Keep you pre-schooler in a 5 point harness carseat!

[Serap]

Yes, I was aware of that.

Most injuries when flying are due to turbulence. And it would prevent that baby from crashing their head on the ceiling and flying out of your lap under the seat in front of you.

It’s better than just holding the baby, and it’s affordable.

very true. it’s a scary thought. My son would never stay in it though. He would scream bloody murder.

Thank God the next time I fly, he will be at least 2.

 

[sanctareparata]

I think the if we make people buy another seat they will opt to drive more argument is silly. It’s like saying if we close bars early people will drink in their cars.

Yes to what Serap said. I think you misunderstood me. Thanks, Serap!

As to flying being a onetime event…true, but one bad episode of turbulence is all that is needed to propel your baby into the ceiling. Totally not worth it to me.

But why isn’t the same mindset used for car travel? It only takes one accident, and it doesn’t take much to make sure the kids are as safe as possible by keeping them rear facing longer or by not putting them in boosters before they should be.

I think that if people were more aware of the increased safety of doing these things (for one example, keeping a child rear facing makes them 500% safer in an accident), then they might make better purchases from the get-go instead if finding themselves in situations where they need to keep buying one seat after another just to keep their kids rear facing or harnessed longer. That gets very costly, very fast.

 

[bethndanny]

Coming in a bit late, but Sancta, you’re a very valuable source of information!!! Thank you for your contributions.

As for what minivan is safest, well naming the Odyssey as the safest is accurate for 2010, that isn’t the case for each year. The Hyundai Entourage/Kia Sedona were for 2007 - I only know that year because that’s what I own. The Dodge could have been up there at some point too, I certainly haven’t checked each year. I’d hate for some parents to be second guessing their vehicle choice.

As for flying, we’ve flown with the kids many, many times and used car seats each time.

As for which car seat/booster seat you use, we use this www0.epinions.com/review/Cosco_Apex_65_22531/content_218900172420 I rarely see it mentioned in car seat threads, and I’m not sure why. Maybe people don’t know about it? It goes up to 65 pounds as a 5 pt harness and a booster up to 100 pounds, it is also affordable. We’ve been in two accidents where these seats were used and we chose to replace them with the exact same seats.

 

[Serap]

Coming in a bit late, but Sancta, you’re a very valuable source of information!!! Thank you for your contributions.

As for what minivan is safest, well naming the Odyssey as the safest is accurate for 2010, that isn’t the case for each year. The Hyundai Entourage/Kia Sedona were for 2007 - I only know that year because that’s what I own. The Dodge could have been up there at some point too, I certainly haven’t checked each year. I’d hate for some parents to be second guessing their vehicle choice.

As for flying, we’ve flown with the kids many, many times and used car seats each time.

As for which car seat/booster seat you use, we use this www0.epinions.com/review/Cosco_Apex_65_22531/content_218900172420 I rarely see it mentioned in car seat threads, and I’m not sure why. Maybe people don’t know about it? It goes up to 65 pounds as a 5 pt harness and a booster up to 100 pounds, it is also affordable. We’ve been in two accidents where these seats were used and we chose to replace them with the exact same seats.

Thanks. It states that this carseat is 18 inches in height for sitting. My dd is almost 16 inches now, so I wonder how long it would really last her? I think maybe a year or year and a half at most. The Fronier is 20 inches sitting height and it would definitely last until my son has outgrown his Britax Marathon.

Sancta, how long do you think it would take for a kid to grow 2 inches sitting height?

 

[sanctareparata]

Thanks. It states that this carseat is 18 inches in height for sitting. My dd is almost 16 inches now, so I wonder how long it would really last her? I think maybe a year or year and a half at most. The Fronier is 20 inches sitting height and it would definitely last until my son has outgrown his Britax Marathon.

Sancta, how long do you think it would take for a kid to grow 2 inches sitting height?

The Apex’s highest harness slot is 17.25" or 17.5", 18 is just rounding up. And you always lose almost 1/2 " when the seat is installed. So really, your kiddo would probably have just one inch of torso height left in it, which could be another 6 months to a year.

The only things I don’t like about the Apex are that it’s flimsy (to me, who is used to reinforced seats and boosters) and it MUST ALWAYS have a vehicle headrest behind it, since the Apex’s headrest is not reinforced itself. You can never install this seat anywhere that a vehicle headrest is not located. Also, it’s super wide.

 

[Serap]

The Apex’s highest harness slot is 17.25" or 17.5", 18 is just rounding up. And you always lose almost 1/2 " when the seat is installed. So really, your kiddo would probably have just one inch of torso height left in it, which could be another 6 months to a year.

The only things I don’t like about the Apex are that it’s flimsy (to me, who is used to reinforced seats and boosters) and it MUST ALWAYS have a vehicle headrest behind it, since the Apex’s headrest is not reinforced itself. You can never install this seat anywhere that a vehicle headrest is not located. Also, it’s super wide.

Thanks. I guess the Frontier is my best option for DD right now.

I’m one of those moms who made the mistake of buying 2 Britax Marathons :doh2:

I at least hope this thread prevents other mothers from making my costly mistake.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

Thanks. I guess the Frontier is my best option for DD right now.

I’m one of those moms who made the mistake of buying 2 Britax Marathons :doh2:

I at least hope this thread prevents other mothers from making my costly mistake.

Could you sell one? Or donate it?

 

[Serap]

Could you sell one? Or donate it?

I can’t afford to donate it, but I could probably get about $100 for it here in Canada on Craig’s List.

 

[bethndanny]

I DO have very short children, so perhaps that is why it’s never been an issue with the shoulder straps? They are quite miniature. My son uses it as a booster now. I was under the impression that all car seats ought to have the headrest behind them, but that is not the case Sancta? Interesting. Yes they are rather wide seats, but each of my kiddos is in their own captains seat.

 

[Serap]

I DO have very short children, so perhaps that is why it’s never been an issue with the shoulder straps? They are quite miniature. My son uses it as a booster now. I was under the impression that all car seats ought to have the headrest behind them, but that is not the case Sancta? Interesting. Yes they are rather wide seats, but each of my kiddos is in their own captains seat.

I envy your very short children haha! I’d save $350!!!

I think Britax Frontier and Graco Nautilus don’t require headrest b/c they are steel inforced. Sancta will correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[sanctareparata]

Sancta will correct me if I’m wrong.

It’s because Dorel / Cosco makes flimsy seat shells, honestly.

That doesn’t mean they are bad seats, just that the seat requires the vehicle to help support it. Other carseats and boosters don’t require vehicle headrests because the shells are sturdy enough to support themselves. And not EVERY Dorel / Cosco seat requires the vehicle headrest (or a highback seat) just lots of them. It would be mentioned in the manual if it’s required.