DS is juuuust under the max shoulder height on his Britax convertible. It's been a loooong time since I looked at HBBs because DD was in a five point harness until age 8 then pretty much went to a LBB and DD's old HBB.
What did you choose after your kids outgrew the convertible? Anyone have older kids in a five point? The stiff buckle stalks in my Enclave make five points appealing, but then again, the girls can also buckle DS if he's in a belt positioning HBB.
DD will be 6 in June and still rides with a 5 point harness she also just hit the 40lb mark a couple months ago. I have 3 different combination seats (3 cars she rides in regularly) so these do 5 point, HBB, LBB. All 3 seats have a very high weight/height limit for the 5 point part harness part. We have the harmony defender (don't recommend), Evenflo Transitions (this was my only option after our accident and it is super bulk and heavy but DD says it is comfy to ride in), and Graco Tranzitions/Wayz (this is my favorite as it is light and easy to install). Before our accident DD was all about wanting to sit in a HBB or no car seat because all the other kids do and she was being called a baby. After the accident she has been telling other parents why they should put their kid back in a car seat and why it is safer and has no desire to switch to a HBB. Hope this helps.
Post by indyrowergirl on May 8, 2017 16:34:49 GMT -5
We use the Britax Frontier 85. DS1 is 7 and is still in it as a 5 point. For grandma's car (which he's rarely in so we needed a seat that was easier to install/remove) we use the Britax Pioneer as a HBB.
My DD turns 5 in August and is a big kid. I need to fit three seats across in DH's small car soon, so I thought about moving her to a booster, but ultimately decided I feel a lot more comfortable keeping her in a 5-point. So I bought a Diono Radian R100 for her. It does convert to a booster for later on. She'll also stay in the 5-point in my car.
I got a harness to booster for DD when her Foonf got wrecked. She is almost 8 and I still harness her. We did start booster training when she was 5 but with her impulsiveness she wasn't ready. DH started boostering her at 6.5 or so but her behavior is better in the mornings than in the evenings. At that age she was having kicking screaming meltdowns in the car frequently in the evenings. Thankfully that seems to be over . I am considering taking the harness out for her birthday as she is doing really well lately. And then I think about our wreck and nope.
DD has a Chicco high back booster. It has a cover that zips off, and it clicks in to LATCH so when DD grabs it to climb in to our SUV it doesn't fall out on top of her. We love it. I realize I'm lucky that she's tall and exceedingly well-behaved in the car. I've only had to remind her to sit up straight one time since we moved her to the booster.
Does anyone else look at the Radian and think it lacks protection when compared to a Sureride or Pioneer or Grace Tranzitions?
Or - do you think that looking like a booster matters? DD told her friends that it didn't matter when she was harnessed at 8 and she's confident so pulled it off. To DS a "booster" might appeal more than a seat that looks like a car seat.
But the wings and side impact protections are appealing. I just love the look of the Radian and DH said "I don't care what the price point is buy the best one" - which I love (no cost pressure) and hate (which one is best? It's easier to figure out "best under $75" than "best").
BTW - DS is now 44" and DD, who turns 10 in September, is 48". He's going to pass her.
I chose the Britax Frontier with Clicktight because I like the SafeCell energy absorbing feature. Also the reason I chose the Clek Foonf 4+ years ago. As an engineer, the energy absorption is huge to me. The forces involved in a head on collision like I was in is just huge.
We use Evenflo Maestros. Pretty inexpensive and go from 5 point to HBB. Really lightweight and easy to install. And they fit on planes! The girls are five this month and not even close to ready for a regular seatbelt. We'll stick with the harness as long as possible.
DS was in a 5-point convertible until he was almost 7 and DD was in a 5-point convertible until she was 6. DS is now in the seat-only booster and DD is in a HBB. I'd have to look, but I'm pretty sure DD's HBBs are Graco.
I will say I would have DD still in a 5-point harness for safety, but I lost that battle with DH. My uncle is a volunteer firefighter and has responded to car accidents, and he has always said to keep kids in a 5-point harness as long as possible.
DD has a Chicco high back booster. It has a cover that zips off, and it clicks in to LATCH so when DD grabs it to climb in to our SUV it doesn't fall out on top of her. We love it. I realize I'm lucky that she's tall and exceedingly well-behaved in the car. I've only had to remind her to sit up straight one time since we moved her to the booster.
Ds will be 5 inSeptember and I'm going to keep him harnessed for as long as possible. I've heard good things about the chicco that was mentioned here. I've also heard good things about the britax frontier.
Ds is 5.5 and we switched him to the Graco Nautilus because we want to keep him in a harness as long as possible since he still likes to sleep in the car and doesn't mind the harness. It has one of the highest harness limits and turns into a HBB and regular booster when the time comes.
We're still in a RF convertible (I'm shocked we've made it this long - she's a giant nearly-3-yo), but I can't say enough good things about the Britax Click Tight installation!
We're still in a RF convertible (I'm shocked we've made it this long - she's a giant nearly-3-yo), but I can't say enough good things about the Britax Click Tight installation!
For real. I just bought a Click Tight for the younger and am in love.
It's so funny; my husband cannot stand the ClickTight. He always manages to get the shoulder belt caught somehow and it won't open the little door and I have to do it with brute force. It's crazy. I'm like, easy peasy. I need him to lift the heavy ass seat into my car and then stop, I guess.
Both my kids are in Graco Nautilus 3-in-1. DS will be 7 (tomorrow) and he just now grew out of the shoulder straps for the 5-point. I like the seat because it's so versatile.
DD had previously been in a Graco, but didn't like the straps, so we upgraded her. She'll likely be harnessed for the foreseeable future since the weight limit for HBB is 50 lbs, and I'm not sure how long that will take, but she's been hanging out at 38 for a while...
And I totally bought it for looks and the low profile.
Oh yeah. Ds uses the Diono in dh's truck and still fits perfectly and it will last forever. I hate how it tightens though so didn't even consider it when replacing the britax in my car. Dh loves it.
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