switching from forward facing to booster?

Allison - posted on 05/22/2009

When my daughter outgrew her infant seat she was 14 months old (she is also very skinny) and I got a Graco CarGo Booster, as it goes from 20-100 lbs. When she outgrows the 5-point harness it works as a booster with a seatbelt guide. That way I didn't need a toddler seat and then another booster later on. Look for a seat that has those types of capabilities. They have higher belt slots and will last as long as your child needs a booster.

Jessica - posted on 05/22/2009

I would keep him in the 5 point harness. I totally understand where you're coming from. My son is 3 and I had that problem with his baby car seat where he was taller than the seat itself but wasn't even 20 lbs yet and his pediatrician told me to keep him in it til he hit 20 lbs and he was over a year old before I put him in a front facing car seat. I went out and bought a Graco Pedic car seat and it's a car seat that goes up to 100 lbs but has the slots for the actual seat belt of the car. I have a feeling he will outgrow it in height before he does in weight. My son is 3 and is like your son and only weighs about 32 lbs but is tall for his age (he comes up to mid belly on me but I'm only 5'4 myself) Good luck

Sara - posted on 05/22/2009

Sounds like you'll be shopping for a new seat - use that link and I'm sure you can find an appropriate seat that can convert to a belt possitioning booster when he's outgrown the need for the harness. I believe that as soon as your child is forward facing, the harness should attach to the seat ABOVE their shoulders, not below/behind.

Jen - posted on 05/22/2009

Keep you child in a regular 5 point harness care seat as long as you can. My son is almost 6 and he still uses his 5 point harness. I just feel that that is safer than just using a seat belt. I bought him a seat that goes up to 100lbs with a 5 point harness.

Jocelyn - posted on 05/22/2009

i really don't want to put him in a booster just yet, i'm just a little worried about the harness being so far below his shoulders :( and he looks so uncomfortable!
and Zoe thanks for the link!

Dawn - posted on 05/22/2009

Hi...you have to wait until 4 years old now per the most recent car seat laws I saw. Things keep changing :). When my son was 3, we put him in a booster as that was the law THEN. Honestly, it was a bit young to get him to not play with the seat belt. My daughter is now three and would meet all the height requirements...and nearly the weight requirements. But, she isn't bothered by the 5-point harness and it is a bit safer than the booster, so we'll keep her in that until at least age 4. Keep in mind that they don't know any different than what you are doing, so there is really no desire on their part to change the kind of seat restraint unless you make an issue of it :). If they are uncomfortable, perhaps you need a different brand of seat. Good luck!

Sabrina - posted on 05/22/2009

I would wait until he is a little bit heavier weight wise. Have you tried using a booster that has a 5 point harness? Sometimes the hieght on those are a little bit taller than forward facing chairs.

Zoe - posted on 05/22/2009

Keep him in a 5pt harness. He's too young to be in a booster and also, at 30lbs, too light (he would have to meet, at a minimum, the height AND weight requirement). Boosters are seat belt positioners and do not offer the type of safety protection that 5pt harness seats offer. I have my 7yo daughter in a 5pt harness Britax Regent that is a 5pt harness to 80lbs and then a booster to 100lbs. She's 62lbs now (so no lightweight for 7yo) and will be in this seat until she no longer needs a car seat.



Go to www.car-seat.org and do a search there for more information for booster seat transitioning. Also, in some states it's illegal to have a 2.5yo in a booster and they're supposed to be in a 5pt harness car seat until age 3 or 4.