Britax Frontier doesn't fit our car - please reassure me booster seats are safe for 5 year olds.

[dot1]

I drive a Ford Focus wagon.  dh a Nissan SUV.  In my car, DD1 (age 5) has a Radian ff in the middle seat, DD2 (5 months) an infant Chicco keyfit 22 on the outboard.  The kids mostly ride with me in the car, however once I return to work in the fall, they will be riding in both vehicles.  We also have a Britax Marathon for DD1 in my dh's SUV.  This Britax also fits in my ford focus (with the radian and chicco)...allowing me to transport one of DD1's shorter friends if needed.  

DD1 is about to outgrow the Britax Marathon (which will be passed on to DD2....we think...) and we would like to get her another seat to use in dh's vehicle.  So I was all gung how about the new Britax Frontier and it's super tall harness slots....and I tried my friend's in our Ford Focus wagon next to the radian and the chicco (hoping I could fit it in and be able to transport 3 kids!).  Unfortunately, it did not fit and I could not close the door!  It's freakin huge!!!  I really want to keep the radian in the middle seat...as it allows for a seat and passenger on either side (the Britax doesn't) and it's a PITA to move.

So....I don't know what to do.  Options include:

1.  Buy another radian (but it will probably be outgrown in a year or 2)

2.  Buy the Britax Frontier (and lose the ability to have 3 in the backseat of either vehicle) and be in a 5 point harness longer

3.  Buy a high backed booster with narrow profile.  DD1 is generally pretty cooperative and safety conscious (she ensures her harness is bucked tightly and correctly.  She doesn't normally fall asleep in the car anymore.

Is there any evidence that beyond age 5, that 5 point harnesses are safer than boosters?  

If you'd go for a booster, please suggest a brand that's on the narrow side (my kids are long and lean).  I'm a rookie to boosters!!!

I'm losing sleep over this.  Thank you!!!!

[dot1]

http://www.tjskids.com/sunshine-kids-monterey-booster-travel-silver-p-9240.html

This is on sale for $120 right now - recommend?

[DahliaRW]

If your child is mature enough to sit properly in the seatbelt all the time, then no, there is no documented safety advantage to a harness over a booster at that age.

The other option is to use the frontier, but also invest in a cheap booster (high back turbo would be my suggestion) to use when you need 3 across.

The monterrey is a great booster, but the belt fit isn't always great on narrow shouldered kids.  So buy with a good return policy or try before buying.

[chickabiddy]

5yos are often able to use boosters correctly.  If yours can, it's a safe and appropriate choice.

However, in tight three-across situations, harnessed seats are often much easier to use than boosters.  They may be a PITA to install, but once they're in, they're in.  Boosters need to be buckled each and every time, and when they're tightly crammed against the other seats, it's not quick or easy to buckle.  (And the Monterey is a very nice booster, but it's also a very wide one.  I don't think it's your best choice here.)

I'd look at the Evenflo SecureKid seats.  The harnesses are about 1.5"-2" taller than the Marathon, so they will definitely give a 5yo another year or two at the least in the harness, and then it converts to a decent booster.  And they are fairly narrow seats and might work in a three-across.

[dot1]

Thank you!  Good to know about the Monterry - our girls are both narrow in the shoulders and hips.

I can see the boosters getting buckled in being a big PITA in our vehicles.  And I can also see my dh not paying attention to the seatbelt positioning (I've only just got him and my dd trained on the harness positioning and tightening :-) ) so I would like to prolong the 5 pt. harness as long as possible.

And thanks for the tip on the Evenflo SecureKids seat.  Unfortunately I can't find a retailer carrying it in Canada currently.

Our local retailers suck as far as seat selection goes; however I am making a big trip out of town at the beginning of April and would like to try them out when I'm there.

I looked into the radian more (I have what was formerly the Sunshine Kids Radian Premier and the top harness slot is 1" higher than my Britax Marathon (65).  I noticed, however that the new Diono Radian R100 actually converts to a booster....so I'm thinking I may get that, since I know it will fit in both vehicles.  It doesn't look like it offers much in the way of side impact protection to the head.  Any thoughts on the R100? Are the harness slots higher than the Sunshine kids Radians were?  According to this chart, the R100 has a half inch more of harness height than the other Radians.  Is this true?  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvfUm4x64h3AdHpYd2k4RlQ1TnhUSGx4VEZaY09KUXc&hl=en#gid=0  

 Or how about the evenflo maestro? http://www.toysrus.ca/product/index.jsp?productId=11755093  Or would I be better off with a Radian that is narrower?  Price isn't an issue and I like the Radian, other than how heavy it is.  Just not sure how it performs as a booster.  

Thx again wise carseat gurus!

[alegna]

IMO the radian is useless as a booster- when it is outgrown harnessed it is outgrown as a booster.

[dot1]

Thanks Alegna - you may have saved me $300!  Just wondering what the issues are with the Radian as a booster? (eg is it bad buckle routing, height, etc.)

[Maedze]

It's outgrown in booster mode when it's outgrown in harness mode.  There's just no point to having it as a booster seat.  It's like saying, "My vacuum is also a key hanger!".  Um.  Why?  LOL. 

And, it doesn't position the belt that well or comfortably either. 
 

Originally Posted by dot1 

Thanks Alegna - you may have saved me $300!  Just wondering what the issues are with the Radian as a booster? (eg is it bad buckle routing, height, etc.)