Britax Parkway Question

[lactatinggirl]

We have currently have a Britax Boulevard and absolutely love it. I read a ton of reviews before deciding which convertible car seat to buy and it seemed like this one was the best (and most expensive!) because it was tested in Europe at higher speeds than they test in the US.

So now I'm looking for a booster seat. My LO isn't big enough yet, but I'll be watching my friend's daughter who's older and it would be much easier if I didn't have to drag her booster seat on the train with two toddlers. So I was thinking I could buy a booster seat to use with my LO a little early and was looking into which one to buy, but the Britax Parkway isn't anywhere on the "best" lists. Does anyone know why? I saw the Frontier on a few lists, but it's really expensive. Is it really that much better or is it just neat because you can switch to a booster earlier?

Can anyone recommend good booster seats? The "best high-back booster seat" on Consumer Search is the Recaro Vivo, but I've never even heard of that brand.

[chickabiddy]

A booster seat is not appropriate for a "toddler", as you describe your friend's child.  How old is she and what seat does she normally use?

[lactatinggirl]

She'll be 4 in July and is about 35 lbs. I didn't think that was big enough for a booster either, but my friend says that it's her height that's the problem. She's literally like 99th percentile and taller than other kids I've seen her around that are 5 or 6. I don't know why my friend didn't get a booster with a harness like the Frontier, but I don't feel like it's my place to tell her she's doing it wrong.

[chickabiddy]

She's too young for a booster in general, and the Parkway specifically has a 40# minimum.

[lactatinggirl]

So, assuming that my friend is right and she is indeed too tall for a convertible car seat, should she sit in a car seat that's too short for her or in a booster that she's too young for?

[DahliaRW]

There are plenty of harnessed seats with high strap heights.  The Britax Frontier, Graco Nautilus, and Evenflo Maestro are where I would start looking.

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by lactatinggirl 

So, assuming that my friend is right and she is indeed too tall for a convertible car seat, should she sit in a car seat that's too short for her or in a booster that she's too young for?

Neither:  she should sit in a combination (harness-to-booster) seat with adequate harness capacity.  The Britax Frontier85 will absolutely fit even a very tall 3yo -- it generally fits people up to about 4'6".

(And this is neither here nor there, but honestly, while the Britaxes are fine seats as far as they go, there is absolutely no reason to believe they are safer than any other seat on the market.)

[lactatinggirl]

If I remember correctly, the US only tests up to something around 55 mph, where as Europe (where Brtitax has been tested) goes at autoban speeds. That seems safer to me-at least for high way driving.

[TheGirls]

The Britax seats sold in the USA are not the same as their european seats.  Britax USA seats are made and tested to US standards

[an_aurora]

We have no way of knowing how they test their seats, and how their seats perform, since that information isn't available to the general public.  All we know is that they past the US federal requirements, just like all the other seats.  The only manufacturer that releases their testing data is Sunshine Kids.

[lactatinggirl]

I know this is an older thread, but I found some information that sheds some light on whether or not my friend's daughter is big enough for a booster. In my state (Utah), the law says as long as they meet the specifications for the booster seat it's fine http://www.utahsafetycouncil.org/assets/pdf/utboosterlaw.pdf

My friend's booster seat has a specification of at least 30 lbs, so she's big enough for it. 

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by lactatinggirl 

I know this is an older thread, but I found some information that sheds some light on whether or not my friend's daughter is big enough for a booster. In my state (Utah), the law says as long as they meet the specifications for the booster seat it's fine http://www.utahsafetycouncil.org/assets/pdf/utboosterlaw.pdf

My friend's booster seat has a specification of at least 30 lbs, so she's big enough for it. 

 But, just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.

[chickabiddy]

Oh, it must be an older Parkway.  The new ones have a 40# minimum.

Still, no 3yo should be in a booster.  Yes, she meets the minimums.  Most people want more than the bare minimum for their children.

[an_aurora]

Yes, a booster is not an appropriate choice for a three year old, no matter their size or maturity level.

[lactatinggirl]

She's not in a Parkway. Her seat is a Graco. 

I do agree that it's better to go for more than the minimum, but that's not my decision to make. I explained the situation to my friend and she is sticking with her seat. 

[chickabiddy]

You're right -- but it is your decision when you are transporting her.

[lactatinggirl]

And I'm buying a combo booster seat for my car.