Moms of Big Toddlers & Car Seats

Updated on February 02, 2011
M.M. asks from Rockford, IL
6 answers

My 2.5 year old is pushing 40 pounds. We purchased a Cosco Sencera car seat for my husbands car because he's only in there once a week but he's about to weight out of it already! He's way to young to be in a booster right? Does any one know of any options out there that are under $100?

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So What Happened?

Thanks every one. I was under the impression that the boosters on the market were only high back boosters but I like the idea of the combination seat and if that would work for us then I could spend a bit more on it since we'd use it longer.

More Answers

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi, I don't have much advice, just wanted say I think he would be ok in a 5 point harness booster. I have a 2 year old who is also about 40 lbs. but she has always been big so I bought a convertible with a 65lb weight limit (britax boulevard) and am planning on getting their 5 pt. harness booster when she grows out of the boulevard. Otherwise, their is bound to be cheaper convertible seats that have a higher weight limit. What kind of seat do you have in your car?

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

We got ours at Walmart, they have name brands, why spend more than needed? Ours fits up to 100 lbs.

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J.K.

answers from Chicago on

I found the cheapest prices on carseats to be on Amazon. Free shipping too since it'll be over $25. We love our Graco MyRide 65, but it is not under $100. Might be able to find it for $130. It has a 5 point harness up to 65 lbs!

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

We have the Evenflo Generations 65 and it 5 point harnesses up to 65 lbs. It was only $100 too and I had a 15%off coupon for babies r us, so I got it for $85.

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K.H.

answers from Detroit on

Look at the seats that convert from five pt harness to booster with back. Can't quite remember, but I think it should be able to handle your big guy.

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E.C.

answers from San Francisco on

You're right - he's way too young for a belt-positioning booster. You're looking for what's called a "Combination" seat - a forward facing seat that can be used as a 5 point harness seat and later as a belt-positioning booster when the child outgrows the harness. Good ones in your budget range would be the Evenflo Maestro ( about $80, 50 lb. harnessed limit, positions the belt well as a booster but doesn't adjust very tall so you'd need to get another booster after he outgrows it as a booster - this is not a huge deal because a good high back booster like a Graco TurboBooster high back can be found for around $35 on sale. details here http://carseatblog.com/5923/evenflo-maestro-as-booster-re...) and, if you could go a little higher, the Graco Nautilus (65 lb. harnessed weight limit, can also be used as a high back or backless booster - around $160 but you could probably get a good online deal for less than that, and it could actually last until your child is ready to use the seat belt without a booster. Also if your child is almost 40 lbs. at age 2.5, you might need the 65 lb. harnessed weight limit to make sure you can keep him in a 5-pt until he's mature enough to sit properly in a booster)

Most other combination seats in your price range (Evenflo Chase, various models under the Cosco/Summit/Eddie Bauer name) are not worth buying because they either have a low harnessed height or weight limit, don't position the seat belt well as a booster, or both. examples here http://carseatblog.com/1646/dorel-summit-as-booster-part-... , http://carseatblog.com/1426/dorel-vantage-point-as-booste...

PS - when you compare seats, make sure to check what the *harnessed* weight limit is - many are rather vaguely labeled so a box that says something like "for children 20-100 lbs." might have a seat with a 100 lb. booster weight limit but only a 40 lb. weight limit for the 5-pt. harness. Also please note that many harnessed seats are outgrown by *height* before the weight limit is reached (harness slots should be at or slightly above the shoulders for a forward facing seat)

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