Dallaschildrens Car Seat Safety Tip # 1..............

[dallaschildren]

Did you know that seat belts, car seats, and air bags are all considered "one-time" use products? After a crash they should be replaced. However, if your crash was minor (such as a fender bender), exclusions do apply.
You must speak up....most insurance companies will NOT tell you this...it is up to you to demand replacements.

CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats
*Making a difference one car seat at a time*

[water]

Hey dallaschildren, I have a question (ok several )for you...do you know what (or if) there is a law in California about when to move your child to a booster seat? I feel like I've read 4 years OR 40 pounds, but maybe I"m wrong? I can't find this info on the internet.

Also, my ds is outgrowing his Costco Alpha Omega seat height-wise; the instructions say to start using as a booster after a certain height that he has already reached. He is not quite 3 yo though, and I don't feel comfortable having a 2 yo just use a booster even if he is tall enough! He is also about 37 pounds right now, so soon he would even "fit" a booster weight-wise.

So my question is: should I just put him in a booster, like everyone around me keeps pressuring me to do, or should I get another carseat with a higher weight/height limit...which brings me to my third question....is the Britax Marathon really my only choice of car seat that will fit a tall/big kid like this, or do you know of anything cheaper?

Thanks so much!!!

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by water

Hey dallaschildren, I have a question (ok several )for you...do you know what (or if) there is a law in California about when to move your child to a booster seat? I feel like I've read 4 years OR 40 pounds, but maybe I"m wrong? I can't find this info on the internet.

Also, my ds is outgrowing his Costco Alpha Omega seat height-wise; the instructions say to start using as a booster after a certain height that he has already reached. He is not quite 3 yo though, and I don't feel comfortable having a 2 yo just use a booster even if he is tall enough! He is also about 37 pounds right now, so soon he would even "fit" a booster weight-wise.

So my question is: should I just put him in a booster, like everyone around me keeps pressuring me to do, or should I get another carseat with a higher weight/height limit...which brings me to my third question....is the Britax Marathon really my only choice of car seat that will fit a tall/big kid like this, or do you know of anything cheaper?

Thanks so much!!!

Hey Water,

I will search for info for you on CA's law on the booster and get back with you. In the meantime, let me see if I can answer your other questions. I was in the same predicament as you when my DS # 1 was around 2-3 years of age. He reached the weight and height limits of his seats LONG before IMO, he was emotionally mature enough. There was no way I was going to put him in a booster at 2-3 years old...so he went from a Britax Roundabout to a Marathon and then as soon as the Husky was released, we bought that one and foresee him being in that for quite awhile. I have since had another DS and he is now 8 months. He is over 25 pounds so we bypassed the Roundabout this time and he went straight to the Marathon.
I have mentioned this before on other threads, but it bears repeating so if you've read it already, I am sorry.
Many parents ask me what is the BEST car seat on the market. My answer is the best seat is one in which FITS your child, FITS your vehicle, and one in which you will use CORRECTLY every time.
Britax is expensive, however if you can afford it, it will offer you the best bang for your buck. It has many features unique to it, and the simple fact it is a 5 point restraint with such high weight limits, is worth it's weight in gold IMO. The Britax line is especially perfect for people like us that have HUGE kids who are too young to be placed in a booster. The longer you keep your kiddos in a 5 point restraint, the better. A 5 point restraint offers much better upper body protection than if you were to use a vehicles lap/shoulder at your DS's young age.
Unfortunately we are somewhat penalized by the car seat manufacturing market for having big kids at young ages. There is not presently any other car seat than the Marathon or the Husky that has that high of a weight limit utilizing a 5 point restraint (there is one but it is categorized as a special needs seat and I believe they stopped making it).
The Marathon goes up to 65 pounds and the Husky goes up to 80 pounds. The biggest difference between the two besides the weight limit difference is that the Marathon is a CONVERTIBLE seat (goes from RF to FF) where as the Husky is FF ONLY.
Please check out the link below and it will give you many more details on car seats out there, then I have room to type. Click on car seat information (convertible or combination). Let me know if you need anymore help. Thanks for being so conscientious about car seat safety. It is wonderful to see this! You are GREAT!

http://www.cpsafety.com/default.aspx

[homeschoolmommyof1]

Originally Posted by dallaschildren

Did you know that seat belts, car seats, and air bags are all considered "one-time" use products? After a crash they should be replaced. However, if your crash was minor (such as a fender bender), exclusions do apply.
You must speak up....most insurance companies will NOT tell you this...it is up to you to demand replacements.

CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats
*Making a difference one car seat at a time*

You are sooo right. I had wreck a few yrs ago with my son in the car and wanted a new car seat- I was told since it was not a very bad wreck I would not get a new car seat...well, let me tell you- I took that car seat to the insurance agency and stood in that office for about an hour and told them that I was NOT going to leave until they agree to buy me a new one.
They finally told me to go and get a new one and bring them the receipt
You have to stand up for what is right and for the safety of your children.

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by homeschoolmommyof1

You are sooo right. I had wreck a few yrs ago with my son in the car and wanted a new car seat- I was told since it was not a very bad wreck I would not get a new car seat...well, let me tell you- I took that car seat to the insurance agency and stood in that office for about an hour and told them that I was NOT going to leave until they agree to buy me a new one.
They finally told me to go and get a new one and bring them the receipt
You have to stand up for what is right and for the safety of your children.

Good for you Tina. Way to stand up for what's right. I am glad your wreck wasn't serious. Ignoring people's safety in order to make more money is part of the insurance game. No one will look out for you but you.

[wendygrace]

dallaschildren, you mentioned that the Britax Marathon and the Husky are the only ones that go up that high but what about the Britax Wizard? Doesn't that one go up that high (higher?) as well?

[water]

Thanks so much dallaschildren! I think that is what we will need to do then, get a Marathon, and then do some seat juggling. We are having another baby in the fall and it will go in my ds's infant seat (aka "baby bucket :LOL) and then when it gets too long (my ds was too long at about 8 months) into the alpha omega rear facing until my ds is ready for a booster, whenever that is...I guess I would feel ok with that at some point past age four...

Just thinking out loud...thanks for the info!!!

[dallaschildren]

Yes Wendygrace,

You are correct...I should have said the Britax line in general as even their boosters have high weight limits. My mindset was to talk about the Marathon since that was the one the PP mentioned and the Wizard is new.
The Wizard also goes to 65 pounds. The only major difference between the Marathon and the Wizard is the "wings" or side impact protection on the Wizard. And I do believe the Wizard has a different type of ratchet or belt tightening system as well. I looked at a Wizard the other day and I see two potential problems with it: One, if you have a kiddo with a big head or neck, they may be very uncomfortable in the Wizard. It looks like a neck brace. Also, it would be very difficult if not impossible for your child to look out the window when in the Wizard. That could be the deal breaker for some folks. Kids are entranced about outside and most times that is the only thing that keeps them happy and quiet. BUT, the more protection, the better. I personally would not use the Wizard because of the reasons I stated above.

CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats
Making a difference one car seat at a time.

[dallaschildren]

Water,

I found a contact for you in California. Contact Lisa Hershey. She is the coordinator of the California Department of Health Services.

EMail: Lhershey @ dhs.ca.gov (REMOVE THE SPACES; I inserted them to prevent spammers)
Phone: [phone]

Good luck!

CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats
Making a difference one car seat at a time.

[dallaschildren]

Water,

If she is not of help, then I found one more thing for you.

NHTSA Region IX (includes CA, AZ, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands)
Phone: [phone]
They are in San Francisco.
**When I refer to NHTSA, it is the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration.


CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats
Making a difference one car seat at a time.

[dallaschildren]

Bump...last one...I swear....