I need a convertible seat that turns into a booster

[riversong]

Dd is currently in a Britax Roundabout, but she'll outgrow the height limit soon. (I never should've bought the Roundabout in the first place, but I didn't even think about the height limit back then.) She's only 3.5 y.o., so I definitely don't want her in a booster yet. I'd like to find a seat that has a 5 point harness we can use until she's big/old enough for a booster, and then turn the seat into a booster. I found two online. Does anyone know how safe these are? TIA for any opinions!

http://store.babycenter.com/product/...brand&asc=true

http://store.babycenter.com/product/...brand&asc=true

[thepeach80]

First, you want a combination seat, not a convertible. Second, neither of those is a good option. You might look at the Apex. http://www.albeebaby.com/sa1stap65bos.html They must've finally sold out of the cheap ones, so you might look around for a better price. You HAVE to have a headrest, or high backed seat w/ this one though, but it harnesses to 65# and then turns into a booster. You might look into a convertible seat though, just b/c you're going to have more options for a seat that harnesses past 40# (will give you more height). Seats like the Radian 65 or the Britax Regent.

ETA: Here's the cheap Apex. http://www.albeebaby.com/sa1stsibiboc.html

[alegna]

Yep. As mentioned those are poor choices. The Apex might be okay. In your shoes I would get a regent.

-Angela

[cutekid]

IMO I would go with one of the new Evenflo seats. Inexpensive and higher weight limit in the harness. Both the Titan and Triumph now go to 50lbs..although the harness height is lower on the titan.
While these are not combination seats you could get at least two years from these seats and want need a booster until then.
If you go with any combo seat except the APEX 65 you will be putting your DC in a booster at 40lbs. Not worth the price. You an get a good high back booster from around $50.

HTH.

Denise

[iluvbnamomma]

Here are the two that i have been checking out:

http://www.littlebabyshoes.com/677261066220.html
or
http://www.safeguardseat.com/go/index.htm

I think they are about the same cost. It looks like the radian goes up to 49" with the harness and the safeguard goes up to 52". Both are harness seats until 60-65 lbs

Anyone know anything about either of these? Which one would you reccommend?

Thanks for asking this question. You read my mind Riversong.

[thepeach80]

There are several of us here that have the Radian, myself included. You'll get many opinions on it. I really like ours for the most part and it works well in our van and for my oldest. I've head the GO is a pitb when using it on a daily basis. You might check out www.car-seat.org for more opinions.

[alegna]

The radian is a good seat. The *only* real problem is that it can be difficult or even impossible to install in some cars.

-Angela

[iluvbnamomma]

Thanks for the site recommendation. The radian looks pretty good to me.

[riversong]

Thanks for the opinions. The Radian looks good. For those of you who have one- Do your kids find it comfortable? Would it install easily into a bucket seat in a minivan? We have a 2006 Sienna.

[cutekid]

My DS loves his Radian. I have asked him how he feels after a long ride and he doesn't have any complaints.

As for installation, if you have LATCH it shouldn't be an issue to install. I haven't heard of any complication installing it this way. However, you may experience difficulty with installation if you are using a seat belt.

I HTH.

Denise

[riversong]

Thanks! That helps. We have LATCH.

[CTH3989]

The car seat we are thinking of getting our DS is the Cosco Alpha Omega Elite Convertible car seat. It goes up to 100lbs. $149.88. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3932620

Chelci

[Erin+babyAndrew]

Originally Posted by CTH3989

The car seat we are thinking of getting our DS is the Cosco Alpha Omega Elite Convertible car seat. It goes up to 100lbs. $149.88. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3932620

Chelci

unless your child is incredibly tiny, he/she will likely outgrow the harness on that seat by height by 3 years of age. this is *nowhere* near old enough to ride in it as a belt positioning booster. this seat is really good for a rear facing child, since it is rated to 35 lbs rfing, but other than that it is a terrible choice for a ffing seat, and it makes a really bad booster.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by Erin+babyAndrew

unless your child is incredibly tiny, he/she will likely outgrow the harness on that seat by height by 3 years of age. this is *nowhere* near old enough to ride in it as a belt positioning booster. this seat is really good for a rear facing child, since it is rated to 35 lbs rfing, but other than that it is a terrible choice for a ffing seat, and it makes a really bad booster.

:

And rear facing I would expect most kids to outgrow it by height before 35lbs.

Waste of money. I wouldn't get one.

-Angela

[Tofu the Geek]

Originally Posted by riversong

Thanks! That helps. We have LATCH.

At some point you will have to do a seatbelt install. Currently, lower anchors in vehicles can only be used up to 40/48 pounds (depending on vehicle), and when your child is above that weight, you will have to change the install to a seatbelt. So, you need to make sure that the seat installs in your vehicle well with the seatbelt too.

The only time you wouldn't need to move to a seatbelt install is if your child outgrows the seat by height before they hit the latch weight limit for your vehicle. Not sure how likely or not that is.

[cutekid]

oops I forgot that tidbit of info.

I always forget about that because my vehicles are ancient, and don't even have top tethers let alone LATCH.

[iluvbnamomma]

Okay, now i am really thinking about the Apex 65. I went to check them out today and unfortunately they did not have any Apex in stock, but i was able to see the radian and it seems so ridiculously heavy.
Does anyone have an Apex and really like it? Are they pretty bulky or is the size decent?

Let me know what you would do. Apex or Radian?

Thanks.

[Erin+babyAndrew]

hands down the Radian over the Apex, any day. The radian is a really solid seat with a steel structure. The Apex is light for a reason, it's flimsy and not going to protect a child the same way the Radian can in a crash. Plus, the Apex has to have a headrest behind it at all times beacuse it is such a flimsy seat it needs the support to pass crash testing. Craptastic design, IMO.

[alegna]

Radian over apex. No comparison.

-Angela

[riversong]

Originally Posted by TechnoGranola

At some point you will have to do a seatbelt install. Currently, lower anchors in vehicles can only be used up to 40/48 pounds (depending on vehicle), and when your child is above that weight, you will have to change the install to a seatbelt. So, you need to make sure that the seat installs in your vehicle well with the seatbelt too.

Seriously? I just read through the child restraint section in our car manual and it doesn't say anything about a weight limit for the LATCH system. How are people supposed to know this? Do I need to contact Toyota to find out how heavy my kids can be and still use LATCH?

Angela- Why do you say the Radian can be difficult to install in some cars? I assume you're talking about difficult to install with a seatbelt. Or is it something about the way it fits into the seat?