I have a convertible carseat from Graco that we purchased 3 years ago when my daughter outgrew her infant seat. This seat should last for a least another year or so, but it is starting to get REALLY snug on her. She is long and lean. Her height seems to be the issue and the straps are adjusted as loose as they can go and there is NO room left at this point. Now that we are getting into the cooler weather, I know it will be almost impossible to strap her in when she is wearing bulkier clothes! What do I do now? This carseat is what is to be used prior to getting a booster and I know she isn'd old enough or ready for that yet. She's 4, weighs about 30 lbs and is almost 41 inches tall. HELP me figure out what kind of seat she needs or what I can do. I want her to be safe and I have no idea how to best do that! Thanks ladies for any help you have!
Thanks for the advice. I'll be doing some research and we'll be making a change soon. When I said "bulky" I mean having a sweater and a pair of jeans. She had jeans and a t-shirt on the other day and having the extra fabric from the jeans made it pretty impossible to strap the crotch area closed. Since she can't walk around in her bathing suit during the winter, I know we have to figure out something within the next few weeks. I have gone to the fire department every time we've installed a new seat and always get great, helpful advice. I will do some more research and enlist the help of our local fire station and hopefully be able to make her trips more comfortable and safe. Thanks again, I do appreciate your helpfulness!
Ditto to the Britax Frontier....it is the last seat you'll have to buy! :) We just bought one for my daughter (who is very tall and thin) and LOVE it!!!
we just went with 5 point boosters from sunshine kids they have metal frames and go up to 65 lbs (they also have a 85lb model). My daughter is lean and tall and she fits great in it. A bit spendy - but worth it.
2 things:
1. Invest in a pancho or even a yard of fleece that you cut a hole in so you're not strapping her in with a heavy coat or snowsuit. A small child can literally be thrown out of the coat/suit in an accident. I just got a piece of fleece, folded it, and cut a hole for her head. It gets her to the car without freezing and we put her coat over her like a blanket once she's strapped in.
2. Go to a baby store and try her out in them. We have Marathons but our DD is also on the short side. Your mileage may vary. We are VERY happy with the Britax brand, though, and expect to wear it out.
She needs a High Back booster with a 5 point harness.
My son, when 4, was in a booster seat.
The "Compass" brand booster. Look it up at Amazon and read the reviews there.
Anyway, my son is a TALL big lean boy for his age. Per his size and weight, he COULD be in the booster. He no longer fit, in any convertible car seats we had.
My older daughter was tall and thin at that age, and the Britax Frontier served us well for several years. We have since passed it on to our (sturdier, shorter) younger daughter, and I think she'll fit in it until she's in middle school. Poor kid. LOL
at 4 and 30 lbs she should be in a booster let her pick it out!
K E,
Skip the guessing and go straight to a pro.
Did you know kids shouldn't even BE wearing bulky clothing or coats in a carseat? It's true.
There are free local seat inspectors EVERYWHERE. Call your local police dept or fire dept or go to:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm
to search for a site near you.
Take your child, the seat and your car. I promise you WILL learn something you are doing wrong! Something like 6 out of 10 people use seats incorrectly!!!
Teh britax marathon goes to 48 inches adn 65 oounds. The graco nautilus goes to 100 pounds
We have a britax booster seat. very nice about $100 .
MY kids are tall and skinny.. my son has a very long torso so he outgrows car seats early because his body is so long.. his legs are short though..
I wish we could afford Britax Frontiers for our kids, they are the best. But we have them each in a Graco Nautilus and I am very happy with those. My son is 42 inches and 45 lbs. He has SO much room left, he only has the shoulder straps ont he second slot. He was in a Graco MyRide before we put him in this about 3 weeks ago. Both kids were in MyRides which I loved too.
Also, I know you didn't say "coats" but kids shouldn't be wearing bulky sweatshirts in the car seats. And Winter coats are a big no no. We wear our jackets outside and while they are sitting in their seats I take them off before I buckle them in. Same thing in the Winter, I will be taking their coats off in the car and replacing them with a warm but thin fleece coat or something like we have done past years.
My little one is almost 4 and 40lbs, and 43 inches tall and we LOVE our Britax Frontier 85! It harnesses them until they are 85 lbs. It's a little pricey and I'm a very frugal shopper, but this is a GREAT purchase!! Best $200 I ever ever spent! We also have an evenflo generations 65, but since getting the Britax, I don't even want to put her in the Evenflo. It just doesn't seem as sturdy or safe.
she should be able to fit in just a booster seat by now
Ditto to Denise. Kids SHOULD NOT be wearing anything bulky while in the seat. It creates more space for the head to whiplash in.
I know! It is a pain. But I wrap a blanket around my son straight from the dryer.
I have a Britax Frontier. I LOVE IT! I mostly got it because my son is tall and heavy. The Frontier has the highest weight limits than any seat out there so he will be in it till he is 12.
Forward-facing harness: At least 2 years old and 25 lbs.; up to 80 lbs.
Booster: At least 42 in. and 40 lbs.; up to 65 in. and/or 120 lbs.
THAT alone is well worth spending the money on the seat rather than buy who knows how many after this.
Sounds like you have a Graco Comfort Sport. That seat has one of the shortest shells on the market. I agree with others that you should purchase a harnessed booster. Evenflo Maestro, Graco Nautilus and Britax Frontier are all great choices. Just depends on your budget, which of those options will work best. The Evenflo is the least expensive option and harnesses up to 50lbs, which should get your daughter to booster age no problem. Most kiddo's are not ready/mature enough for a HBB until five or six, so I would definitely wait. Good luck choosing!
I am in the same boat, he's tall and younger than your daughter, and I'm praying for the day he is 30 lbs so he can go into his booster, there's no more room in the carseat!! So I'm guessing you're where we are. We went out for frozen yogurt one night last week and he had a hoodie on, it was a tighter than tight squeeze, there is no more room to adjust straps, we barely made it! In North Carolina, a child must be in a child restraint if 7 years and younger and less than 80 pounds, I don't find anything saying that your daughter is too young for a booster.
http://elitecarseats.com/child-car-seat-laws-state/
http://www.consumersearch.com/booster-seats/the-first-yea... ~ fits 30 to 100 lbs., or from 38 to 57 inches tall, has high ratings and LATCH feature, bought from Amazon for $90, free shipping.
Britax Frontier80!!! She will be able to sit in the 5pt. harness till 53" and 65lbs.!!! Great seat!
Just leave it alone sit back and see what happen Pray about it God will come through for you
