Are all K'ers out of convertible carseats?

[Anonymous]

Mom of a boy starting K in a few weeks. He's small for his age (not sure of exact size - around 44 inches/42 lbs). He and his 2 yr old brother, who's huge (only a few inches shorter), are in matching Britax Boulevard seats and fit fine in them. I'm noticing now that most kids his age are in high back boosters. Is there any reason to switch him now? I'm fine with him riding in a HBB if he carpools with someone etc, but is is weird to keep a K'er in a "babyish" seat until he seems to outgrow it?

[Anonymous]

If he's not complaining it's OK. But he might be teased about still being in a "baby seat" if friends see.

[Anonymous]

OP,

You keep your kid in the safest car seat/booster option. Who gives a sh*t if another kid thinks it's "babyish."

You are an adult. It's highly doubtful that your kid will be teased about this, but safety first.

[Anonymous]

My kids were in 5-point seats until the end of 1st grade. My son is big for his age but I kept them both in 5-points as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

Nope. My average DD is going into second grade and is still in a convertible seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a boy starting K in a few weeks. He's small for his age (not sure of exact size - around 44 inches/42 lbs). He and his 2 yr old brother, who's huge (only a few inches shorter), are in matching Britax Boulevard seats and fit fine in them. I'm noticing now that most kids his age are in high back boosters. Is there any reason to switch him now? I'm fine with him riding in a HBB if he carpools with someone etc, but is is weird to keep a K'er in a "babyish" seat until he seems to outgrow it?

My kids were in a Diono Radian and a Britax Pioneer in K. A Boulevard is a "baby seat", but many kids will still be in 5 point harnesses. FWIW, we just moved my oldest (6.5) to a Britax Parkway. He is tall, but with his brother in the car, he is just now getting to the point where he can sit properly 95%+ of the time.

[Anonymous]

My kids were in a convertible seat until halfway through K, when the seats they'd had since infancy expired. Then we switched to a 3 in 1 seat with a 5-point harness. I expect they'll stay in the 5-point at least through first grade, maybe longer.

[Anonymous]

Mine isn't. If he fits, it clips.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they are mostly all in high back boosters, some in backless boosters. At 5 or 6, a 5 point harness isn't safer than a high back booster anyway.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, having spent a lot of time helping kids into and out of their car, the HBB with the harness are quicker and easier to manage. I don't know if I'd buy one just for that reason, but if I knew I was going to need one soon, then this might be a reason to switch now.

There will be plenty of K'ers in harnesses, but harnesses don't have to mean convertibles.

[Anonymous]

My 40 pound dd still is. Her doctor actually said at her annual appointment yesterday after asking what she rides in that she could probably switch to a booster. I asked if there was any reason to since the car seat fits and is rated to 55 or 65 pounds. She kind of hemmed and hawed but no real answer, which seemed odd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 40 pound dd still is. Her doctor actually said at her annual appointment yesterday after asking what she rides in that she could probably switch to a booster. I asked if there was any reason to since the car seat fits and is rated to 55 or 65 pounds. She kind of hemmed and hawed but no real answer, which seemed odd.

The reason to switch is because it's easier to get in and out of, especially in the Kiss and Ride line, and is equal in terms of safety.

[Anonymous]

In the real world, OP, yes.

[Anonymous]

Not mine. My second grader is still in a convertible car seat. We also have the Diono Radians. She's pretty small though - about 45lbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the real world, OP, yes.

+1 and asking here is far from the real world. DS was tall for his age and we had in him in Frontier through K. That even bothered him at the very end and we switched him to a backless for 1st. DD is in K and has a HBB. No plans to switch her to a backless anytime soon. Do what is best for your family, though. Unless you start carpooling or your child is ultra-sensitive at drop offs it may not be an issue.