[littlepoppet]

Okay so my 4 (almost 5) year old son needs a new seat. He turns 5 in Feb next year, is 17 kgs and approx 108 cms tall.

I'm unsure as to whether I should get a convertible booster or a dedicated booster.

Am thinking of getting a sns hiliner if we go with a dedicated booster but haven't decided for a convertible.

Anyone have any ideas on what would be best?

This post has been edited by littlepoppet: 23/12/2012, 10:37 PM

[hiddensecrets]

It now goes by torso height not weight, so I would take him into a few stores and see what he fits the best.

In this position I am torn as I am yet to see a convertible boosterseat that actually makes a good booster seat (although the new Maxi Rider Easy Adjust might-in saying that he would probably fit into the harness still as my 8 year old fits in the harness in this seat).

I know people say that the Infa convertible boosters are good if you are using a harness-not too sure on them as a convertible boosterseat BUT they dont cost an arm and a leg (Compared to the $450+ price tag for an easy adjust) so if you got one, then put him in a booster a few years later its not as much out of pocket as you could be.

A hiliner is a good seat if you go for the dedicated booster.

[littlepoppet]

Thanks for your reply, hiddensecrets.

I'm thinking that we will probably go with a convertible booster as my son is incredibly slight.

So what convertible boosters should I look at. I would like to purchase a seat tomorrow.

Am thinking maybe a Babylove Ezy Combo or a SNS Maxi Rider 2. We are then happy to purchase a dedicated booster for him in the future.

[tibs]

Hipod Senator is another good convertible booster, it is only in Target stores.

My 5.5 year old is around the same size as your son, he is in a convertible booster with plenty of room. He is actually still in a SNS Meridian in my husband's car.

[roses99]

My (reasonably tall) 5.5 year old is still very comfortably fitting in his Maxi Rider AHR, with the inbuilt 5-point harness. When he outgrows it, I will buy him a dedicated booster rather than use the Maxi Rider in booster mode.

If your 5 year old is slight, you should still get a few years out of a convertible for him. Is there another child you can then pass it on to?

My son uses a dedicated booster (the Infa Secure) in my parent's car, and I'm comfortable with that. But , in our car, I want to keep him in a 5-point harness for as long as I can get away with it.

[the.supers]

Cargo Marathon from Big W is fantastic, I have it set up in booster mode and find it very easy.

Run a mile from the Infa convertibles, the back is very low and they are the biggest pain in the neck to install. If you have to use it in harnessed mode, you will cry.

[hiddensecrets]

Thanks for your reply, hiddensecrets.

I'm thinking that we will probably go with a convertible booster as my son is incredibly slight.

So what convertible boosters should I look at. I would like to purchase a seat tomorrow.

Am thinking maybe a Babylove Ezy Combo or a SNS Maxi Rider 2. We are then happy to purchase a dedicated booster for him in the future.

This is really personal preference. And it can also go by budget as well. Infa's are under $200 for some of them at Kmart and BigW. Hipod Senators are not too bad (apparently made by S-N-S as is Baby Love). I would go try him in a few and see which one you would get the most usage out of (which one he has the most room in).

[sparkler]

My DS is 5yrs, he rides in a Infa Comfi Cruiser, Hipod Senator and a Meridian AHR T&A, he harnesses in all of them although he is about 8cm shorter than your son, if you would feel happier with him harnessed I would say go for an Infa or Hipod Convertable (under $200.00) and then when he outgrows the harness buy a Hiliner or a Infa Vario Max (both 4 stars although I believe the Hiliner allows for taller children), this is what we are doing as it is a safe and affordable way to harness for longer, I rang Infa and confirmed with their technical dept that the inbuilt harness can be used with the slots above the change to booster mode markers as long as the child still fits in the harness and their eyes are not above the top of the seat.

IMO the drawback with the Infa Comfi cruiser/rovette/raylle (same product different names) is that they are tricky to install, I have gotten a good install with ours but it was 2x the effort that fitting the SNS Meridian was.

The new Maxi Rider may be a good option but it has not been crash tested yet in either mode so there is no real way to check that .

[littlepoppet]

If your 5 year old is slight, you should still get a few years out of a convertible for him. Is there another child you can then pass it on to?


My son uses a dedicated booster (the Infa Secure) in my parent's car, and I'm comfortable with that. But , in our car, I want to keep him in a 5-point harness for as long as I can get away with it.

We have 2 other children who will also get use out of it. Our son uses a dedicated booster in my mil's car also. I agree that a 5-point harness best for our car too.

Thanks for the other suggestions. I will look into them.

Does anyone know which of the seats listed below has the highest shoulder straps, thereby allowing my son to remain in 5-point harness for the longest amount of time:

-SNS Maxi Rider 2
-Babylove Ezy Combo
-Hipod Senator
-Cargo Marathon

This post has been edited by littlepoppet: 23/12/2012, 11:52 PM

[the.supers]

Cargo Marathon is made by Safe n sound and it's top slots are at 50cm. I think thats the highest of all the seats.