Help me decide... is the Frontier worth it in this situation?

[StephandOwen]

Here's the rundown.... DS is 7 years old, approximately 55lbs. He has autism and, on good days, will sit appropriately as long as he can (10-15 minutes trips around town). On bad days.... he wouldn't hesitate to unbuckle and jump out of my car driving 70mph

In my car he is in a Regent (just moved him to the top harness height) that expires next spring (spring 2012).

In my dh's car he is in a Nautilus (harnessed mode, top harness slot, will outgrow that probably this summer or early fall).

We also have a Turbobooster that we let him ride in randomly, when one of us can sit in the backseat with him to constantly remind him to sit the right way (to practice booster sitting with him).

We drive to Michigan (from Kentucky- approximately 7 hours each way) every other month. He often falls asleep during these trips since we drive mostly in the evening/night time.

When we bought the Nautilus I had every intention of moving him to booster mode when he outgrew the harness mode. But now that he's so close, I'm not convinced he's ready. He might be okay for short trips around town, but definitely not on longer trips or whenever he's agitated.

I am also due with a baby in October, which has us worried about how ds will react to that. He could totally flip out and regress, or he could be fine.

So now I'm considering purchasing the Frontier to use in dh's car until next spring when my Regent expires. Then I'll move the Frontier to my car (that's the car ds travels in the most) and put ds in the Nautilus (booster mode) in dh's car. DS would be about 8 1/2 by that time. Then we would just move the Frontier to whatever car we're using for the long trips so that he's harnessed for long trips.

The other plan is to move ds to booster mode in the Nautilus this summer and then, when the Regent expires, move him to the Parkway (the SecureGuard is a huge selling point for me and, in his situation, I think is something we really need).

I took ds to the store and tried him in the Frontier and it looks like he's got a good couple inches from the top harness slot to his shoulder right now so he's got some growing room to go.

Right now albeebaby has the Frontier on sale for $210 and I can get free shipping.

[~Amy~]

I wouldn't hesitate to get a Frontier in that situation. Seems like a great option for your family.

[alegna]

Just try installing it first.  The belt install for the frontier can be a PITA.  If it works in the cars you need it to work in, I'd probably do it in your shoes.

-Angela

[chickabiddy]

Chances are that if a Regent installs okay, a Frontier *probably* will as well.

[alegna]

Probably  :)  I have more trouble installing the frontier than the regent, but I'm installing them in different vehicles.  They do have similar issues - often short belt path won't work [I have an old regent that allows both] and the long belt path takes every available bit of belt and you have to sit in the seat and bounce to get it to buckle at all...   ;)

-Angela

[BathrobeGoddess]

What about the vest thing and a booster? Can you do those together, techs...It sounds like she will need something quite long term...

[DahliaRW]

I believe you can use the ezon harness with some boosters.  But not the ride safer travel vest.

[MacKinnon]

I'm quite sure that the Frontier is a harder install than the Regent. It's like wrestling with a beast in many cars! But, that said, I think in your case it might well be worth both the cost and inconvenience. However, you might want to consider something like an EZ-ON or SafeRider vest that you could use for a longer time.

[treqi]

IMO the only good install on the Frontier is the LATCH install, if you overlook the slit in the cover that you can pull the tightening strap through to get a good angle it's very near impossible.

[MamieCole]

Originally Posted by treqi 

IMO the only good install on the Frontier is the LATCH install, if you overlook the slit in the cover that you can pull the tightening strap through to get a good angle it's very near impossible.

I have a frontier installed w/seatbelt in our car. It was an easy to get a solid install first time. 

Just goes to show how different people can have very different experiences w/the same seat. :)

[Thandiwe]

I would buy the Frontier if I were you.  Why take a chance, y'know?  Sounds like you've found a good deal.

[StephandOwen]

Thanks everyone! I ended up ordering it last night because we found a deal where I got it for $178 (with free shipping). I had to have it shipped to my mom's house, 2 states away, though. So we won't actually get it to use until the end of June, but that's okay. When we get it we will put it in dh's car (replacing the Nautilus) until next spring, when we'll move it to my car (to replace my Regent that expires next spring). By then ds will be 8 1/2 and, hopefully, riding in a booster safely for short trips. We will switch the Frontier to whatever car we're using for long trips so that he's not taking any long trips in the booster though.