Booster Seat for 3.5 Year Old

I know how confusing and frustrating car seat decisions can be. It's actually a topic that is really important to me. I found a great resource that I like to share with people trying to make decisions on what to buy. I know I recommended the Graco Nautalis yesterday (everyone that I know that has this seat loves it because it has the three different uses and provides the 5 pt. harness option up to 65 lbs.). Another one to consider is the Safety First Apex 65. You can use the 5 pt. harness on this seat up to 65 lbs. and then it also converts to a high back booster. Here is in on Overstock at a great price:
http://www.overstock.com/Baby/Safety-1st-Apex-65-Booster-...

Here is the other resource I have learned a lot from.
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/pages/828/About_Us.htm

If you have a chance, read the family's story and watch the video about their son. Like I said, it is very informative.
Hope you don't mind me sending this info along! I just know how much it helped me!

I have the Graco Nautilus and I love it! I highly recommend it!

Right now my son (just turned 3yrs)is in a Britax Marathon but with it's high base, I almost bop his head in the door frame of my car getting him in! I've been looking at the Britax frontier and the Graco Natalus myself. He needs the 5 point harnnes still but I really like the fact that I can use them as a booster seat when he gets older. After droppig alost 300 on his marathon, and needing just the booster seat later down the road, I'm trying to make this the last carseat we have to buy for him!! We also have an evenflo 5 point harness/seat belt positioning booster that gets used between my hubby's two trucks or for when I'm babysitting in my car. It's not as comfy as the britax or the nataulis but it gets the job done!

Just remember your child needs to be in a harness for as long as possible before using the car seat belt on a booster. My almost 9yr old daughter is still in a backless booster because my car seat belt rides too high up her neck and she is by far not short either!! Here is a link to GA child seat belt laws. http://www.gahighwaysafety.org/ChildPassengerc3.pdf

Good luck!
S.

you need to keep her harnessed as long as possible for the safety of her spine. childrens neck bones do not fuse until 5-7years of age. If in an accident the force of the crash could force your childs neck to break and die or become paralized. 3.5yr old is not ment for a booster with an adult seat belt. My 5yr 1m old daughter is 41Lbs 46in tall, with a torso of 13in. She is on the second to last slot on the Harness. When she out grows the GN she will be back in her Regent which she has a ton more room to grow in. Nautilus is a great seat. You can harness up to 65lbs then converts as a HBB to 100lbs then no back booster. The harness is good for 6years, the HBB is good for 6years and the LBB is good for 9years. If an any accident the car seat needs to be replaced. It is a easy seat to install with LATCH or Seatbelt along with the use of the Teather in either install methods. goes for $170. Check out Car-seat.org. they will help you get the right seat for your car, daughter, and budget. There are car seat techs there to help you install your seat right in your car, they know all the tricks.

We love our Evenflo Chase (from Target about $70).

Sorry for the delayed response! But if you haven't bought a booster yet I would HIGHLY recommend the Recaro Vivo Booster Seat. I just got one for my tall 2 yr old & we all luv it!!! It's so easy to install and travel with & the reviews on it are phenomenal! Just google it and you'll get loads of info on it. I bought mine online for you can't really buy it at a store. The booster seat reclines and my daughter sits & sleeps in it very comfortably without her head bopping everywhere! I would definitely tell u to check it out!

i wouldn't use a backless booster for a 3 1/2yo unless she's really big. I kept my 8yo in a 5 point harness until he started kindergarten then went to a backless booster and I still make him use it. My now 3 1/2 yo is still in 5 point harness and will be until she either outgrows it or starts kindergarten, which ever comes first. btw, we do use he turbobooster for my 8yo.

I have the Britax Boulavard and love it! It stays harnessed to 65lbs... My daughter will be harnessed until 65lbs no doubt! It is CRITICAL for spine, organ (life)! As a Chiropractor, I cant stress to you how important this is! Everyday children die in simple 30-40mph crashes by simply being turned forward to soon or being in a non-harnessed seat too early. Marisa hit VERY good points here and carseat.org is a great website with lots of info! The harness keeps the child at minimal movement in a crash and thus leads to less impact on their organs and spine. With just a seat beat, often times the spinal cord will internally snap from the whiplash. Best of luck to you! These decisions are so important!