5-point harness or booster?

[mom2amelia]

I'm trying to figure out what to do for dd's next seat. At the rate ds is growing (currently 8 weeks old), he'll get moved from his infant seat to her britax roundabout in the next few months.

So, dd is about 35 pounds and 39 inches tall. She ocasionally un-buckles her seat herself when we're driving, so I like to be able to put the safety lock over the buckle. I like the idea of keeping her in the 5-point for a while longer- which means getting a Britax Marathon, Wizard, or Husky. Anyone love of hate any of these seats? The Husky sounds huge, but 5-point harness until 80 pounds is amazing- but will dd really stay in one that long? The others are good to 65 pounds. Or there is always just going with a booster seat.

Any advice? Suggestions?
Thanks!

[callmemama]

We have the Husky. Ds is 5, about 45 lbs and 3'10" tall. The issue we had is that the seat belt in the car wasn't long enough to strap it in (we wanted it in the center of the back seat). Dh ordered a longer seatbelt and installed it himself, because the car manufacturer won't do it (that gave me some cause for concern!). Also, with ours being in the center position, it is too big for anyone to sit on either side and have the side-seatbelts positioned properly. Definitely worth taking some measurements or to try installing it in your car before you buy it.

[Trishy]

I have the Marathon and love it. FWIW my ds is just 3 months younger than your dd and I could not put him in a booster with a belt. A harnessed seat is much safer. He outgrew the Roundabout a couple of months ago and I moved him into the Marathon. I think it was a great investment because it can be harnessed up to 65 lbs and I know I will use it again with Joe.

[TiredX2]

What kind of car do you have, do you ever need to move your carseats & do you travel (by air)?

If you have a small car, need to move the seats or want to take the carseat on the airplane you will want to go with the Marathon or Wizard. Depending on how your windows are, you may also want to go with the Marathon/Wizard for that reason (the Husky sits lower down/not up on a base like the Roundabout/Wixard so a smaller child would not be able to see out the windows of many sedans. Mini-van should be fine).

With your youngest--- if it is a weight issue you need to move right away. Height guidelines on car seats are just that--- guidelines. As long as there is 1" between the top of baby's head and the plastic top of the carseat (not the cover) you are fine. If you go over that, independent of what the car seat directions say, baby needs to move up.

Do you plan on having additional children? If so, and you got DD the Marathon then when DS was ready to move into the Marathon (or #3 was ready for the Roundabout) you could decide what to do *then* (Husky type seat, belt-positioning booster, etc...). Depending on what your school choices are (if you are ride-sharring for preschool, etc...) you may need to buy a "regular" booster anyway.

As for the Marathon, IMO, it overestimates the height of a child able to fit into it. DD was sitting in one the other day. At 46" and 45lbs I considered her on the way out of it (I doubt she would make it to the 49") and she was fairly scrunched. Of course, her friend who is 40" and 50lbs fits in it fine... it is all about individual body type. DD *had* outgrown her Roundabout before she was three (and she was very average sized).

Especially given your family configuration (DD is the older child) I would go with a Marathon or Wizard. The Wizard is hypothetically safer but many children will not sit in it if they have not been used to it since a young age. Given the fact that DD has unbuckled herself while driving, I would *not* be willing to put her in a booster (which the child needs to sit upright in and not fidget or unbuckle to be safe in).

HTH,
Kay

[momsgotmilk4two]

We have a Marathon (well three Marathons, actually!) and we love it. It doesn't take up too much space in the car, only slightly more than the roundabout and it buys them an extra couple of years in a 5pt harness. The husky was just too big for our car, a minivan that needs to be able to fit three carseats. No way could you get three huskys in there. My oldest is 4.5 and weighs 41lbs and is, I believe 44 inches tall and we just moved it up to the top strap placement. I think he still has another year and a half or so in there before we'll need to get a booster.

[NoHiddenFees]

Originally Posted by mom2amelia

The Husky sounds huge, but 5-point harness until 80 pounds is amazing- but will dd really stay in one that long? The others are good to 65 pounds. Or there is always just going with a booster seat.

nakWe have a Huskey; almost moire like a kids car seat than a carseat. if you get my drift. Plush and comfortable. However, IIRC, some kids outgrow height-wise before weight-wise.

[supervee]

The Britax Bodyguard booster has lockdowns on each side so even if she unsnaps the belt lock, she'd be strapped in, if you use the (recommended) locking shoulder strap in your car. I imagine it's not as safe unlocked (!) but it would take away incentive to unlock it. Goes to 100 lbs. & has side-impact protection, too. DS never complained about the "wings" on this or the Wizard. The Bodyguard is tons lighter than the Wizard and like, too, if you have to move it often.

[Trishy]

A lockoff on a booster is only going to keep the belt from feeding out in a crash. It will NOT keep the booster against the seat in an accident if the vehicle seat belt is not buckled.

[MountainLovinMama]

A five-pt harness is far safer than a booster...we plan to keep our kids in the five-pt harness as long as possible! We have 2 marathons, and love them...

[USAmma]

I don't have a Britax, but my 4yo is in a 5 pt harness and will remain in it until she outgrows the harness. There's a reason why racecar drivers use 5pt harnesses-- because they are safer.

[Rebecca]

We just bought the Cosco Summit booster/car seat since we're in this same position. We have 2 marathons, but the baby will soon need to be in that one. The Summit is a 5 point harness that can convert to a belted booster later on. The Husky is just too huge and the wizard didn't look too comfy with the head braces. The summit was also the only booster that was reviewed on consumer reports (with a great rating) last time I checked. (costs less too).

[mom2amelia]

Thanks for all the responses! To answer the questions we are not planning on having any more kids. Ds is only about 15 pounds (at 2 months) so I think we have a few months to decide. We have a VW Passat Wagon- so a lot less space then a mini-van.

My daughter has ridden in her cousin's Marathon, with the straps on the highest setting- and I think that is the right setting for her, so I'm not sure how long she'd be in it heightwise. Anyone know if the wizard height is any height then the marathon?

We'll go to a good local shop to see what fits best in our car and what best fits her- but it is so nice to get info from other parents - not just the sales people.

[Trishy]

Here is a page with certain measurements of seats:

http://www.carseatdata.org/csnumbers.html

The Marathon has the tallest upper slots of all the convertible seats. There are a couple of forward facing only seats with higher harness slots. Your dd must be very long torsoed, ds is still on the third set of harness slots and should have a while before we move up.

[USAmma]

Originally Posted by Rebecca

We just bought the Cosco Summit booster/car seat since we're in this same position. We have 2 marathons, but the baby will soon need to be in that one. The Summit is a 5 point harness that can convert to a belted booster later on. The Husky is just too huge and the wizard didn't look too comfy with the head braces. The summit was also the only booster that was reviewed on consumer reports (with a great rating) last time I checked. (costs less too).

That's the one we have, too. Thanks for posting the model. I couldn't remember it. My tall 4yo still has plenty of room with the harness. It is a forward-facing only seat, not a convertible.

Darshani

[dallaschildren]

Everyone is correct in telling you a 5 point harness is safer than a booster that utilizes just the vehicle lap and shoulder. But no one mentioned why and you may be wondering. In a crash, a 5 point harness allows the crash forces to be distributed over 5 POINTS of the body vs. only 2 in a vehicle lap and shoulder. The more points of contact the forces have to distribute the "easier" it will be on the body. I highly recommend that we all keep our kids in a 5 point harness for as long as possible.
Another thing to consider is that your child may not be mentally or emotionally mature enough to stay seated and in the correct position if you put him/her in a booster seat. This in itself could cause problems. And lastly, have you "tested" your child to see if they are physically ready for a booster. Follow this link to make the determination. Good luck!

http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

[isosmom]

We've got a Passat Wagon too, and I've got dd in a Marathon and ds in her old Roundabout.
Dd is 3 and about 35 lbs and quite tall, and I think she'll fit into it for quite a while. Ds is 1 and almost 30 lbs! so who knows how long he'll fit in the Marathon (40 lbs, right?)
But they both fit just fine in the backseat of our wagon. Also, my mom's got the Cosco Summit a pp mentioned, and dd likes that also (it's about $200 cheaper) but I love my Britaxs

[dallaschildren]

I saw some posts that mentioned belt lock offs. Just a clarification: Belt lock-offs offer additional protection in a crash. The belt lock offs take the place of a locking clip. A locking clip or integrated belt lock off is to be used in vehicles that have both a free sliding latchplate and an emergency locking retractor to secure the CRS until the vehicle's belts take over. A free sliding latchplate does not lock. It freely slides up and down the vehicle belt, just as the name suggests. The emergency locking retractor (ELR for short) does what it name implies as well. It only locks in an emergency or sudden brake or stop. Until acted on by a strong force, the occupant can move freely back and forth and side to side. So you can see why using a booster with both an ELR and a free sliding latchplate does not offer the child much protection. The belt lock off and a locking clip HAVE to be used with any CRS...not just a booster seat... if your vehicle has the ELR and free sliding LP.
As for belt paths...this term is used to describe the slots or routes in which the vehicles belt is suppose to go through. It is also applicable to the CRS as well.


Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

[beanma]

we have a marathon and a roundabout in our vw golf (sometimes switch them out to our jetta). they both fit fine. if necessary (like somebody is really upset) i can kinda squeeze sideways between them. i'm happy with our marathon. i debated while pg with dd2 btwn the booster and the marathon or husky, but decided to go with the marathon and dd1 and i have both been very happy with it. dd1 is 50th percentile, or was last time she went to the dr and she's got one or two more shoulder slots to go in the marathon. i think she likes being up and being able to see out. she can interact well with dd2, too, since they're on the same level.

i recommend the marathon!

[TiredX2]

Dallaschildren---

Do you have a booster ready list?
The link you listed was if your child was ready to go from booster to seat, not carseat to booster.

TIA,
Kay

[dallaschildren]

Originally Posted by TiredX2

Dallaschildren---

Do you have a booster ready list?
The link you listed was if your child was ready to go from booster to seat, not carseat to booster.

TIA,
Kay

Kay...Can I say I had a mommy brain moment? Um, yeah...we weren't even discussing booster to vehicle seat were we? I have it in my head constantly because I see it EVERYWHERE. A child who goes straight to the vehicle restraint and they are not ready.
Ok, anyhow...you asked for a booster ready list...there may be one. I will search through my training manuals but honestly, I think the CRS weight guidelines are the indicator there. If one does not want or cannot afford a 5 point restraint with the high weight limits, then I think that when their child outgrows their present CRS, they go straight to the booster. For some CRS's it is 40 pounds, others like the Marathon or Wizard it is 65 pounds. The weight limit (and to a degree height limit) are the MAIN two guiding factors when going to a booster from a convertible CRS. Other things to consider is the temperment, personality, and emotionally maturity of the child.

One thing I did not mention is to be sure you choose the appropriate type of booster. There is the backless and high back. Remember that if your vehicle seats do not have a high back/headrest combo, it is best practice to use the highback booster. And the ooposite applies to the backless. If your vehicle has a high backed seat with headrest, then a backless booster is perfectly acceptable.

Good catch Tiredx2.

DC
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats