Car Seat Help!!! Please Read!!!

[brookely ash]

Hi!

Thanks for opening this thread...

I have a 6 yo who weighs about 50 lbs - we have a car that only has lap belts in the back. Is there a car seat that is made for kids over 40lbs to use a 5 point harness?

I found this on sale this week @ Target - but I haven't been in to look at it. My dad is going there today, but I need more info for him before he goes.

Has anyone seen this Cosco car seat? I cannot tell whether or not you can use the 5 peice harness for kids over 40 lbs.

Car Seat


THANKS!!!!

[LadyWulf]

I haven't seen that exact seat but i do know that my step daughter is still in a 5pt harness seat and she is right at 50lbs now. Hers still fits her fine.

[etoilech]

I would post this on iVillage's "Car Seat Board". You'll probably get a quick definite answer from a tech. They are good about these things there.



Olivia

[alegna]

Our Wizard (Britax) goes to 65 lbs. There's another Britax that does too... Marathon I believe. They are full-fledged car seats with 5-point harnesses. I don't know how fast your kiddo is growing, but it should last you a year or so I'd think.

Oh! Also there's the Britax Husky (which I hear is pretty big...) but does have a 5 point harness for up to 80lbs!

-Angela

[sweetfeet]

That Cosco seat only harnesses to 40 pounds. The only carseats that currently harness past the 40 pound mark are
Britax Marathon to 65 pounds
Britax Wizard to 65 pounds. Same frame as marathon but has added side impact protection.
Britax Husky to 80 pounds.
Nania Airway to 50 pounds and discontinued.
You could also check on Ebay for the discontinued Britax Laptop which was a booster type seat made for lap only belts and larger children. They are hard to find though.
To Lady Wolf. Unless your step daughter is in one of the above mentioned seats she does not fit "fine".She is playing the role of test dummy because the seats in the US aside from the above are only rated to 40.999 pounds. I would double check what seat she is in and put her in a weight/height/age appropriate seat right away. If she is in one of the above disregard.

[sarahmae1]

sweetfeet is correct. Once they are 40lbs. you can't use the harness on most carseats (except those she mentioned). I will be having to take my ds1 out of his harness very soon because he is 38-39lbs. and we can't afford the Britax seats. Babycenter also has carseat techs that post on their car safety board.

[isosmom]

I've got this car seat in my mom's car for dd. She's almost 40 lbs and quite tall. I beleive this car has been rated very well by Consumer Reports, that's why I got it. It works as a 5-point harness and then when the kid is bigger you can use it as a booster.

[sweetfeet]

You can only use it as a booster though if you have lap/shoulder belts and not lap only. So that seat wouldn't work for the OP.

[brookely ash]

Thanks for all you help guys. i have been searching around - looks like the britax may be our only option....

But they are soooo expensive...




i don't know what to do!

[sweetfeet]

You can try to contact the cars service center and seeing if they can retrofit a shoulder belt for your car. I hear that it is expensive though. I bought my Britax marathon at www.bestbuybaby.com I know they are expensive but at least it is $40 cheaper then MSRP and $5 shipping. I'm getting Sophie a husky next month and I just saw that they have free shipping on that seat. I got my seat within 4 days when I ordered before.

[brookely ash]

Thanks so much for your help, Meghan. The bummer is that we have an old car and we really don't think its going to last much longer, so retro fitting would be a waste - but then again, we can't really afford a new car seat! and we need it pronto....

We may just have to starve for a bit to afford this seat....

thanks again.

[sweetfeet]

I'm glad that I could help. I feel like I was just the bearer of bad news.

[Simplicity]

Just a random tip if you order a Britax or any other car seat online... Check and see if places that offer free shipping price match. I know of a few places that do online! It helps even if you save only $10.00 or so!

[Kirsten]

We have the Britax Wizard and really, really love it!!!! I asked my MIL for it as a Xmas gift. Do you have any relatives who may give you money to go towards it as an early birthday gift?