I have a couple car seat questions. Right now we have the Century car seats (I think they are Graco), but they are really not good for our car. We have such a small vehicle that there is no leg room for the kids, and we are sitting on the dash up front. Shane is 32lbs and about 34 inches tall. (I'm really estimating height because they haven't had a well-baby in a while, but he is at least that) Madison is only 25lbs and about 32 inches tall. Our current car seats can go up to 40 lbs, but we want to buy some that sit more flush with the seats of the car, these are pretty bulky. My question... is Shane ready for a booster seat (We are considering the Graco Turbo Booster because of price and length of use) and what do you recommend? I know Mads isn't heavy enough yet, so we'll wait until she's over 30lbs to get her a new seat. We have a VW Jetta TDI, and we're looking for seats under $65 if possible. We'll also be buying a minivan or SUV in the next 12 months, so we want the seats to be comfortable in either vehicle. Latch is important to us, I have a hard time getting the seats in without it. Also, adjustibility of the straps, because the ones we have need to be unstrapped from the car, adjusted (which is difficult with the child sitting in the seat, and so it's trial and error) and taking them out to move position requires a degree in physics or something. (I know, I have a tall order for you!) TIA

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, January 23, 2005 - 10:26 am:

Crystal, both Shane and Madison are too young and too small for belt positioning boosters. It's recommended kids stay in harnessed car seats until they are at least 4 yrs. and 40 lbs.. Most kids younger than 4 are not mature enough to sit properly in a booster. They wiggle, pull the shoulder belt and move out of position, all of which are seriously dangerous in the event of a crash. I recommend considering combination car seats, which harness to 40 lbs. and then transition to a booster. They are less bulky than convertible seats and tend to fit in more cars without problems. Seats in your price range that come to mind are the Graco Cargo and Evenflo Chase, Comet and Apollo. When shopping be sure to look for models with a front harness adjuster. Sometimes there are a few versions of a particular model and they may not have all the same features. Car seats with a front harness adjuster tend to cost a little more but are WELL WORTH the $ for convenience sake. All car seats on the market today are LATCH compatible.

Recommended car seats:
CarSeatData.org - Combo Seats

Car-Safety.org - Combo Seats

CarSeatData.org also has a Compatibility Database where you can look up your specific vehicle to see how different car seats fit.

Don't be afraid to seek a Fitting Station/CPS Tech in your area for help. That's what they're for!
SeatCheck.org

At the bottom of this article is a link to search for CPS Techs in your area.
Choose and Use the Right Child Safety Seat

By Palmbchprincess on Sunday, January 23, 2005 - 11:52 am:

Thanks Trina! I'll be sure to check out those seats this week!

By Palmbchprincess on Sunday, January 23, 2005 - 11:53 am:

Oh, and you are definitely right about the shoulder straps, Shane will pull on the one next to his seat from time to time, so I'm sure it would be a problem for him.