Car seat question for kid >40 pounds

billiburrows

My 3 year old weights 36 pounds and will be at the weight limit for his current car seat when he hits 40 pounds.  i can't believe how quickly we are outgrowing the car seat!!! From what i can tell, the best thing to get is a belt positioning booster seat.  does anyone have any recommendations? the car seat search is always overwhelming to me. 

MrsAmers

After the convertible, we went to a 3-in-1 booster seat. The seat can have a 5-point harness, a belt positioning booster or a backless booster. So for the time being both of my kids are still in the 5-point harness, but this will be their last car seat. We got a hand-me-down Graco Nautilus and a similar Evenflo model. I like the Graco better than the Evenflo, so when we needed another I bought another Graco. I considered the Britax Frontier because we loved our Britax convertible seats, but when we needed to upgrade money was tight. Honestly, I find that the buckles are easier to buckle and unbuckle on the Britax, but otherwise we are happy with the Graco seats.

waltsgirl102503

We also use the Graco Nautilus for Noah.  He's in 2nd grade.  We used the 5 point harness until he was probably 6 (or close to it).   He now uses the seatbelt with the seat.

AmandaJLewis

Another Graco Nautilus user here, I liked the ability to keep her in a 5 point harness (the PA law regarding moving to a booster is 4 years old AND at least 40 lbs).  EJ is 5 now, but just crested over the 40lb mark recently. she will out grow her Britax Marathon with her height before she hits the 65lb weight limit. But I expect to need another booster seat this year for her.

egpitt22

Another vote for the Graco Nautilus.  We have 2 of them, we switched Jake to the 5 pt on that last winter when we needed the convertible seats for Liam. He weighs about 37 pounds and will be 5 next month and he seems very comfortable in the seat.

Luckystar2

Another vote for keeping in 5 point harness. We just got a graco Argos. I'm not sure if its replacing the nautilus or what but I had intended on looking at the nautilus but the store we went to didn't even have it and had the Argos so we went with that. It is a 3 in 1 just like the nautilus but with higher limits. I think it goes up to 70lbs as a 5 point.  Honestly I don't love it but I think we are spoiled with our evenflo triumph and none of the straps/buckles on any of the 3 in 1 seats seemed to compare as well!

we still have the evenflo triumph in our other car which goes up to 45lbs so we will use that there until the limit. Dd is 4.5 and just hitting 40lbs.  

billiburrows

AmandaJLewis:

Another Graco Nautilus user here, I liked the ability to keep her in a 5 point harness (the PA law regarding moving to a booster is 4 years old AND at least 40 lbs).  EJ is 5 now, but just crested over the 40lb mark recently. she will out grow her Britax Marathon with her height before she hits the 65lb weight limit. But I expect to need another booster seat this year for her.

I didn't know the law is 4 years old AND 40lbs..... i just looked in the Britax manual and it said 40lbs is the weight limit so i assumed he will have to transition soon.  he just turned 3 so that means its ok for me to use this car seat for another year?

egpitt22

billiburrows:

AmandaJLewis:

Another Graco Nautilus user here, I liked the ability to keep her in a 5 point harness (the PA law regarding moving to a booster is 4 years old AND at least 40 lbs).  EJ is 5 now, but just crested over the 40lb mark recently. she will out grow her Britax Marathon with her height before she hits the 65lb weight limit. But I expect to need another booster seat this year for her.

I didn't know the law is 4 years old AND 40lbs..... i just looked in the Britax manual and it said 40lbs is the weight limit so i assumed he will have to transition soon.  he just turned 3 so that means its ok for me to use this car seat for another year?

No, if he's past the weight limit for the seat, you'll still want to get a new one with a higher limit.

billiburrows

Thanks everyone!!!

AmandaJLewis

billiburrows:

AmandaJLewis:

Another Graco Nautilus user here, I liked the ability to keep her in a 5 point harness (the PA law regarding moving to a booster is 4 years old AND at least 40 lbs).  EJ is 5 now, but just crested over the 40lb mark recently. she will out grow her Britax Marathon with her height before she hits the 65lb weight limit. But I expect to need another booster seat this year for her.

I didn't know the law is 4 years old AND 40lbs..... i just looked in the Britax manual and it said 40lbs is the weight limit so i assumed he will have to transition soon.  he just turned 3 so that means its ok for me to use this car seat for another year?

You will have to transition from that seat as he is reaching its limit. But based on PA law he is too young to be in a booster with a seat belt. 

billiburrows

maybe he will be 4yo by the time he reaches 40 pounds....  he is 4 pounds away but maybe his weight gain will level off or something between now and then.  glad to know what the laws are and what the next step is!

thanks!