Car Seat Question

[lovemydior]

Rhiana has been in her current car seat since she was 6 months old. It is a 5 point harness and a 3 in 1 carseat. How long does she stay in this carseat? Are there weight or height restrictions? a few weeks ago a friend of my said that she was old enough for a booster seat, and i felt a bit uneasy about it. In some ways that would be easier but i want to do the safe thing. Can anyone help me?

[ChamomileFriend]

What brand / model carseat is it? The weight and height restrictions (it varies by company and model) would be in the manual if you still have it, but if you don't I can help you look it up if you know who makes the seat and hopefully what the model is called.

If she is not even 4 yet, I would not put Rhiana just a booster seat. Even if after we look it up we find she has outgrown her current seat they do make 5 point harnesses for older toddlers. My 5 year old is still in a 5 point harness (he is in a Radian 65, made by Sunshine Kids).

Also, it is important to note that if you have had this seat since 2006 it will probably expire shortly after # 2 is born (the usual life for a seat is 5 yrs) the new baby will need a new infant or 3-in-1 seat.

Just as an example, the Graco Nautilus is a 3-in-1 seat lets you leave your child in the 5 point harness until they are 65 lbs and then they can be in the booster until they reach 100lbs.

[kim]

You might be able to check the stickers on the side of the seat for height/weight restrictions as well. They are often there too. I also wouldn't yet put her in a booster...I'm holding off with my kids until they are 5 or *almost* 5 depending on how big they are.

[PianoMama]

Good advice here so far!

I echo the "don't put her in a booster" advice wholeheartedly! My son is 5 years old, about 50lbs and almost 4' tall and he's in a Radian 80...harnesses to 80lbs.

DD is still rearfacing at 27lbs and 2 years old.

If you don't have your manual still, you may be able to find it online or call the company to ask for details/specifics/another manual?! Just a thought...I think on our carseats the manuals are attached to them so we can lose them! love it!

Good questions...

[buttercup_97140]

We have our DD in a booster that is a high back car seat that has the straps removed, but she is GIGANTIC for her age and even then I sometimes have to remind her to sit straight. I think the biggest thing about transferring to a booster is 1) make sure the kid can sit in the seat approprately for safety. 2) of course make sure the kiddo is big enough but even then lowest set range can still be too small. 3) if you can get away with more protection, do it for as long as possible.
I wish I would have been able to keep Em in a harness longer but she is so very big the straps started to dig into her shoulders...and it says it goes to a pretty big size......she is 3 months shy of 5 and was the biggest in her preschool class. She is also the youngest in her class...LOL!

I was "talking" to Tara about how I wish I could have that car seat from switzerland or somewhere that has kids up to 6 sitting back facing!

blessings,
Amber

[~Tara~]

Yeah, check the seat for stickers. On the side you should see weight limits for rear and forward facing. The height isn't as 'strict' in that it is just a suggestion/average. For rear facing there needs to be at least 1" of hard shell above the head. If less than that, then the child has outgrown the seat for rear facing.

Forward facing, within the limit of the seat and shoulders at or below the shoulder strap slots. If the child's shoulders go above the top slots, the seat is outgrown by height.

Dittoing the others, I do NOT recommend putting her in a belt positioning booster yet. My minimum for that is 5yr. It isn't until then that a child is mature enough to sit properly in a booster for the entire ride each and every time. And even that should be on a child by child basis, it's not a hard and fast rule. But please do not put a child under 5 in a belt positioning booster.

The longer harnessed the safer, provided they fit within the limits of the seat as previously stated.

And I say all this assuming the seat is NOT expired and never been in a crash.

Again, you should be able to easily locate the limits of the seat with a sticker on the side of the seat. Or look it up online by going to the manufacturers site (or any place that sells it, really should have that same info). Or...post the info here and we can help ya out.

[momofweewerfs]

my 5 1/2 yr old (weight approx 44 lbs) is still in a 5 pt harness and will be for a bit longer. still has lots of room.

[His butterfly]

Ditto to that! My 5 yr old is still in a 5 point harness. I fully intend to keep her there as long as possible. Both my 3.5 yr old and my 5 yr old are in a Graco Nautilus. Absolutely love it! And my 5 yr old is very tall for her age and we have no problems with keeping her harnessed.