[Mavournin]

(Mods -I'm hoping that this is in the right place. If not, please move.)<br><br>
We were in a serious car accident this past Saturday and I just got approval from my insurance co. today to purchase new car seats and they will reimburse me. So... please help me shop.<br><br>
Here are some particulars. I have three children. Dd 6, Ds1 4, and Ds2 10 months. Ds1 and Ds2 were both in Britax Marathons and had no problems from the accident. They weigh about 40 lbs and 19 lbs respectively, and I assume I will just buy new Marathons. Unless there is something else I should know about...<br><br>
But, Dd was in a cheapo booster seat (similar to <a href="http://www.target.com/Evenflo-Big-Excalibur-Booster-Seat/dp/B000PC42Y8/qid=1200092689/ref=br_1_6/602-4889151-9079865?ie=UTF8&node=3579951&frombrowse=1&pricerange=&index=tgt-mf-mv&field-browse=3579951&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=4" target="_blank">this one</a> )and suffered a head injury in the crash. We were hit on the passenger side by another car who was travelling quite fast (posted speed limit was 40, but it is assumed that she was speeding). We were hit right about where my Dd was sitting in the third row (we have a newer Grand Caravan) and her head slammed into the side glass upon impact. She's okay thank God. She was treated at the ER, her CT scan was normal, and after daily chiropractor visits this week, she has no complaints.<br><br>
My problem is, that I am at a loss as to what to buy for her. The booster seat obviously didn't work. I don't know if rear seatbelts are supposed to "lock" like front seats do, but they didn't, and given our experience I don't know if I want her in a seat that uses the car's belt right now. She is about 65 lbs and quite tall for her age, and I'm unclear of whether a 5 point restraint is still best for her. She seemed squashed in the Marathon before, which is why I bought the booster. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> So, if it were you, what would you buy for her?

 

[JMarie930]

If she's willing to go back to a harnessed seat, I'd probably go with a Britax Regent. Forward-facing harness until 80 pounds, up to 20" seated height. I know there's another brand out there that also has a FF harnessed seat, but I can't recall it off the top of my head.

 

[Shiloh]

I just saw a booster seat i think made by britax that had some amazing head protection to it...<br><a href="http://www.elitecarseats.com/Britax-Parkway-Collegiate.pro" target="_blank">http://www.elitecarseats.com/Britax-...Collegiate.pro</a><br>
or recaro they make the racing seats and airplane seats<br><a href="http://www.elitecarseats.com/Recaro-Start.pro" target="_blank">http://www.elitecarseats.com/Recaro-Start.pro</a><br><br>
My almost six year old boy is also tall for his age but still in a five point harness I am uber paranoid about car accidents...lol I'd love to get a recaro five point harness racing seat for myself...

 

[tsume]

Hey momma - that sounded really scary! I'm glad everyone if okay now.<br><br>
DS 6 has a Britaz Regent. 5 point harness goes to 80 pounds. DS is taller than average and still has a lot of room.<br><br>
DD 4 is in the Britax Decathlon. 5 point harness goes to 65 pounds. Like a bigger Marathon.<br><br>
DD 1 -Britax Marathon (older sister's hand me down)<br><br>
We bought DD 4 the Decathlon before DD 1 y/o was born and the baby was passed the Marathon.<br><br>
DDs Decathlon broke (the push down button popped out) called Britax and they replaced her seat for FREE and they included shipping postage so we could send back the defective seat.<br><br>
Even though they are a bit pricier they have awesome customer service

 

[Bearsmama]

Mavourin-Just had to post a <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> And thank you for the reminder about safe car seats. My older son wants desperately to have a booster, but I am keeping him in a regular carseat for as long as possible.

 

[LittlePeanut]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>JMarie930</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10256983"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">If she's willing to go back to a harnessed seat, I'd probably go with a Britax Regent. Forward-facing harness until 80 pounds, up to 20" seated height. I know there's another brand out there that also has a FF harnessed seat, but I can't recall it off the top of my head.</div>
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I agree! 5pt harnessed would be the safest option for your DD IMO. Remember a step up in car seats is a step down in safety. Keep each child in each step as long as possible for their safety.<br><br>
So in order of most safe to least safe (not incl no seat belts etc):<br><br>
RF 5 pt harness<br>
FF 5 pt harness<br>
FF belt positioning booster (like you had)<br>
FF booster only with belt<br>
FF using carseat belt only (designed for a fully grown adult)<br><br>
Also, if you have locking belts - meaning if you pull the belt out completely and it ratchets back so it can't come loose again until it's unbelted - you should make sure you do this to her belt <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><b>every time</b></span>. It prevents a child from being ejected, compression of their clothing (bulky clothing should not be worn under the restraint) and failure to lock (as yours did) in the event of a collision.<br><br>
Sorry your DD was injured but I'm happy she's okay and doing better.<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><br><br>
LP

 

[ma_Donna]

I'm so very sorry to hear about your accident. I'm glad to hear your daughter is feeling better and I so sincerely hope all consequences have passed.<br><br>
We have 2 Britax seats - a regent for DS1 who is 4yo, 40 lbs, long and lanky. He has tons of room in his seat and he says it is comfy. And a 'Wizard' (now Boulevard) for DS2 who is 17mo, 25lbs and still rear facing. His brother was in that seat until just over a year ago when he hit the rear facing weight limit at 3yo.<br><br>
I'm assuming that your little one will be in a convertable seat.<br>
The Wizard (Boulevard) has 'side impact' wings. I think the shell is the same as the Marathon, but has the 'wings'. Another thing I really like about it is the harness height is adjusted with a knob that adjusts the harness and the wings - no need to re-thread the straps!<br><br>
For your middle child, he's past the rear facing weight limit for all the seats I know about (not that my knowledge is that vast), so there's no need to get a convertable seat (like the Marathon) for him. Might as well go 'up' to a Regent for him if your car has the space for it.<br><br>
For your daughter, At home I have a link to a gallery w/ extended rear facing and extended harnessed kids. I'll try to remember to post them. We got the Regent with the expectation that DS1 would be in it until he hit either the weight or height limits.<br><br>
If you have LATCH, you will need to check your vehicle's weight limits for using the anchors, most vehicles have a limit for which you switch from using the anchors to the seat belt.<br><br>
There is also TONS of (conservative) car seat advice at <a href="http://www.car-safety.org" target="_blank">www.car-safety.org</a> message boards.<br>
Good luck & take care.

 

[Peony]

I agree with the others, Regents for the older two, and a Boulevard for the baby. The MAs are great seats, I own two myself, but I'm really liking seats with SIP now days. I wouldn't bother with a Boulevard for your 4y because he is 4, you would get the bang for your buck with a Regent.

 

[alegna]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>tsume</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10257150"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">DD 4 is in the Britax Decathlon. 5 point harness goes to 65 pounds. Like a bigger Marathon.</div>
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FWIW the decathlon isn't any bigger than the marathon. It has some different bits and infant padding- but goes no bigger than a marathon.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[alegna]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Peony</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10258630"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I agree with the others, Regents for the older two, and a Boulevard for the baby. The MAs are great seats, I own two myself, but I'm really liking seats with SIP now days. I wouldn't bother with a Boulevard for your 4y because he is 4, you would get the bang for your buck with a Regent.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nod.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nod"><br><br>
That is what I would do as well.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[dallaschildren]

I am so sorry you experienced that. Wrecks are so scary.<br>
I too would recommend a Regent. You could likely get a year or more use out of it and then would have a seat ready to hand down to one of your younger children. If your car is not totaled, remember to have all seat belts in use at the time of the collision replaced. They are one time use products. Remember that if your body shop declares your vehicle repairable, make sure they test your vehicles frame for damage. If they say they did, and it is "fine", demand written proof (usually a report which will indicate the measurements taken). IMO, if there is *any* frame damage, the vehicle *should* be declared a total loss. The vast majority of vehicular frame damage is NOT repairable, hence not safe if a repair is done.<br>
Also, if for whatever reason you decide that a Regent cannot or will not work and you opt to purchase another belt positioning booster seat, choose one with TSIP (true side impact protection) and as an extra safety measure (although admitedly most kids hate this) pre-lock the retractor so that the seatbelt is locked pre-crash....not locking at the moment of crash. (Of coarse this is provided you will have a vehicle with a switcheable retractor). <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[Kleine Hexe]

Doesn't Radian also have a seat that goes to 80#?

 

[alegna]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Kleine Hexe</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10259846"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Doesn't Radian also have a seat that goes to 80#?</div>
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They do, but the straps are the same height as their 65lb seat.<br><br>
-Angela