Booster/5pt Harness for Grandma's house...

AngRoMarSi

My mom lives out of state and I need to get another seat for when we visit her in April.  Bringing a seat is not an option this time--I'm not willing to lug one when traveling with both boys by myself!!  

My oldest will be a month shy of 4 years old and is just over 40 lbs now and 40". He sits nicely in his seat, still falls asleep occasionally in the car (will with my mom since we frequently travel a 2 hr drive to/from the airport during naptimes), and is starting to buckle himself into the seat.  

In our cars, he's FF in a Safety 1st Complete Air 65 and a Graco Nautilus--he prefers the Safety 1st--I think it has better padding.  Grandma has a Cosco Scenera that the youngest will be using.  I'm trying to figure out what I should buy for my mom.  She has an Odyssey minivan so size isn't an issue.  I want to go fairly inexpensive yet at the same time wouldn't mind buying something that my mom will be able to use for my 2 sister's kids eventually (they're both pregnant due in the summer and fall) since they live closer and she'll see them more.  I'm leaning toward another Nautilus.  Is there something else I should consider?  Should I go for a booster instead?

molldoll71

My,mom has the Evenflo one that can become a booster.  No complaints.

TSD

I don't know what seats typically run because we've only had the Britax Marathon that we got for my baby shower! But we just bought a seat for MH's mini cooper and my MIL's car and they're both Britax Frontier 85 which goes up to 85 lbs I think! I saw them in BRU for $299 but I got them for $212 with free shipping and no tax from Amazon.

Liz051405

molldoll71:

My,mom has the Evenflo one that can become a booster.  No complaints.

We have the Evenflo Maestro which is comparable to the Graco Nautilus for MH's car. No complaints here from either the parents nor the child. And trust me, if it wasn't comfortable, he'd tell us (and tell us and tell us.... you get the point).

ETA: I think we paid about $60 after coupons. Check the manufacturer's website as they had great coupons on there when we bought.

 

MrsDB

I would be the cheapest forward facing seat i could find. probably just a belted high back booster. falling asleep wouldn't be bad, so long as it has the side panels to lean his head on so he's not falling over the seat.  i def wouldn't be spending 165 on a carseat to use for the weekend.

penguingrrl

I'd look at the evenflo maestro. The top harness height is the same as a nautilus, the harness weight limit is 50 lbs and it becomes a booster later. The biggest complaint people have with it is that the headrest doesn't raise, so the booster is outgrown shortly after the harness is, but for such occasional use your son could use a backless booster once the maestro is outgrown.