A 3 year old is not mature enough to use a belt positioning booster with adult belts, as you have found. It is tough when there is a child not mature enough to use a booster seat safely but is too big (heavy or tall) for most harnessed carseats.
I know from personal experience. My daughter outgrew her convertible carseat (Cosco Alpha Omega) by height at 2.5 years old. She hit 40 pounds at 3.5 years old.
4 years old and 40 pounds is the bare minimum to safely move to a booster seat, but longer harnessing is safer. Kids under age 5-6 have a higher rate of head injury and death if they are in boosters rather than harnessed seats. Younger kids have larger heads in proportion to their bodies. As they grow, head growth slows down and the body "catches up" with the head. A larger head in proportion to the body means a heavier head flying forward in a crash, which means more force on the vulnerable neck. Internal decapitation can actually occur if the force on the neck is enough. :o(
There ARE harnessed options for kids over 40 pounds, though. The best one for you will depend on your vehicle, your child's torso height and your budget.
Cosco/Safety 1st Apex/Safety 1st Biltmore--harnesses to 65 pounds, the Biltmore version has energy-absorbing foam and higher top slots, so it will last longer heightwise (any seat is outgrown by height when shoulders go over top slots), converts to a booster when harness is outgrown, but it REQUIRES vehicle seatback or headrest at least up to the tips of the child's ears, so if you have lowback bench seats or no headrests, this is not the seat for you. Usually outgrown in the harness at age 5-7.
Britax Marathon, Decathlon, Boulevard--convertible that rear-faces to 33 pounds, forward-faces to 65 pounds, top slots are short enough that most kids will get too tall between 40-50 pounds.
Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe--made by Britax, based on the Marathon, so virtually the same without the "frills" of Britax, harnesses to 55 pounds with top slots the same as the Marathon, so this is a more realistic weight limit. These seats are usually outgrown at age 4-6.
Sunshine Kids Radian65--another convertible, rear-faces to 33 pounds, forward-faces to 65 pounds, taller top slots than the FPSVD and Britax seats, so it will last longer forward-facing, usually to age 5-7. The Radian80 is not worth the extra money, as the top slots are exactly the same height, the seat is the same except for extra padding, no kid will actually make it to 80 pounds in this seat before being too tall.
Britax Regent--tallest top slots on the market, 80 pound harnessed weight limit, only a harnessed seat, does not convert to a booster, but lasts most kids to age 8-10, some kids don't even need a booster seat when the Regent is outgrown. The Regent requires a top tether after 50 pounds.
All forward-facing seats are safer with a top tether. Even vehicles older, without the LATCH system, can have top tether anchors added, usually free or very cheap. I ordered the anchor kit for my 1991 Honda Accord for less than $20 and installed it myself in less than 10 minutes.
2007-02-10 19:53:19
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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If you can only afford one car seat and don't plan to have another child within the next couple of years, then get a convertible. If you do plan to have another child, you certainly could justify the cost of the infant seat. Remember, these things are no good after 5 or 6 years, so have to be thrown out anyway. You'll get more mileage for your money with a convertible. If you use a sling, you don't need the carrier (which hurts your back anyway). If you don't plan to spend much time in malls, the carrier/cart system isn't worth the money either. You would be better off with just a regular stroller (again, the seat would have to be thrown away eventually). Lots of women use only convertibles and never get the infant carrier, so don't stress about it. Baby will fit fine. If it didn't support her, they couldn't list it as good from 5 pounds. I would add that I didn't find it any harder to stick the baby into the car seat in the car vs. sticking baby into car seat and then into a base in the car. However, I don't have an SUV either. That may complicate things if you have to climb in and out. Another advantage of the infant seat is that if your baby has reflux or a cold, they breathe better if left to sleep in their carseat (strapped in, of course). Can't do that with the convertible since it is installed in the car. This problem doesn't affect most babies, though.
2016-05-23 23:31:48
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answer #2
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answered by Tresca 4
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I know they make special covers for seatbelts specifically so that kids and adults do not undo them. I would assume that they are also available for car seats. The public and private schools and places that work with special needs population use them in school buses and vans. Maybe you could set up a reward sytem. Start with extremely short trips. If we go here without you taking off your seatbelt you will get this (must be a toy or treat that is visible) I wouldn't offer a treat when you have to go on long trips until she has been successful with the short ones a couple times. Then you can start a chart that you leave in the car with stickers and every time she gets three stickers for not taking off the belt she gets a video, or lollipop or something. Usually by three years old they can grasp this system. You can keep adding on the # of stickers until you no longer have to give her a treat.
2007-02-08 14:53:24
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answer #3
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answered by jc2006 4
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It sounds like you've moved your daughter to a booster. You need to put her back in a harness car seat. A child must be 40 pounds AND 4 years old to go into a booster seat. A three year old doesn't understand to leave the belt on and they are not tall enough or big enough to fill out the belt properly.
2007-02-08 14:27:05
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answer #4
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answered by Barbara B 4
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I totally understand that it is hard to reason with a 3 year old, I have a 4 year old (a very strong willed 4 year old). He went through a thing for about a week. He would take off the top half of his seat belt. When this would happen I would pull over get out of the truck open the back door get really close to his face tell him he can not take off his seat belt, it is dangerous and he can get hurt then Mama would be very sad. I would tell him (in a stern but calm voice) if you do this again you will go timeout and a special toy (whatever was his favorite that day) would go time out when we get home. I did this for about a week.
It worked. I understand you have to choose your battles and I wasn't willing to go spend another $135.00 on a car seat he could not get out of. At this age they are learning what is acceptable behavior and what isn't. Tell her no or she will have consequences and follow through on them.
2007-02-08 14:35:12
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answer #5
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answered by luv3dbb 5
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You may be able to use a temporary fix as suggested by claireandmouse, but you really need to focus on teaching her not to undo her seatbelt. Our oldest used to take off her seatbelt first, but a number of very stern warnings soon got her sorted out. (Indeed, she'd remind us to buckle her in.) Now she buckles herself in, and unbuckles herself and her brother when it's time to get out.
The danger and the risks are too great to allow your girl to continue trying to unbuckle herself. The sooner you stop it, the easier it will be.
2007-02-08 14:25:19
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answer #6
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answered by Scarlet Manuka 7
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I used one of the little velcro wraps that you put around your seatbelt, I sewed it together, and created a big tube that went around the buckle. If it's long enough then she'll have a heck of a time pushing it out of the way and also unbuckling...even my husband has troubles sometimes. They also have ones that buckle on the side where most likely she couldn't reach. I'm not sure where to get them, but they do exist. Good luck to you! She's a clever little girl! LOL
2007-02-08 14:10:34
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answer #7
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answered by claireandmouse 3
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First put down the law and make sure she does not unbuckle anything. Second, get a booster seat.
2007-02-08 15:01:17
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answer #8
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answered by eric l 6
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