What do i do my son is to big for his 5 point car seat?

Question

My son will be 3 in April and he weighs 50 lbs and is a little over 3 feet tall, the problem is that he is to big for the five point harness seat that I have for him and I need to know if he can go into one of those booster seats.

Answer 1

Here are some very good and easy to understand guidelines.

http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/divisio...

Answer 2

WHEN YOU ARE 1, 2, 3, AND 4 20–40 POUNDS FACE FORWARD IN A CONVERTIBLE SEAT OR A FORWARD-FACING-ONLY SEAT OR HIGH-BACK BOOSTER/HARNESS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

WHEN YOU ARE 4, 5, 6, 7, OR 8 LESS THAN 4’9” (57 INCHES) TALL BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT (NO BACK) OR HIGH-BACK BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.

Answer 3

Yes.  Youth Booster Car Seat.

Answer 4

NO NO NO! Sorry - just wanted to make sure it was clear, lol. :) A 3 year old has NO business using a booster seat. However, let me just say I feel your pain! My son outgrew every 40lbs car seat available at Walmart at 2 years old! He is now 3.5 years old, 43lbs, and 42 inches tall, the size of most 5 year olds. But he is not in a booster, and your child doesn't need to be either. The bare minimum for safe and legal booster use is 4 years and 40lbs. But most 4 year olds are not mature enough to be using boosters yet. It is much better to wait until a child is 5-6 years old to put them in a booster seat full time. 4 year olds lack the impulse control needed to sit upright without leaning forward or to the side for the whole trip. We also know that the spine is not solid until age 6.

Compare the following crash tests for your self and see the major difference a harness makes.

Forward facing harness vs. booster: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

A lateral test (the third view in) of a harnessed seat: http://www.oeamtc.at/videobox/index.php?...

A deep winged high back booster like a Parkway: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

A shallow winged high back booster like the Turbobooster: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

And a no back booster: http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seite...

There are 2 options for a BIG kid to keep him harnessed:

1)Britax Regent. This is the one I'd go with (and did!). Harnesses to 80lbs, keeping the average kid in it until about 8 years old, hopefully it will keep my son harnessed to about age 5-6.  Regularly retails for $269, but Britax is having one of their semiannual sales from February 24 - March 2. You could snag a Britax seat for $200 or less including shipping! It is SOOOO worth it to keep your baby safe, and with a big child this is the most comfortable option, bit seat with lots of growing room.

2)Graco Nautilus. This seat just came out and is currently only available at Walmart, though several online retailers are already taking preorders, intending to ship in late February. Its expected in other stores in late Feb/March. Harnesses to 65lbs then becomes a high back turbobooster and then a no back booster. All for only $150!!!! Awesome seat that even has a cupholder and metal reinforcements.

Answer 5

he should be able to go to a booster seat

just check the laws in your state for if you have to be a certain weight/age/height and then make sure you get one that will last a while

Answer 6

Booster seats with vehicle seatbelt are for children 4 years AND 40lbs.  Your son still needs to be in a 5 point harness seat that fits him.  A forward facing harnessed seat is outgrown when a child reaches the weight limit or their shoulders are above the top harness slots.

There are lots of higher weight harness seats available: such as the Britax Marathon, Decathalon, Boulevard, or Regent; Sunshine Kids Radian, Evenflo Triumph Advance, the new Graco Nautilus, and some others.

Click the link below for great techs who can help you.

Answer 7

our son has been in his booster chair since he was 2 (now 4)

Answer 8

get a smaller boy.lol.