Carseat question

[rosesandpetals]

Two questions:

Is there a FF height limit on the cosco scenera renaissance?  All I can find is a RF height, FF weight, and information about the scenera next. DD is really tall, I'm a little worried she will outgrow it. In my state, you need to be 4 and 40 pounds to use a booster. So what would I transition to? A harnessed booster? We have a Nextfit in my car so nbd there. ETA: she is 3.

And

When do kids stop needing a carseat? Does a kindergartener still need one? If so, can you recommend a really cheap one that is super easy to install. It is a spare one for a kid I am going to drive short distances just 2 - 3 times.

[gastro]

In California kids 8 and under must be in ththe back secured in car seat or booster, so depending on the size of the child a kindergartner will most definitely need something. My almost five year old is still in a car seat because he hovers around 39 pounds.

[rosesandpetals]

/Ugh, I am not buying a carseat for this kid. When do they start using the blowup bubble thing? Isn't that like $20?

[lala]

I think many if not most kindergarteners are in HBB or NBB. Whether they should be or not is another story. If it's just an occasional thing and he's over 40lbs, I'd pick up a cheaper NBB - you can get them for under $20 at Target or wherever. I wouldn't want that to be the primary seat b/c I don't think they'd be mature enough to sit correctly 100% of the time - but for something like this, I think it's fine.

My 4 year old meets the weight requirement for a booster but she's in a 5 point harness until at least 5.5 if I had to guess for maturity. So half way through her K year. For traveling this fall I'll allow a booster.

[gastro]

Why don't you get a HBB for the other child and then it can become your DD's when she outgrows her car seat?

[dizzycooks]

I guess what does the kids parent want them in? Can they provide it? Assuming it's a legal option is do that. I wouldn't be happy to find my 4yo in a booster just bc its legal here.

[quesyrah]

I would not drive a child who wasn't in a properly fitted car seat. I also wouldn't buy the seat, the parents need to provide it.

I would send a couple of links to high back boosters to the parents and let them know their child needs one for your car.

[gastro]

I agree that the parents should provide the proper seat for their child. I have an extra HBB in my car though because with all the play dates DS has its just easier when I pick up friends to have an installed extra seat in my car.

[lattelady5]

The original scenera is outgrown FF at 43" or when child's shoulders exceed the tallest harness strap position.

You will want to get a combination seat for your DD. If you can give me a budget I can list some stuff that would work.

While the law is 40lbs and 4, MOST 4 year olds also need to be in a harnessed seat and a very large number of 5 year olds as well. Can the parent provide a seat? Do you know this child well? Does he she have good impulse control? Could she sit properly for the ride to school? If so, I would look at either the high back version of Graco turbo booster or the evenflo big kid/amp. I can help you find a good deal on these too of you go that route. I bought a high back amp a few weeks ago for less than $30.

[rosesandpetals]

The parents don't have a car so they don't have a car seat. I'm driving him to the hospital tomorrow and a couple days next week because his brother (a baby) is sick. It is a favor, I'm doing it so they don't have to take the bus all the way home, get him off the school bus, go back to the bus to get to the hospital, then turn around and go home again that night. It will only be 2 - 3 times, though, so I don't want to buy an expensive seat.

[gastro]

if he's older and bigger than your DD then just get something you want for her and she can grow into it?

[rosesandpetals]

Mar 17, 2016 16:28:39 GMT -5 gastro said:

if he's older and bigger than your DD then just get something you want for her and she can grow into it?

He's almost 3 years older than her. I'm not hanging onto a seat for 3 years because I'm driving him a couple times? Do you guys really store stuff that long?

[lattelady5]

Does your dd still fit in her scenera? Can you move the nextfit to your vehicle and then you don't have to buy anything?

Or, if that won't work and she fits the scenera, I'd buy the combo seat you want for your DD when she does outgrow the scenera. Keep her in the scenera, use the combo seat for him.

Harmony defender is around $100. (It comes on a really pretty pink ) Graco Atlas is around $120. The nautilus has been on sale lately too for around the same.

Otherwise Evenflo embrace/advanced transitions. I love this combo seat it's so cushy and nice. Sells for around $150.

If you want to spend more I can recommend others as well.

Does that sound like it would work?

[lattelady5]

Mar 17, 2016 16:30:22 GMT -5 rosesandpetals said:

Mar 17, 2016 16:28:39 GMT -5 gastro said:

if he's older and bigger than your DD then just get something you want for her and she can grow into it?

He's almost 3 years older than her. I'm not hanging onto a seat for 3 years because I'm driving him a couple times? Do you guys really store stuff that long?

If she's super tall she'll probably be outgrowing the scenera soon anyway. You won't be hanging onto it for too long, you'll be replacing the scenera. Then you don't have to buy 2 seats.

[rosesandpetals]

Mar 17, 2016 16:37:12 GMT -5 lattelady5 said:

Mar 17, 2016 16:30:22 GMT -5 rosesandpetals said:

He's almost 3 years older than her. I'm not hanging onto a seat for 3 years because I'm driving him a couple times? Do you guys really store stuff that long?

If she's super tall she'll probably be outgrowing the scenera soon anyway. You won't be hanging onto it for too long, you'll be replacing the scenera. Then you don't have to buy 2 seats.

How do you know when it is outgrown? Is it the shoulder straps or wasn't it something about the head being an inch over the top? I cant find a listed height anywhere.

The scenera is in dh's car. The nextfit is in mine. Can a 5 yo fit in a nextfit? Don't they need a booster? I can just put him in her next fit for the trip since she won't be there.

And about replacing the scenera, I am confused. Does she move into a hbb or another ff car seat? I'm not even sure what the difference is between a ff carseat and a harnessed booster.

[lattelady5]

Mar 17, 2016 16:43:27 GMT -5 rosesandpetals said:

Mar 17, 2016 16:37:12 GMT -5 lattelady5 said:

If she's super tall she'll probably be outgrowing the scenera soon anyway. You won't be hanging onto it for too long, you'll be replacing the scenera. Then you don't have to buy 2 seats.

How do you know when it is outgrown? Is it the shoulder straps or wasn't it something about the head being an inch over the top? I cant find a listed height anywhere.

The scenera is in dh's car. The nextfit is in mine. Can a 5 yo fit in a nextfit? Don't they need a booster? I can just put him in her next fit for the trip since she won't be there.

And about replacing the scenera, I am confused. Does she move into a hbb or another ff car seat? I'm not even sure what the difference is between a ff carseat and a harnessed booster.

It has a 43" FF height limit. So if her shoulders exceed the top harness position, she reaches 43" or the tips of her ears exceed the shell, it's outgrown. Make sense?

Most kids outgrow it by 4 and since she's taller, likely it will be sooner.

He can only ride in a booster if he can sit properly and assuming he doesn't ride in a car often, it's unlikely he understands that. He doesn't need to be in a booster though. A harnessed seat is perfectly appropriate for a 5 year old. As long as he isn't giant, I would guess he probably fits the nextfit just fine.

A harnessed booster and a FF combination seat are the same thing. Its a booster seat with an internal harness. You use the harness until your child outgrows it and is ready for a booster then you convert it to booster mode.

All of the seats I listed are combination seats.

[expectantsteelerfan]

Above posters answered your question about your dd outgrowing her scenera.

For your favor, I would either put both your car seats in one car for those few days, or try to borrow a high backed booster from a friend if that isn't possible. We keep a spare booster in our basement for whenever we drive friends.

[lattelady5]

Idk if this picture will work. TT has sucked lately. I just snapped this. My DD is a little older but shorter torsoed and long legs. She still has about an inch of growth left. I was actually expecting her to have outgrown it haha (ots a crashed demo seat )

[rosesandpetals]

Okay, I think she may have outgrown the scenera already. I didn't realize how tall she is until her Dr appt. I'll check out the seats you listed.

The boy isn't huge but he is... Wiggly. For lack of a better word. I'll put him in the nextfit. Thanks!

Eta dd won't be there so only need 1 seat for the trip. Thanks, everyone!