Do they make car seats for kids bigger than 40 lbs?

Question

My son is 2 and half and almost 40 lbs (39lbs 3 ozs) I know he isn't old enough for a booster but I haven't seen any car seats for larger kids. He is not fat he's just big, very active and a vegetarian. just wondering what I should do for his seat

Answer 1

Yup, they make several seats for larger children.

I'm glad you don't want to put him into a booster yet. He's SO much safer in a 5 point harness.  The bare minimum age for a booster seat is 4 years old.  But the longer a child can be harnessed, the better!  =)

There are lots of options.

There is the new Graco Nautilus ~ $140 approx

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.d...

Cosco Apex http://www.albeebaby.com/sa1stap65boc1.h...

Britax Marathon

Evenflo Triumph Advance *only harnesses to 50lbs* (walmart or babiesrus)

Those are the best options I can think of for you..  I would choose the Graco Nautilus if I were you....  Great seat.

My son is going to be 6 years old in 2 weeks.  He is still riding in a Cosco Apex.  (They didn't have the Nautilus when I got his seat!)

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Instead of an actual booster seat that just has the seat and arm rests,they make booster seats for smaller children(younger) they look like chairs and you use the regular seat belt to go across them...they have backs and some have arm rests.Here's a few that I am talking about at walmart

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.d...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.d...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.d...

one of those do have the restraints on the seat itself but most you use with the cars seatbelt

Answer 3

A year ago I was in your same position! My then 2.5 year old son was almost too big for all the 40lbs seats at Walmart. And already on the tallest harness slots for the Marathon. I understand - my son wasn't fat, either, and still isn't. Just big. Perfect 99% for height and weight both, so in proportion just huge. Still is. :)

It makes you feel stuck, the bare minimum for safe booster use is 4 years and 40lbs both, and experts recommend keeping them in a 5 point harness longer than that, as long as possible, preferably to 5-6 years old. But most seats only go to 40lbs with harness straps that aren't tall enough. So, it really limits what you can get. I would not buy a Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon (all the same seat - just different features) at this point, he will outgrow it too soon to justify the $200+.  At his size, and figuring he keeps on being a big guy, the best option is the Britax Regent. Pricey? Yes. $279, however, it is the best option b/c it harnesses to 80lbs and has the tallest harness slots on the market at 20". My now almost 4 year old son still has almost 4" left and 40lbs before he'd outgrow this seat by height or weight, so I'm confident it will definitely get him to a safe booster age. It is a BIG seat, but what else would be able to hold a BIG kid? Its incredibly comfy for kids, which is a plus, too. The only catch is that it is NOT FAA approved - its too big to use on airplanes.  But it was literally the only seat out there last year that fit my son and my car.

There are a few other seats that harness past 40lbs, but not all of them would be worth the money, and the Regent will last the longest giving you the most bang for your buck. It does nOT turn into a booster when it is grown, you would need to buy a dedicated booster seat later. The Sunshine Kids Monterey is currently the tallest booster out there, but there may well be another choice by the time your child is ready for a booster in another 3-4 years.

Other seats:

Graco Nautilus - this one would be the runner up in my opinion. ITs a really cool seat for a great price, regularly $150, currently $127 at Walmart. Harnesses to 65lbs then becomes a great booster. Metal reinforced back, easy to use, easy to install, cup holder. Awesome seat. However, it is narrower through the hip and shoulders, so a big kid may not be as comfy in it in a year or so. My son fits fine in it now, but I would worry he'd find it uncomfortable soon. The top slots are also shorter than the Regent. The Nautilus top slots are 19". Still a great seat, though. Worth trying.

Britax Frontier - $289 - similar to the Regent, but the top slots are shorter, only a little over 18", which is significant when talking about a tall child. That's easily a year less the child would be able to use the harness. It does harness to 80lbs, though no child is likely to get to 80lbs in it with the 18" top slots. And then it becomes a great booster seat.

The others I really wouldn't consider, as like I said, they won't last you guys very long:

Safety1st Apex65: cheapest of the higher weight harness (HWH) seats, but cheaper for several reasons: there is no support in the back of the seat, so the headrests in your vehicle must go at least as high as the middle of the Apex65 head rest in the tallest position. It needs support from your vehicle's seatback. It also only has 17" top slots, so not likely a child will get to 65lbs in it. Only makes an ok booster.

Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathalon: at $279, not worth the money. You'd be paying for a major feature you can't use, rear facing. Forward faces to 65lbs, top slots are 17" Great seats, but not at this point. Here's a pic of my son in the Triumph Advance, and he fit in the Marathon similarly at 39-40lbs and 39-40" tall: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1158/9545... He had very little growing room left.

Evenflo Triumph Advance: at $150 not worth it at this point, again, b/c its a convertible seat and you can't even use it rear facing now. goes to 50lbs forward facing with a little over 17" top slots.

Sunshine Kids Radian65/Radian80: $199 or so. These 2 are the exact same seat, just one is tested to 80lbs, one to 65lbs. So the 80 isn't worth the extra money unless you want infant inserts or the Princess cover. :) Has 18" top slots, so won't last as long as the Regent or Nautilus, and I always hesitate to recommend this one b/c it can be majorly difficult and just plain incompatible in many cars. Didn't work in mine. And my then 38lbs 38"  son was already on the top slots.

OK - I think that's it. :) Good luck - I'd definitely check out the Regent, and quickly, b/c at 40lbs you have to stop using his current seat. Oh - and another thing worth noting. In many vehicles you have to stop using LATCH to install car seats at 48lbs. In Honda its 40lbs. Check your vehicle manual. You can continue to use the top tether, but not the lower anchors. For reference, here is my son in his Regent shortly after he got it last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/littleangel... He's now moved up a slot, but still has loads of room.

Answer 4

My son is two and weighs 48lbs! We bought the. Eddie Bauer Convertible Seat from Target. It's has a 5 point harness for his age group now and when he's older we can use it as a booster seat.

Answer 5

Forward facing harnessed seats are outgrown when a child reaches the weight limit, or more commonly when the child's shoulders are above the top harness slots.

If the child is 4 years AND 40lbs, then he may move to a booster with vehicle lap shoulder belt seatbelt.  If not, then the child needs a larger FF harnessed seat.  There are many seats that harness to 55-80lbs.  Some are the Britax Marathon, Decathalon, Boulevard, Frontier and Regent; the Sunshine Kids Radian; the Evenflo Triumph ADVANCE; the Graco Nautilus and the Cosco/Safety First Apex.

Stay away from: The Alpha Omega 3-in-1 seats only harness to 40lbs and most 40lb weight limit seats are outgrown before a child is mature enough for a booster seat.  They also have very low top harness slots, so are outgrown by height at around 2 or 3 years old.  The Graco Comfortsport also has very low top slots.

A child should ride in a booster with vehicle lap/shoulder belt until he or she reaches approximately 4'9" (around age 12) and then can move to just the adult seatbelt if he passes the 5 step test and the seatbelt fits him correctly.

Answer 6

They have several differant brands with prices from about $40 and up. Most regular car seats go anywhere from 20-80lbs. In my state though children must be in a car seat or booster until they reach 8yrs of age or 80lbs.

Answer 7

I have a Britax Marathon. It's a little pricey but it RFs from 5-33 pounds and then FFs from 20-65 pounds. The marathon is a GREAT seat! I will be using the infant seat with my daughter until she is bigger and get her a marathon as well.

Answer 8

yes i,m sure they have some at walmart

Answer 9

there are some that go up to 65lbs.  Maybe it's time for a booster seat?

Answer 10

booster seat

Answer 11

eddie bauer goes to sixty five.  Toys r us sells them too.