Trina-Carseat question
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive November 2007:
Trina-Carseat question
Hi Trina! It's time to replace the carseat in our second vehicle. We love the FP Safe Voyage that we bought at the beginning of the year for my car, but before we buy the second one, just want to "re"- research to get the most out of our money.
I see that the Britax Regent has an 80lb weight limit and goes to 53" tall. The FP is 55lbs and 49" tall. Natalie is about 35lbs right now and around 39" tall, 3 1/2yrs old but with a long torso. I really do want her to be harnessed as long as possible, but I also want to be realistic. I really don't think we will "need" the harnessed car seat vs a booster once she gets that heavy, you know? If I bought the Regent, how long do you think I would get out of it and realistically, would it really be needed over a booster? I know we don't know how much she's going to grow, so I'm probably grabbing at straws anyway, but I want to spend money as wisely as I can.
I guess we figured that after we get out of the FP (which will most likely be BEFORE 55lbs due to height), then we would go to a booster. I just keep thinking she could be 45lbs when she gets out of the FP, and I don't want her in alap belt at 45lbs yet, you know?
Okay, so maybe I'm answering my own question here by typing this all out.  Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated. I sort-of started rambling!
We recommend kids stay in a harnessed car seat until at least 4 yrs. and 40 lbs.. Longer is even better, especially if a child is wiggly and unable to sit properly in a belt positioning booster. DD rode in a Britax Super Elite, which is an older version (same seat shell, but non-LATCH) of the Regent, until she was 6. At that point we switched her over to a booster. Currently 9, just over 4 ft. tall and 50 lbs., she still fits in the Super Elite. (I tried her in it the other night just for the heck of it. LOL! This particular seat has been recalled and is about to expire.)
Here she is in the Super Elite at about 3 or 4, just to give you an idea of how BIG the Regent is.
Another option would be to get a Britax Marathon. It's basically the same as the Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe, but goes up to 65 lbs. and has lots of bells and whistles (built in lock offs, fancy LATCH connectors, HUGS on harness straps,...).
Thank you. That gives me some perspective on size of kid especially. We had also talked about the Marathon, but other than the 10 extra lbs., I really don't need the bells and whistles. We like our FP, just wondered more for the long run and going with something else. The Regent seemed like it's about the same price, but accomodates more height and weight. So it's pretty huge, no? Would you consider that a downside?
We really want her to be harnessed as long as possible, and I think maybe the Regent would allow us to do that and make it our last harnessed car seat purchase before the booster.
Well, it's size can be both a pro and a con. Because it's so big, it doesn't fit well in all vehicles, however, if it does install well, it's an awesome seat. DD LOVED it, and called it her "Big, comfy, blue seat!" I must say from personal experience, this is not a seat you want to move between vehicles often. It's a bear to lift and install. Once in it stayed in. I didn't move it unless I absolutely had to. LOL!
It may be worth checking to see if there are any entries for your vehicle(s).
CarSeatData.org
Look for Super Elite, Husky and Regent entries.
Trina,
I see the starriser comfy in your pic. Did they discontinue that? I tried to get another, for Helen, and couldn't find it anywhere. I ended up getting her a high-back Graco which she loves. I was just curious, though. I really like the starriser because it is so easy to transport out of the car.
Thanks,
Ame
Ame, they did discontinue the Star Riser Comfy, but I think it's still available online. If not, the Fisher Price Safe Voyage booster is the same thing.
Target.com - Fisher Price Safe Voyage booster
We would put it in my SUV as our daily car seat, and put the FP in DH's truck as our occasional seat if we went with it. The size does scare me a bit!
Thank you!
Great! Thanks, Trina.
I looked online for the starriser and could not find it, but the FP looks great!
Ame
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