[JamieB]

What is the most inexpensive carseat I can get here in Canada? I have a friend who really needs something cheap. I'll be shopping around but thought i'd ask here too. Thanks!

Wow, I guess a little more information is needed here isn't it! lol

My frriend's DD weighs 35lbs so she is looking for a forward facing carseat. She won't harness past 40lbs so it only has to go that high.

 

[lemurmommies]

How old/tall/heavy is your friend's child? What kind of car seat does your friend need? A bucket, convertible, or forward-facing/booster? Knowing what she needs will help us suggest good and inexpensive seats that are appropriate for her child.

 

[JamieB]

I updated the first post to add all the information

 

[lemurmommies]

In that case, I'd likely recommend an Evenflo Chase combination seat. I've seen them at Toys R Us for right around $100. It's a forward facing seat that harnesses until 47 pounds, and then converts to a decent booster to 100 pounds. What's nice about it is that it has slots that are a tad taller than some seats, meaning that the child is less likely to outgrow it by height before they hit 40 pounds.

If she doesn't need the boostering option (as in, she already has a high back booster to use come 40 pounds), then she might want to take a gander at the Cosco Scenera. The top slots aren't very high my 2 year old doesn't fit in it, but may people use them until their kids are 3 or 4), but it harnesses to 40 pounds and is also available for right around $100.

 

[JamieB]

Thank you very much. I will look into the Scenera. You can get them here in Canada?

Do kids have to be in a high back booster until a certain age? Her three year old isn't and I was wondering about that....

 

[an_aurora]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieB Thank you very much. I will look into the Scenera. You can get them here in Canada? Do kids have to be in a high back booster until a certain age? Her three year old isn't and I was wondering about that....

The Scenera only harnesses to 40 pounds, so she wouldn't have much time left. How old is she?

Do you mean her THREE year old is in a backless booster? Four years AND 40 pounds is the minimum for a booster. Kids need to be in high back boosters for as long as they fit, and then can graduate to a backless one when the high back is outgrown (usually at least age 6-7).

 

[lemurmommies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieB Thank you very much. I will look into the Scenera. You can get them here in Canada? Do kids have to be in a high back booster until a certain age? Her three year old isn't and I was wondering about that....

The Scenera is often called the Regal Ride or Regal Rider in Canada, but it's the same seat. They're available at WalMart and Canadian Tire in my area.

And no, technically, if a child is old/heavy enough to sit in a booster legally, then they can ride in a low back. But a high back booster provides significantly more protection and I'd highly recommend a high back, especially if she is going to switch to a booster at the bare minimums.

 

[lemurmommies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by an_aurora The Scenera only harnesses to 40 pounds, so she wouldn't have much time left. How old is she? Do you mean her THREE year old is in a backless booster? Four years AND 40 pounds is the minimum for a booster. Kids need to be in high back boosters for as long as they fit, and then can graduate to a backless one when the high back is outgrown (usually at least age 6-7).

She said in her OP that her friend has no intention of harnessing past 40 pounds, which is why I mentioned it. I was thinking that perhaps if she bought a chase though, she could be convinced to harness at least a little longer.

And I have to agree that 4 years and 40 pounds is the recommended minimum for a booster, as far as us CPST/CRSTs are concerned. But again, if this mom is going by the bare legal minimums and her 3 year old is over 40 pounds, he can legally be riding in a low back booster. Do I recommend it? No way! But I don't know how easily this woman could be convinced to change her mind.

 

[JamieB]

Thank you very much. She doesn't mind a seat that only goes to 40lbs because she also has a one year old who it can be passed down to, for the second vehicle. I'll look intot he scenera. She moves carseats around a lot so she finds boosters easier to have her kids in.

 

[DevaMajka]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemurmommies And no, technically, if a child is old/heavy enough to sit in a booster legally, then they can ride in a low back. But a high back booster provides significantly more protection and I'd highly recommend a high back, especially if she is going to switch to a booster at the bare minimums.

From what I've read, the minimum weight on all boosters sold in Canada is 40lbs.

 

[lemurmommies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevaMajka From what I've read, the minimum weight on all boosters sold in Canada is 40lbs.

Yes, I believe that that is true. Which is why I said that if the child was legally heavy enough to ride in a booster in Ontario (you have to be 40 pounds), then they could legally use a low back. However, a low back booster provides even less protection than a high back booster, which provides less protection than a harnessed seat.

 

[DevaMajka]

Ah, gotcha. You were saying that IF a booster is legal, then any booster is legal.
(I think I was confused- I just noticed the OP saying that the dc weighed 35lbs. Sorry!)

 

[lemurmommies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevaMajka Ah, gotcha. You were saying that IF a booster is legal, then any booster is legal. (I think I was confused- I just noticed the OP saying that the dc weighed 35lbs. Sorry!)

No worries. From what I've deduced throughout the thread, the OPs friend has at least 3 children. A three year old in a booster, a 35 pound DD, and a 1 year-old. If her three year old is 40 pounds, (s)he can ride in any booster legally. The 35 pound child (don't know how old she is) must be harnessed for at least 5 more pounds legally.

 

[JamieB]

She has three kids, an almost 4 year old (the one in the booster), a 2 year old (just turned), and a one year old.

The two old is the one that I thought weighed 35lbs but she weighs 37lbs in pjs, so she's gonna weigh her in winter gear. If she weighs 40lbs in winter gear she'll put her in a booster.

 

[an_aurora]

So she has a 3 year old already illegally in a booster, and a 2 year old that will be there soon. She NEEDS a seat that harnesses past 40 pounds for the 2 year old at least. Some parts of Canada are strict about the booster laws, check into that.

 

[lemurmommies]

Please, please see if she will reconsider putting her 2 year old in a booster. Really, that little girl needs to be in a harnessed seat for longer. As an_aurora said, CRSTs recommend children be at least 4 to sit in a booster. A 2 year old is not going to be able to sit properly in a booster seat, and will be completely unprotected in a crash. Please try to convince her to get the Chase.

Quote:

Originally Posted by an_aurora So she has a 3 year old already illegally in a booster, and a 2 year old that will be there soon. She NEEDS a seat that harnesses past 40 pounds for the 2 year old at least.

If the OPs friend is in Ontario and her 3 year old weighs 40 pounds, then (s)he is legal to be riding in a booster here. There is no age minimum associated with the booster laws in Ontario except on the upper end (a child 8 or over does not legally have to sit in a booster seat.) Again, I'm not recommending that a three year old be in a booster. I'm just saying that if the child meets the weight requirement then she's not breaking any laws.

 

[JamieB]

She absolutely cannot afford a seat that goes to 60 or 65lbs. No way, now how.

 

[an_aurora]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieB She absolutely cannot afford a seat that goes to 60 or 65lbs. No way, now how.

Call your local Safe Kids and see if they have a seat program.

Otherwise, the Chase would probably be the cheapest seat with the maximum life.

 

[lemurmommies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieB She absolutely cannot afford a seat that goes to 60 or 65lbs. No way, now how.

The Chase is the one I mentioned earlier. It goes to 47 pounds and can often be found for right around $100. It the converts to a high back booster, which would still provide her daughter with more protection than a backless booster. Please ask her to consider it.

 

[an_aurora]

Yeah, as crappy as the Chase is in booster mode, it's way better than a backless booster!