The Great Car Seat Shake up of 2015

Ah, that time again... complacency will not be tolerated. As previously mentioned I've been reevaluating our car seat status. I had two high back boosters that expired over a year ago.  Two convertible car seats are scheduled to expire, the first June 2016 and the second Feb. 2017, and a harness to booster seat will expire Aug 2016. Originally, I had planned on continuing the use of all the seats till expiration and shift kids about at that time. However, plans have changed.

While doing a some research in the current seats available, I learned that two of my seats, both Recaro Proride, had a recall issued back in September, three months ago! Despite living in the exact same house and with the same landline that I registered with the company, I've not received a repair kit, nor have I been informed of the recall. Look, Recaro, you just lost a customer! I need to replaced seats next year and I'm taking my business elsewhere. It's not that the seat might have a safety issue, I get it, recalls happen, but that you haven't even contacted me, a registered customer yet, is unacceptable. I'm just suppose to "look it up." Really? Any confidence I had in the company to do the right thing, is gone.

However, even more concerning is that Consumer Reports found a 75% harness failure rate for children riding forward facing at 35lbs. They recommend against use of this seat in forward facing mode. Well, since my 4.5 year old child is 41lbs, he can no longer use this seat rear facing, and if the seat broke in a crash I'm not comforted by the prospects of him suffering from a head injury should he slam into the seat in front of him. So today, Christmas Eve, I reorganized our car seats and removed our forward facing Recaro Proride.

Since Consumer Reports found the Proride to be safe in rear facing mode, our 2 year 10month old will continue to use the newest Proride till it expires (or I replace it). Being on the 20% in height, he has room to grow.

My 90th% 7 month old has been advanced into a new carseat, the Britax Boulevard Click-tight. Which is so easy to install, we can move it to dad's car when needed, and can accommodate any of my four youngest children. So far, I really like this seat. (I found the best price on Amazon).

My 90th% 4 year old will move into the Recaro Prosport harness/ booster till it expires or I find something better. I like the Britax click tight Frontier, however, it's a bit wider than our current harness/ booster, and has some critical reviews that concern me (mainly the flimsy head rest).

Meanwhile, the 60th% 6yo will ride in our new booster, as long as she can prove she can be a "big girl" and stay upright in her seat. I purchased the Britax Parkway mostly because it's narrow enough to squeeze between larger bulky carseats (which we have a few of) and the because I think the Secure Guard Clip will give me piece of mind by keeping the lap belt from riding up... which for my children with probable splenomegaly (enlarged spleens) I'm most cognizant about. Abdominal rupture can silently kill a child if undetected in time. The SGL model also includes latch hooks to help hold the seat into the car when there's no occupant. I very much appreciate not having to worry about a booster seat flying into anyone during an accident, especially since it would more than likely hit my little folks in the front row square in the face. Latch is good since it's likely a 6yo might not remember to buckle her seat into the car when she gets out.

Finally, the 50th% 10yo, has been told it's okay if she's in a backless booster now. We have a few of those still in working order (including a Bubble Bum booster in dad's car).

Thankfully, my oldest two have graduated from requiring a booster seat... being taller than mom, they just need to remember not to slouch... oh what am I saying!?!?! Not much more I can do for them, but ensure they have a headrest, buckle up, and be glad our van has airbags all the way around.