Help requested for regent/blvd riddle...

[abby]

This decision is confounding me, can anyone help?
The facts:
*I have a son, 29 pounds, about 36 inches, just turned 3 this week.
*I have a 2004 subaru forester, latch.
*We own a wizard, and a regent, still waiting for the "enhancement " kit
to use long belt path w/ latch. Currently using short belt path w/latch.
*We had an accident in a 92 mercury sable, our second car, no latch, with the wizard in back center: no airbags deployed, car drove away, but hubby broke bone in hand and back window was broken, back door needed to be replaced, plus some other panels.
*Got 200 bucks from the insurance; but Britax said the wizard was
probably still ok to use. I know about the 7 criteria for a "major" accident; Britax said that since the damaged door and window werent right next to the seat(center) it might not count as a major crash criteria. I forget what they said about my husband's hand as a criteria.
*We are about to leave on a long road trip in the subaru forester, and need to buy a new seat, or use the regent or wizard.

My questions;
*Would anyone here still use the wizard? I've decided not to but would like to know opinions.
*Should I leave for the trip with the "safe" but not enhanced Regent,
short belt path no recline bar?
*Should I get a new regent (we need 2 seats anyhow, if the wizard is no
go)or will that pesky recline bar, required with the new one, always be a lousy fit? I could never get a good install in the forester with it.
*Should I get a new boulevard, knowing he'll be out of it in a year or
so? I sat him in one today, and he had 3-4 inches before the highest
belt position (I just wound the dial up until it stopped)then i'd have
to get a second regent at that point. It also looks odd to me with the side impact wings raised way up high above the seat, but I guess it's OK as long as the childs ears are not above the top of the seat...
*Should I get a cheaper marathon, to buy time before buying our next regent or other seat, without spending the full blvd price since it may not fit him for long? Were leaving next week so the best deal I can get in a hurry is Target, opening up a charge to get 10 percent off the Marathon. Just how important is that side impact stuff on the BLVD anyhow?
* As if this weren't enough, what do you think of this: I have a factory installed dog gate in the forester, and am continuing to use the top tether through it. We dont have a dog but it seems to me that the gate would keep luggage from flying around, and the tether doesnt look compromised to me, although I know you arent supposed to use it with the gate.

Thanks so much everyone,
Abby

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	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

	Top-Tether A top tether (or top strap) is the supplemental attachment now standard on almost every new carseat in the USA. Top tethers can be used with either the seat belt or with the lower anchors (as part of the LATCH system). In other countries, their use may be required by law. A top-tether is simply a strap that connects the top of the carseat to an anchor mounted in the vehicle at a location behind the carseat, usually the parcel shelf or a point on the floor of the cargo area. It is designed to prevent the forward movement of the top of a forward-facing carseat in a frontal crash. This reduces the head excursion of the child, and can reduce the chances of injury. Almost all current carseats can only meet the tougher new federal safety standards when the tether is used, even though they must still meet the minimum safety standards without a tether.

[Papooses]

Hi Abby! I remember your post from the other forum

• I would not continue to use any carseat involved in a crash that required repairs for vehicle damage.
• I would attempt to install the Regent as per the new instructions, but if you cannot meet the new recommendations then (based on what the reps told me) I would make the parental decision to continue using the original instructions, especially since the child is no where near 50# yet.
• I'd probably be more frugal, choosing an Uptown or Triumph Advance to RF kiddo & save towards a 2nd Regent.
• If your state doesn't have a Proper Use clause (few do) then I would probably make the parental decision to use both the barrier + tether simply because we don't have data showing that it's dangerous do to so but we do have data showing that not tethering isn't as safe as tethering (there is no known record of a tether failing, BTW) & projectiles are a serious cause for concern