big kid

[Zan&Zav]

My son is 4'11" and 85 lbs. He is six years old. What if any type of seat should he be in.

[chickabiddy]

Probably a backless booster, if you have adequate vehicle head support (headrests or high seat backs) to the tops of his ears.  The Harmony Literider and Evenflo Amp are likely to fit him well.

[Maedze]

If you can find one a Sunshine Kids Santa Fe (basically, the bottom portion of the Sunshine Kids' Monterey), also fits large kids well.  (Keep in mind, that even though he's tall, he still has the bone/pelvic development of a six year old and needs the protection of the artificial hips of a booster).

(Nice genes there, by the way!)  

[One_Girl]

Height and weight wise it sounds like he doesn't need any booster.  Does he pass a 5 point test though?  If not then a booster seat should be fine. 

[Maedze]

As I explained above, he still does need a booster (and it's quite possible that he's legally required to be in one.  But either way, yup, should continue to use one.)
 

Originally Posted by One_Girl 

Height and weight wise it sounds like he doesn't need any booster.  Does he pass a 5 point test though?  If not then a booster seat should be fine. 

[chickabiddy]

A booster does more than position the belts.  Post-pubertal hip bones are hard and sharp and help keep the lap belt in place.  For young children (the OP's child is a big guy, but his bones are still those of a 6yo), the armrests of a booster act as artificial hips to hold the lap belt down and absorb crash forces.  It would be best for him to be in a booster even if it isn't legally required.

[Zan&Zav]

thanks ladies :) that is what i have him in now, a backless booster. He finds it uncomfortable and says the sides press on his hips. I'm off now to google the types that were mentioned.

[Zan&Zav]

so he does pass the five point test, and the belt and shoulder belt sit well without a booster but hes so young i feel like he should be in something. It's to funny, his brother is 4 almost 5 and still in a big 5 point harness seat. He is only 35 lbs. They are soooo differant.

[chickabiddy]

Right, as explained above, a 6yo really should be in a booster.  Which booster do you have now that he finds uncomfortable?  I've had some pretty big kids in my Harmony Literider and none of them complained.

[Zan&Zav]

Its a walmart one, i got it on sale for about 15$. He said the sides dig into his hips. He has a huge frame, he's not fat but he is big boned. What is the cost like on the one you have? I'm a single mama on a budget but I have to find something he is comfortable AND safe in.

[Maedze]

It sounds like you probably got a Cosco Ambassador ("Walmart One" doesn't really narrow it down, LOL, but 15 sounds about right for an Ambassador on sale.)  

The Harmony Lite Rider is 13.50.  You could try that.  

Originally Posted by Zan&Zav 

Its a walmart one, i got it on sale for about 15$. He said the sides dig into his hips. He has a huge frame, he's not fat but he is big boned. What is the cost like on the one you have? I'm a single mama on a budget but I have to find something he is comfortable AND safe in.

[Marissamom]

make sure you take him with you and sit him in the booster to make sure he does have some grow room in it. 

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by Zan&Zav 

Its a walmart one, i got it on sale for about 15$. He said the sides dig into his hips. He has a huge frame, he's not fat but he is big boned. What is the cost like on the one you have? I'm a single mama on a budget but I have to find something he is comfortable AND safe in.

Harmony Literider is $13.50 at WalMart, and it comes in a camo pattern if he likes that.

[One_Girl]

Originally Posted by Maedze 

As I explained above, he still does need a booster (and it's quite possible that he's legally required to be in one.  But either way, yup, should continue to use one.)
 

I was posting to the OPs question not to your response.  I go by what my dd's doctor says for medical things and according to her pediatrician kids need the booster until they pass the 5 point test. 

The stringent laws I have heard of say 8 or 80 pounds, many states have much laxer laws so legally the OP is probably fine.  

OP: You can pick up cheap boosters that go up to 100 pounds from WalMart, Shopko, Fred Meyer, etc...  If you want your son to sit in it for a couple more years though you might want to go with something that has a higher weight limit and possibly a wider seat just in case he shoots up quickly but you still want him in the booster.  These go up to 120 pounds and you may be able to use it for your next child also.

http://thefrontier85.info/baby-in-car-seat-britax-frontier-85-combination-booster-car-seat-rushmore/

[chickabiddy]

The OP wrote that budget was a consideration.  The $13.50 booster that Maezde and I recommended is probably a more practical choice than a $250 harnessed seat.

[LynnS6]

Carseat.org has a discussion board nad some of the boosters have measurements:

Of the backless ones, the Graco Turbo-booster seemes to have the widest internal seat area  (disclaimer: I've seen it listed as 11" and as 12"). The Evenflo Big kid comes next. I would NOT recommend the Harmony Literider as it's only got 10" interior width.

Graco Turbobooster (backless): Seat base: 16"; Interior Seat Width 12" ($19-$20 online; in-stores)

Evenflo BigKid: External Base Width: 16 in; Internal Seating Width: 11.25 in ($25-$30 online/Target in-store)

Harmony Literider (backless):  Seat base: 17"; Internal Base Seating Width: 10 in. ($13.50 at Walmart)

There are a fair number of seats in the 11" range, but these are the most inexpensive ones.

If you've got a bigger budget, or simply can't fit him into any of the above, there are some that are wider:

Clek Ozzi : External Base Width: 18 in.; Internal Base Seating Width: 13.13 in.  ($70)

Recaro ProBosster: External Base Width 15.5; Internal Base Seating Width: 14 in. ($109 -- note this is a high backed booster that goes to 120 lbs and 61")

First Years Compass B505: External Base Width: 19 in; Internal Base Seating Width: 13 in. ($55 -- another high backed booster; it goes to 100 lbs. and 57")
 

[Maedze]

Unfortunately, pediatricians are rarely trained in up-to-date, accurate car seat information.  The 5-step test is important, and a child should never go without a booster if he/she doesn't pass that 5 step test, but the development of the bones and hips is also important, so no six year old should go without a booster  at all, regardless of size, unless the child is so enormous that the booster actually makes the belt fit WORSE rather than BETTER.    CPST here, and we tend to regularly trump pediatricians with car seat information   (including my kids' own doctor, who defers to me in all matters car seat and has actually requested my input on her own children!) 

Regardless of the laws, it is not 'fine' for a six year old to be without a booster, nor should that be a benchmark for determining whether or not it is safe. 

Originally Posted by One_Girl 

I was posting to the OPs question not to your response.  I go by what my dd's doctor says for medical things and according to her pediatrician kids need the booster until they pass the 5 point test. 

The stringent laws I have heard of say 8 or 80 pounds, many states have much laxer laws so legally the OP is probably fine.  

OP: You can pick up cheap boosters that go up to 100 pounds from WalMart, Shopko, Fred Meyer, etc...  If you want your son to sit in it for a couple more years though you might want to go with something that has a higher weight limit and possibly a wider seat just in case he shoots up quickly but you still want him in the booster.  These go up to 120 pounds and you may be able to use it for your next child also.

http://thefrontier85.info/baby-in-car-seat-britax-frontier-85-combination-booster-car-seat-rushmore/

[Maedze]

There is more to booster fit than just the internal measurements, although it's a good place to start!  How the armrests fit is a huge part of whether it will fit a child well.   The Graco Turbobooster isn't a great bet (although not impossible) for a larger child, because of the fixed, upright armrests.  That's why I didn't suggest it.    The LiteRider, in comparison, has very low and flared out armrests...better for generous hips.

Due to the child's height, he is not going to fit in the Compass booster (nor is it a sure bet for safe lap belt fit).    The Clek Ozzi is also likely to be too shallow, and he most probably won't fit in the Recaro booster either.   At 4'11, it's likely the only seat he would fit in in high back booster mode is the Britax Frontier 85, but I think that's well out of the OP's price range. 

Originally Posted by LynnS6 

Carseat.org has a discussion board nad some of the boosters have measurements:

Of the backless ones, the Graco Turbo-booster seemes to have the widest internal seat area  (disclaimer: I've seen it listed as 11" and as 12"). The Evenflo Big kid comes next. I would NOT recommend the Harmony Literider as it's only got 10" interior width.

Graco Turbobooster (backless): Seat base: 16"; Interior Seat Width 12" ($19-$20 online; in-stores)

Evenflo BigKid: External Base Width: 16 in; Internal Seating Width: 11.25 in ($25-$30 online/Target in-store)

Harmony Literider (backless):  Seat base: 17"; Internal Base Seating Width: 10 in. ($13.50 at Walmart)

There are a fair number of seats in the 11" range, but these are the most inexpensive ones.

If you've got a bigger budget, or simply can't fit him into any of the above, there are some that are wider:

Clek Ozzi : External Base Width: 18 in.; Internal Base Seating Width: 13.13 in.  ($70)

Recaro ProBosster: External Base Width 15.5; Internal Base Seating Width: 14 in. ($109 -- note this is a high backed booster that goes to 120 lbs and 61")

First Years Compass B505: External Base Width: 19 in; Internal Base Seating Width: 13 in. ($55 -- another high backed booster; it goes to 100 lbs. and 57")