[CallMeProtart]

Ok so I kind of need a refresher on the general principles of car seat safety. DD is turning 4 and getting to eye-level-equal-to-top-of-carseat situation, so it's time to get some new seats. However DS is 3 and it would be handy to get one which he could use too, if necessary.

So a general question - even though I know she CAN go in a booster with normal seatbelt once she's 4, is 5 point harness still safer? Should I keep her in 5 point for as long as I can, or is there a point at which a normal seatbelt becomes better? She's finally learned to do up her own 5 point, so it would be more convenient than a car seat anyway... but are there negatives?
I was thinking of getting something like what she's already in, which was a 5 point convertible to booster (infa trek 8) - this means DS could use it as well. But does this mean I'm taking a few steps down on the safety ratings scale, because the top brands in booster safety are not the same as the top brands in normal forward facing?

I dunno. Thought I had the hang of this for pre 4yo's, but now I'm mystified again. Thanks for any help!

[lsolaBella]

My 114cm 5.5 yo is in the new Sns Compaq. His 117cm brother still fits under the height markers too.

Other seat to look at is the new maxi rider T&A. It seems to have better seatbelt guide.

No 2010 standard car seats have been cREP tested.

[ednaboo]

So a general question - even though I know she CAN go in a booster with normal seatbelt once she's 4, is 5 point harness still safer? Should I keep her in 5 point for as long as I can, or is there a point at which a normal seatbelt becomes better? She's finally learned to do up her own 5 point, so it would be more convenient than a car seat anyway... but are there negatives?

Yes, a restraint with builtin harness is safer than a booster, providing of course that the child fits. Most kids can fit in a harnessed deat beyond 4yo, so providing your 4yo still fits in a new harnessed seat, then that is what I would do.

I was thinking of getting something like what she's already in, which was a 5 point convertible to booster (infa trek 8) - this means DS could use it as well. But does this mean I'm taking a few steps down on the safety ratings scale, because the top brands in booster safety are not the same as the top brands in normal forward facing?

The Trek 8 is a convertible booster - that is one option, but yes the last CREP found that convertible boosters tended to perform well as a FF seat but not as a booster. Most people don't like using them as a booster, so tend to get a dedicated booster at that stage.

It kind of depends on what you want to spend - as the PP said a Compaq would do ($375) or you could look for one of the other versions with the same shell such as the Lifestyle, or the Guardian etc which have the same shell but a simpler base. The height markers will be the same as the Compaq. The new Maxirider T & A is pretty $$, but I imagine it will retain value second hand so could be sold afterwards if you wish.

[CallMeProtart]

Thanks folks!

We ended up getting some more trek 8s (racing kid this one was called). There weren't any of the convertible boosters that got 4 stars, and only one (babylove ezycombo) that had 4 stars in FF mode, this one was a 3 star as booster and 3 star as FF so we figured it would do (could not find the babylove).

Kind of weird though, as the racing kid is listed as an alternate name for the Comfi Cruiser which is rated quite highly FF, but also the alternate name for the trek 8, which got ONE star in the same test. It made no sense at all...

[lsolaBella]

CREP test results are out of date. They have not tested any of the 2010standard seats so we do not know how they test.

The seats like the Compaq are very different to their CREP tested 2004 standard seats which were tested.

If you got a Racing Kids with height markers all should be OK. It was the seatbelt path on the original trek 8 which caused problems.

[CallMeProtart]

Ah cool. Yep it did say something about new seatbelt path so hopefully that's all good.

Can't believe they are being so slow with the testing though - what's the point???