What kind of car seat is best for a large toddler?

Question

My two year old (well, two years, five months) is weighing in at 37 lbs and is over 37 inches tall. He is just at the limit for his convertible car seat (infant to toddler), but is not allowed to be in a booster in our state (PA) until age 3. My 4 month old is 18 lbs and over 27 inches tall, and is too large for his carrier car seat, so the plan is to switch him into his brother's car seat and get a new one for the toddler.

Problem is, I am having a really hard time finding a toddler seat that has the 5 pt harness that he needs until he turns 3, because it seems that all the seats that I look at have a weight limit for the harness (over 30 lbs will have to use the car's lap belt). I can't afford to pay a ton of money for a new seat, but I need to find a good, safe seat that will (hopefully) last a long time.

Anyone else have a big kid that can give some advice on this?

thanks!

Answer 1

My son is BIG, too. He's 3 years old, 41lbs, 41inches tall. He outgrew his convertible car seat at 2 years old, and I felt stuck. Most seats at Walmart only go to 40lbs (not 30lbs), and then its boosters, which, you are absolutely right, your child should NOT be in a booster yet. Most 4 year olds are too immature for boosters, even though the law allows for it. The truth of the matter is that you should keep your child in a 5 point harness for as long as possible, its safer than booster seat. That said, you're also right in what you've discovered, there's not that many seats out there that keep bigger kids harnessed longer. But there are some - they WILL cost more than the cheapest seats at Walmart, but your child is worth it.
The Britax Regent was mentioned, it is a GREAT option, it will keep your child harnessed longer than any other seat on the market - it harnesses to a whopping 80lbs! And it has 20inch top harness slots, this is important as most kids outgrow their seat by height before they ever come close to the weight limit. Here's your options:
1)The Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (These 3 are the same seat, just different variances of luxury additions, with the Marathon being the cheapest base model) can be found for regular price of $269, and on sale at Albee Baby online for $209-$219. The Marathon a wide open easy to route belt path, which makes using it correctly a lot easier, as do the built in lockoffs, which mean you never again have to use a locking clip. I can get it into 4 different vehicles in under 2 minutes. Because of the way the base is made, it fits in most cars. And, it is worth the money, b/c it lasts usually twice as long as most other car seats (all car seats expire 6 years after the date of manufacture) lasting a baby till they are 5-6 years old, where most at Walmart will only last till 2-4 years old. Rear faces to 33lbs, then forward to 65lbs. and top slots 17inches tall, lasts most kids to ages 5-6 years old.
2)The Recaro Como/Signo (Signo is the more expensive version) is a brand new seat, the Como is $249 with free shipping at many sites online. It rear faces to 35lbs, and front faces to 70lbs, and has top slots at 19inches, taller than any other convertible on the market. Very plush seat, too. It even has the built-in lockoffs! They're easy to install, like the Britax seats, and include infant and toddler padding. These seats are getting mixed reviews from car seat techs, so definitely try to try one in your vehicle before purchasing. It is a very tall car seat, sits up really high with a huge shell, so likely will not work rear facing in small cars. Also, may not last as long as it ought to b/c its too narrow for older big kids to be comfortable. But it is the only seat like it on the market that goes from birth to 70lbs and fits many different vehicle seats. With the goals of rear facing as long as possible and staying in a harness as long as possible, this seat is great.
3)The Evenflo Triumph Advance (not the original Triumph, make sure it says Advance) is a great seat. $150 version at Babies R Us has padding similar to Britax seats, top slots of 17", harnesses to 35lbs rear facing, and 50lbs forward facing. $120 Walmart version just has little less plush padding. Wide open belt path, easy to install, though it doesn't have built in lockoffs. The harness adjusts at the front of the car seat, you don't have to take the car seat out of the car just to raise/lower the straps. It's one of only 2 seats that does this (The Britax Boulevard is the other, I believE), and it has infinite harness adjustment so the harness always fits perfectly until its outgrown. No more tugging straps to tighten them either. You tighten and loosen the harness using knobs on the side of the seat. As a major bonus, it can be used in a recline position even in forward facing mode. Awesome for kids who still sleep in the car. I LOVE THIS SEAT! LOL My son, who is too big for every other car seat at Walmart has the same amount of room in this as the Britax Marathon.
4)The Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe Convertible seat is great, it is made by Britax, without all the frills. It's the same shell as a Marathon, but for less than half the price. $130 at Albee Baby online with free shipping, or at their eBay name, babysurplus. Rear faces to 33lbs, forward to 55lbs. Easy to use, fits in most cars.
5)Safety1st Signature Biltmore/ Harnesses to 65lbs (again, most kids won't actually reach 65lbs in this seat b/c the top harness slots are only 17") and then it becomes a booster seat. Cheapest higher weight harness seat on the market, but one BIG issue - your car must have adjustable headrests! This seat has no support in the back so it requires support from your vehicle's seat back and headrests. Can have a short crotch buckle, call Dorel to get a longer one.
6)Sunshine Kids Radian65 - this does harness up to 65lbs, but most kids won't reach it b/c of the 18" top slots, its a rather narrow seat (great if you need 3 seats across) so doesn't always fit big kids well. My son already looked a little squished in the hip area. Definitely a try before you buy to make sure it installs in your car.

Of all the options - you're going to get the most use out of the Britax Regent - yes its $270, but it will last him the next 4 years, at least, so technically that still come sout cheaper if you figure the per day usage cost vs. a cheaper seat that he will outgrow in a year. My son is BIG, too, and at 3 is almost too big for the Marathon, Apex65/SignatureBiltmore, and Evenflo Triumph Advance. The Evenflo Titan mentioned by another poster will not last a child to 50lbs, it is the exact same Titan its always been, the harness slots are too short, they just tested it to a higher limit.

**On a side note about your younger baby, even though he is big, please keep him rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! Turning babies forward facing at 20lbs/1year is outdated advice that puts your child's life at risk. The AAP now says keep children rear facing to the limits of their convertible car seat. Most seats today rear face to at least 30lbs, lots go higher. If he is a BIG baby, you might consider looking into or saving up for a seat that will keep him rear facing longer. A cheap option that does this is the Cosco Scenera - $40. Rear faces to 35lbs. However, it makes a stinky forward facing seat for big kids. See the convertible seats above for seats that rear face longer. HEre's why: A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.

Answer 2

Buy the Britax Marathon. Yes, it's expensive, but it will hold him in a five point harness until he's 65 lbs. You can use it for your next child, too. A 5 pt harness is safer than a booster. Period. When boosters are crash tested, they're tested against using nothing, as opposed to another seat. A 5pt is crash tested against other 5 pts AND boosters. This is the best investment you can make and you'll have it for the next few years. The straps don't twist, the anchors are really heavy duty, and so is the tether. You can't afford to throw a kid in a booster too early because you'll feel guilty if you do get into an accident and something happens to him. I don't use boosters for my kids because it's no different than using a lap belt--I splurge for the extra safety. It's not worth the risk.

Answer 3

No matter how many people tell you it's okay to move your children into a booster seat or turn them around before recommended don't listen to them they are putting their own children at risk for serious injury or death in the case of an accident!

You should keep your younger child rear-facing until he is over the torso height (meaning: his head is less than one inch from the top of the carseat) or weight for the carseat in that position. You should also keep your older child in a car seat with a 5 point harness until he has reached the weight or height for that... Regardless of what the law is... Your children's life and safety is what is most important!

For your older son since he is such a big boy I would recommend looking into the Britax Regent (older model is "Husky") He can stay in a 5 point harness with the car seat "buckled" (not with LATCH) into the car until he weighs 80 pounds. Additionally when your younger child moves to a forward facing carseat he would be able to go right into this carseat... They are a little pricey but I would be willing to pay that price to keep my child safe... I have included the link for Britax and another link for carseat safety information so that you can be sure your are taking every caution with your precious children...

Good Luck I also have a daughter that is large for her size and we are about to move into the Britax Regent...

Answer 4

Wow sweety you do have big kids, means they are well taken care of! My son is 16 months and 26 pounds and we use the Safety 1st Alpha Elite convertable car seat for him it goes forward facing from 22-65 pounds and becomes a belt positioning seat at 40-100 pounds. It cost about 200 dollars though.

I did however look at walmart.com and found an Evenflo carseat called the Titan Elite that goes 5-35 lbs. rear facing and 20-50 lbs. forward facing. Fits children from 19" to 47" tall and up to 5 years old. And online its about 100 dollars.

Answer 5

The kind with the harness and the padded tray that come down over the child's head are ok, but the boosters with no back and the tray that swings in from the side and you put the seat belt across the bar are NOT. To be extra safe take call your local Department of Job and Family Services office and ask where you can get the seat checked at. It's always better to be safe than sorry. It only takes one accident to change lives.

Answer 6

Im looking into the Radian , my son is 38 pounds at 2 years old. Its internal harness goes up to 65 pounds and isnt that expensive. (compared to the britax) It is also compact - not too large. Good luck!

Answer 7

My brothers were both like this. Even though it was illegal we still put them in boosters, or used seats without the five point.

The biggest issue after 1 year is weight and hight, not so much development. Using a five point harness on a child thats too big for it can cause greater injury than putting him in a seat designed for an older child that matches his weight and hight.

Your local police station, or better yet, your state troopers will have a non-emergency number for this sort of question. Beyond that, the county offices will also. They can best advise you.

Answer 8

Hmm....

Well there is this one which is up to 49" forward facing, it doesn't have an upper weight for some reason:
http://www.macklems.com/sunshine-kids-radian-car-seat.htm

There is of course britax but they are pretty expensive, I think britax also makes costco or something though?
The marathon goes up to 65 lbs, the regent is for up to 80lbs.
http://www.britaxusa.net/products/search.aspx


This is a three in one seat and it goes up to 100lbs but at some point it may stop using the 5 point harness?
http://www.djgusa.com/product.asp?productID=2542




Ohhh here's a good list or some 5 point harness boosters:
http://www.nextag.com/5-point-harness-booster-seat/search-html
The first one is a safety 1st that goes up to 65lbs


http://www.elitecarseats.com/Car-Seats/Youth--Toddler-car-seats/index.cat

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=8060

Ok that's all I can find!

Answer 9

My husband and I use the Safety First Vantage Point. It says it has 5 point harness for up to 40 pounds. I don't see on the site what the height requirement is. (I can't find our instruction manuel!) It's only $59.88. I'll leave you the link! GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 10

Have you tried a Britax? It has a high weight limit. Its really expensive but its the easiest car seat I have ever used.

Answer 11

Search on line amazon has a verity of them they also can tell you what store sell them also. (Try toyrus.com and target.com also.)