When a carseat should fit a child but seems to be too small

[Caneel]

I am struggling with/feeling uncomfortable with my son's carseat.  It is a Britax Frontier.

DS is 7yo, 52" tall and weighs 70 pounds.  He is at the top of the charts.  He is very solid but not chubby.

He seems to be WAY too big for his seat yet by Britax's own charts, he has plenty of room to grow before he gets too big for it.

For example, it looks like he can't sit all the way back in it, like his legs hang off the front so much, the weight is pulling his butt forward.

Has anyone experienced something like this, when by all measures the seat should be fine but your DC looks too big for it?

I thought I would keep this seat until he grew out of if but I am considering replacing it with a high back booster.

[chickabiddy]

Well,  the Frontier is one of the widest seats on the market, but it is entirely possible that a very solid 7yo may feel confined in it.  The height and weight maximums are determined using test dummies, and test dummies don't have to be comfortable in the seats. :)  (The Recaro ProRide has a 70# limit, but I can't imagine ANY 70# child who would fit in it.  And there are other seats that kids typically outgrow before they hit the maxes.)

That being said, a belt-positioning booster is a fine, safe, and appropriate choice for a typical 7yo child.  I would suggest the Diono Monterey:  it is nice and wide and roomy on the inside.

[Caneel]

Thanks for the feedback.  I was actually looking at that Recaro yesterday (in someone's car) and didn't know that it had a 70# weight limit.  I will cross that off the list.

I have two of those Montererys, one for my car and one for my mom's car.  What sort of drives me nuts about the one in my car is the wings don't stay closes so it ends up being too roomy.  I am constantly looking in the mirror to see my DS leaning over or moving around in a way that causes the seat belt to get out of position. 

[chickabiddy]

The Recaro ProSport has a 70# limit, the Recaro ProRide has a 90# limit.  Neither will actually fit kids who are close to those weights.

Sorry about your Monterey.  Is it still under warranty?  You could call the compant.