Need Advice for Toddler Car Seat

Updated on May 08, 2008
G.C. asks from Springfield, MO
16 answers

My son is 34 pounds and 38 inches tall. Due to a car accident, I am replacing his car seat - a Graco Comfortsport. Since most convertible seats have a 40 pound maximum, I'm looking for suggestions on the next size up in a moderate price range. Any advice, pros or cons, would be helpful. Thanks so much!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.W.

answers from Kansas City on

Graco just came out with a new seat that has an extended 5 point harness limit (65 lbs). I bought one at Walmart for about 150. Here is the link to the seat on the Graco website.

http://www.gracobaby.com/catalog/product.aspx?modelNumber...

The Radian and Britax seats are good too, but pricey. You have to be careful with a child this size. Many car seats advertise a high weight limit, but that is only for use as a booster. You have to shop carefully to get an extended 5 point harness weight limit.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.R.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi G. - I would look at a Booster seat that you can use the safety harness until the child reaches the weight and height requirements. Once these requirements are reached you can just use the vehicle seat belt with the care seat. I found mine at Wal-Mart between $60 and $70 dollars. I love it and it works great. I can't remember the brand, but it is navy blue cloth with a blue plaid print on back and seat part of the car seat. I beleive this is for children up to 80lbs.
I hope this helps I know how important car seats are to me and you sound the same way!
C.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from St. Joseph on

G.,

I would suggest that you look at the new True Fit seat from The First Years. The True Fit will go up to 65 lbs but the real plus is that the harness straps will fit up to a 4 - 4 1/2 year old. Most convertibles out on the market have short harness straps. Children tend to grow out of the seats height wise before they ever hit the weight limit. There are only a few seats that really work for a 4 year old. Most of them can get very expensive. The True Fit runs $189.99 and with the coupon code TENOFF1ST on our website you will receive 10% off plus free shipping. The harness straps are also adjustable from the side of the seat so you don't have to total rethread them every time your child grows. I would be happy to help answer any other questions that you may have.

Thanks, M.
Owner

Baby On The Go
www.babyonthegoathome.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I got an Eddie Bauer (I think it's called prospect) booster seat for my son from Targert for $89.99. It works as a 5 point internal harness system from 22-40lbs, to a belt positioning booster 40-100lbs. Also it turns into a backless booster for when they are older. It's a great seat, and received excellant ratings through Buyer's guide for safety according to my Grandma (who looked up the info for me ; ). My son loves it, it also has 2 cup holders he can stick stuff in! I'll admit, there are a lot of negative reviews as to installing it etc on the Target site, but I had no problems! Have had it for a year, and my 2yr old and I both love it! Here is a link to it (just copy and paste) http://www.target.com/Eddie-Bauer-Bryant-Prospect-Booster...
Good Luck and hope that helps!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Absolutely love the Radian 65 carseat. It is super easy to install and fits great. It will hold them up to 65 pounds. They make one up to 80 lbs also but most kids will outgrow the height restriction by then so it is not worth it. It is about $200 which may be over your budget but it is a great carseat - much slimmer than the Britax seats so you can sit next to it comfortably. Also, the seat folds up into the back if you ever need to travel with it or store it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.B.

answers from Lawton on

I am a daycare provider and I have purchased the one from Wal-mart that are either $40-$50 and it goes from infant to toddler. I want to say it goes to 80lbs. They have them in pink and black/brown colors. The kids really like them and when they sleep they aren't falling over either.

T.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from Wichita on

Look for another convertable seat, but not a booster seat. We tried putting our 3 yr. old in a booster seat, but his kept unbuckling, so for his safey we had to move him back to a 5 point until he was older.
I bought one from Wal-Mart for $30 - $40. I believe it is a: Scenera® Convertible Car Seat & my youngest loves it (he picked it out himself). The come in a plastic seat protector instead of a box.
Toddlers grow more slowly than infants, so he should be able to use a convertable for a few more years.
God Bless!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.D.

answers from St. Louis on

The car seats that do all 3 levels will be the best! Try www.usa.safekids.org for a refrence on sizes and weights. Your son is not ready for the highback Graco yet(40pnds). Those are greaet because the head rest adjusts as they get taller, offers great back support in case of an accident and the booster seat part comes off for when they are bigger. It also is padded so it doesn't get too hot. Try going to baby-depot at Mills mall. You can also go online. I found them to be cheaper than babies-r-us. They also have better suppliers than walmart so you get more choices. Good luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.A.

answers from Kansas City on

Britax, Britax, Britax!!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Kansas City on

We got our two boys car seats from Walmart. It's from safety first. They are black with a square pattern on the sitting part. They go up to 100 lbs. It's a 5-point harness that transitions to use with just the seat belt. i don't remember what they are actually called. I tried looking it up at walmart.com for you but they don't have it on their websit. i do know they carry it in stores though. we paid 79.00 at the time, but i think the price has gone down.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.L.

answers from Kansas City on

Sorry this is so late, but i just saw your request. As a Child passenger safety instructor, my advice would be to please keep him in a 5 point harness as long as you can, a two year old has no business in a booster seat yet, too young. Check out the kyle miller foundation website or the kyle miller videos on you tube!! They will open your eyes! Thanks!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.N.

answers from Kansas City on

We just bought a Cosco High Back car seat/booster at Target for $49.00. It's great. Has the 5 point harness and will convert to a high back booster later.

It took a little muscle to install (my hubby griped), but you can get the fireman at your local station to install it for you if it's really a problem! :)

My son's really happy in it too.

T.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I was in your situation almost 2 years ago. I can not think of the name of car seat that I bought but it is the one with the 5 point harness that converts to a booster. I liked it the best because you can raise the arm rests (not all of them let you do that) and it has the adjustable seat belt thing on the side for when they get out of the 5 point harness. I think it is a Graco. I got it at Toys r us and it is brown. Yeah I know that doesn't really help much. I would look for one that you can use the longest. I would look for one that the arm rests move. I would also look for one that you can take the cover off pretty easiely because something always happens.
Take care

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.T.

answers from Lawrence on

how old is he? if he can sit in a seat belt I would suggest a low back booster seat or a high back booster but that is if he is 3 or older. they sell between 13.00 and 65.00 depends on your budget and what you want. I went with low back boosters and have three kids in them from 4-7. I started the 4 year old at the age of three with hers and they love them they are cosco one from walmart and we bought each one for 15.00.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.V.

answers from Kansas City on

We have the Graco Turbo booster for our daughter.It starts at 30 lbs and I believe it goes to 100 lbs.The bottom comes off for when they get older and the height adjust up and down.Also my Husband is a carseat tech and he says he would reccomend this one after the Britax which is pricey.You can get the turbo booster on sale for about $40.In fact it was just on sale at Target for $37.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.G.

answers from St. Louis on

We just got the new Britax Frontier Toddler Car Seat for our 3 1/2 yr. son who is about 30 pounds and about 39". We had to move his baby sister into his Britax Marathon. We love it and he loves it (he likes the arm rests and cup holders). The firemen who installed the seat said that they were very impressed with it and the side impact protection. It has a 5 point harness (which is recommended to at least 40 pounds), but converts to a booster after that until something like 80 pounds or more. As far as medium price - we got ours online for around $260 because we ordered more than one and got a 10% discount with free shipping. It is not cheap, but it is the only one that we could find with this many features that should be the last car seat we need to buy. Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches