Kia Sedona Recommendation

[mlinane]

I have a 2003 Kia Sedona minivan. My 4 year old is riding in a Fisher Price car seat which is now 5 years old. She has not reached the 40 lb minimum for a booster seat (she's 37 lbs). I want to replace her seat because she's been complaining that the harness is hurting her and due to the age of the car seat.

Can you recommend a combination seat with a five point harness that can be used as a belt positioning booster when she finally reaches 40 lbs? I've been looking at the Evenflo Chase and Eddie Bauer, but I'd be open to other suggestions preferably under the $100 price tag.

Thanks.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

[Papooses]

I strongly urge you to read the information on Extended harnessing vs. booster use in my website.... Some Fisher Price Seats have an 8 year lifespan (as opposed to the usual 6 years: call customer service to find out for sure) -- if it's not expired, then I would simply share the GM booster video, etc. with your child to educate her on the importance of staying harnessed with the straps snug such that they cannot be pinched horizontally at the collar bone.

The seats you mentioned would not be worth the $ because you'd get very minimal harnessing out them & then they pale in comparison to other more dedicated boosters on the market. Combination seats on the whole (especially 3-in-1 types) are "jacks of all trades, masters of none" $100 is really minimal for a good lasting seat at this stage of your daughter's growth. Can you increase your budget in any way? (I once sold a piece of furniture to afford a safer seat )

If you do want/need to change seats now rather than waiting & saving towards a safer longer lasting high weight harness or truly dedicated booster, then I'd consider the Cosco Apex (some have 19" tall top slots, but most are 17"). My website does have informational links on other options for you to consider. The most important thing is that it will fit kiddo + be used correctly 100% of the time.

Your vehicle has middle row captain chairs, right? Those are really easy to install pretty much any FF seat: recline the vehicle seatback, install the carseat as per the instructions, then bring the seatback upright again (maybe with help) -- it's almost always a super easy secure install

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

[mlinane]

Originally Posted by Papooses

Your vehicle has middle row captain chairs, right? Those are really easy to install pretty much any FF seat: recline the vehicle seatback, install the carseat as per the instructions, then bring the seatback upright again (maybe with help) -- it's almost always a super easy secure install

Yes, captain chairs is correct. I've never reclined the seat before installing... why is that? You are referring to the actual seats in the van (not the child seat)?

The Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe seems to be highly recommended. I'm considering either purchasing that or just keep her in the car seat she is in now and wait until she's 40 lbs and get a dedicated booster. Perhaps it may help for now if I get covers for the straps near her neck since she is complaining about the straps hurting her neck.

Thanks for the advice!!

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

[Papooses]

Unless the covers come with the carseat (& therefore crash tested to make sure it doesn't interfer with the carseat's performance) then they're not recommended -- it's usually sufficient to just pull up the shirt collar so the strap isn't right against the skin....

Correct carseat installation requires less than 1" movement at the belt path: rather than sweating & cursing trying to get it tight, reclining the vehicle seatback 1st, then bringing up upright after installing the carseat (tight-ish but without all the struggle) is just an easy trick to make sure it's really solid