I need your advice. I have run into a dilemma that I need your help with! Emmersyn is quickly growing out of her infant car seat and needs to get into a convertible seat fairly soon. With that said, we have two Britax Boulevards and I was planning on giving Emmersyn Riley’s seat and putting Riley in a booster. However, after a little research and thought I’m now not sure what I’m going to do. Riley would be fine in a booster according to the height recommendations, but not the weight recommendations. I didn’t really want to buy another Boulevard for just a year (or so) until Riley reaches that 40 pound mark if I didn’t have to, but I want to do what’s safest for her. So now I am thinking about buying another Boulevard and skipping a booster all together. I know a booster would be more convenient for me (since I wouldn’t have to keep strapping her in–she could do it in a booster) but I’m not interested in what’s easiest or best for me.
Is there a downside of keeping Riley in an actual car seat, and not a booster, for a couple more years? Any car seat/booster advice? Are there boosters that are just as good as a convertible seat? Any help would be great!!
shelbypaulk.com 
Shelby…I don't think there really is a downside to keeping her in a carseat for longer. If she can't buckle it on her own now, she will be able to soon. AND i do find the bigger carseats much better for road trips (napping) than the boosters. You'll probably just want to pick up a cheap $20 booster to have on hand in case she ever rides with a friend or in Ty's car. The carseats do take up more room, but if you have the room I don't think it's a big deal! We were in the same situation and I think Sadie will just stay in her boulevard and Blake in his for as long as they'll fit in them. (And they also sit up higher than they do in a booster)
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If you can keep her in a 5 pt harness seat, I would do that for as long as possible. If you are looking to buy a new one and don't want to spend as much money as the Britax, look into the Graco Nautalius. I think it is around $150. When Kennedy outgrew her Britax Roundabout, we got the Graco seat. It does convert to a high back booster. I think it goes up to 65 pounds in the harness. Kennedy can buckle herself in the seat (she is almost 4), but can't unbuckle the bottom one. We did get a booster for Brady's car instead of buying another car seat. She has a lot more freedom in it and has even unbuckled once. If possible, I would keep her in the car seat as long as you can. That being said, I know how much more expensive they are than booster seats.
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I too am on the fence about the whole booster vs five point harness seat. I am sticking with the five point for as long as possible, and as our carseat goes up to 65lbs as a 5-point harness with an adjustable back to accomadate growing kids, and then onto a booster, I will keep him in it as a 5 point for quite a while still, and he is 4.5.
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I had this issue recently too but ended up leaving Addie in her 5 point harness. I actually tried a booster with her and I didn't feel like she was safe at all so I went back to the car seat. I actually got out car seat from SAMs and I love it. It's an infant, toddler and booster seat so eventually I can use a seat belt with it. It does take up more room them the booster but she is definitely more secure. Plus the car seat I got reclines so when they fall asleep I have to pull it and just lay them back a bit. No more sore necks!! SAMs run them for about 100 and ive had no isssues.
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Ooh and also, the two I have are super easy to adjust. I don't have to take the car seat completely out to adjust the straps, the back just moves up and down. And the padding is really thick. I know I've tested some car seats that it feels like they are sitting on the plastic but both mine have thick padding to keep them comfy.
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we plan on getting a 5 point-harness booster when Brady grows out of his boulevard ( another Britax). Brady is still rear-facing until he reaches the rear-facing limit. I think the boosters aren't really that effective! Have you looked at the carseatlady.com…she has so much info on safety with carseats and boosters.
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I am a Britax momma for life, though it is getting quite expensive with four kids and two vehicles. I tried to my three- (now four-) year-old in a five-point, and finally decided to just put him in a booster. I had the Britax Regent. It's huge, but extremely safe. (And now for sale.) It is just too big for how many kids we have. At this point, without it, we can squeeze in one friend or cousin with our brood. I switch said kid to the Britax Parkway. I now own the Regent, two Parkways, three Marathons and a Roundabout. All this said, if you are willing and able to keep Riley in a five-point, it would be safer. She is much smaller than my four-year-old. For me, with four kids, it's working out to have the older two in the boosters. Good luck!
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I am a Britax momma for life, though it is getting quite expensive with four kids and two vehicles. I tried to my three- (now four-) year-old in a five-point, and finally decided to just put him in a booster. I had the Britax Regent. It's huge, but extremely safe. (And now for sale.) It is just too big for how many kids we have. At this point, without it, we can squeeze in one friend or cousin with our brood. I switch said kid to the Britax Parkway. I now own the Regent, two Parkways, three Marathons and a Roundabout. All this said, if you are willing and able to keep Riley in a five-point, it would be safer. She is much smaller than my four-year-old. For me, with four kids, it's working out to have the older two in the boosters. Good luck!
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http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4097426this one the weight starts at 30 pounds. i just put kaitlyn in one two days ago. mine came with an attachment that helps to lower the seat belt a little so it's not too high.
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