools that the Frontier is a pain to buckle in some cars (it is easier in our Corolla than our Pilot). I kept DD1 harnessed full time until she was 5/1/2. I plan to keep her in her high back booster for at least another year or two, maybe three just depending on her size.

[lilye13]

So sorry all....I am still in deep denial about my girl because she actually just turned 5!

Jules- I am NO idea about the radian. we got is so long ago (it still has two years left on it) running out in my pj's now to take it out.

So now my problem (other than my worn out brain;>) is what to get for seat combinations to use, particularly in DH's car:
But what we already own is:

We have a that pink Frontier ( not 85:<) that the little one gets priority to use in DH's car
2 Graco Nautilus's (or is it -Nautil ?;>)
Marathon
Radian
Harmony Booster
.......so I was looking at the
Britax Parkway or the Diono Monterey ( or a maestro or similar)to add to stash and put in DD and DS1 can use depending who is riding.
But should I be looking at something else instead>?

I feel like a total tool ....:< I am sorry about the 4 /5 mixup....

[Joolsplus2]

Hey, if your mommy brain hasn't started overlapping with your senior moments, consider yourself lucky
Anyway, yeah, Monterey or Parkway are fine, Graco Turbo is even fine for a second car (not as tall or cushy as the others, but tends to fit most kids really well on the smaller end of the spectrum, can be used backless if needed, cheap and easy to find...)

[lilye13]

ROTFLMAO Julie:>
I couldn't really admit it but definitely could be budding senior moment :<
I just got back from dropping off for school and almost talked myself into getting the Frontier 85 ( in Cowmoo of course) but thinking that really isn't pract$$cal) at all
or what we really need. Just get tempted to get a nice new fancy seats;>
But still thinking I need something for my 8 1/2 year old 57" and almost 90 lbs and the Monterey and Parkwy ( or Fronteir;>) could do double duty with DD.
Still crazy?

[AnnieW625]

......Graco Turbo is even fine for a second car (not as tall or cushy as the others, but tends to fit most kids really well on the smaller end of the spectrum, can be used backless if needed, cheap and easy to find...)

This seat fits my small almost 6 yr. old quite well and she doesn't complain about the seat most days unless she is really tired then she complains the fabric itches. It definitely gets two for ease of use for playdates and field trips as a low back booster. DD1 has no issues carrying it. While sometimes I think I should have spent $80 more on a Monterey or a Parkway I am quite happy withe Graco Turbo.

[lilye13]

This seat fits my small almost 6 yr. old quite well and she doesn't complain about the seat most days unless she is really tired then she complains the fabric itches. It definitely gets two for ease of use for playdates and field trips as a low back booster. DD1 has no issues carrying it. While sometimes I think I should have spent $80 more on a Monterey or a Parkway I am quite happy withe Graco Turbo.

thanks:> Right now I am searching about online and in old posts about which one to go for and I have worked myself into a tizzy.

And to confirm my problem, I took out the radian and just had the frontier in the car and when I tried to sneak out for a quick Starbucks trip this morning with just my darling tempest of a princess - she flat out refused to sit in it ( it still has the 5pt harness set).
She would rather stay home then go for a little mommy and me treat having to ride in it!!!!
Needless to say after the tears and screams of protest I really needed my Starbucks:<