Booster seat for your miniature contortionist!

Okay - barrage me with bashing e-mail, but I have a confession. Although my little one has had and still has a car seat in my mini-van (which is the car she is in 95% of the time), we still hadn't outfitted my husbands car with a seat. So the rare times she traveled in his car, she was simply buckled in with the adult belt across her lap and the shoulder belt stuck out of the way behind her back.

I know I'm not the only one who has done this and yes, I was still worried of the slimmest of slim chance that the few times she was riding with my husband not properly restrained, there might be the off-chance of an accident. Okay, confession over... on to repentance. Finally got a booster seat for my husband's car. My daughter is now 3, but she's on the petite side - only weighs 26 lbs. And yes, she is fed well! <grin>

I chose the Cosco high back booster after comparing several models at Target one day, mainly because it was inexpensive and seemed just as sturdy and cushiony as the other models that were priced higher. The little toddler seats that has no back, just a booster seat and a bar across the front -- forgetaboutit! My little girl is a contortionist deluxe and my only worry is that she will grow up and join a circus. She can still wiggle and squirm her way out of a high-chair with the tray pushed up to the closest setting and if the straps on her car seat in the van aren't tight enough to almost turn her purple, she can even wiggle her way out of that! Not entirely though, but enough to get the majority of her torso out to turn completely around, look over the top of the car seat and make faces at her older sister who is usually in "the back of the bus."

Well let me tell you, this car seat straps the kid in good. So good I'm tempted to buy another one to strap onto our kitchen chair so we can secure her down at dinner time! There is a 5-point harness which is an absolute necessity if you have a child whose double-joints are a freak of nature. The straps have two shoulder settings for height and if you have to move it to the higher setting like I did, be prepared for a struggle. It's not easy to pull the tension on one strap and re-thread another through the maze of the strap-security buckle. But once you finally conquer the beast you'll have your kid in a jacket of security and restraint almost equal to a straight-jacket. While I was adjusting it right I had her get in and out of it several times so I could measure the tightness and tension it needed... and once finished, I was able to spin her in the seat upside down and she didn't move hardly an inch. What I really like about it is how the upper body is restrained securely to the back of the car seat. Granted, she won't be able to pick up the crayon or sippy cup that tumbles out of her lap - but she also won't be able to wiggle, squirm and maneuver her tiny little body until you are surprised by a grinning smile in the rearview mirror saying "look mom - I'm out!"

This booster seat is designed for children weighing 22-70 pounds which means this is a seat we are going to have for the long-haul. They recommend you use the 5-point harness from 22-40 pounds, and then move to the shoulder strap belt from 40-70 pounds. The shoulder strap is the one provided in your car and it is threaded through an anchor on the top corner of the seat (either side) so as not to cut the child off mid-neck and then has grooves so the lap belt is in the proper position, once secured across the booster seat. The manual recommends that this car seat not be used on cars where the seat belt is connected to the door or the roof - but rather to the built-in car seat. So if you've got a fancy automatic seat belt that swings across -- that's not the seat to put your booster seat in.

Securing the car seat into the car itself was a little tricky. Since the place I was putting it in my husband's car used a shoulder belt, I used the clamp buckle that comes with the car seat to secure the shoulder and the lap belt together, which minimizes slippage for the car seat. However, once I threaded the strap through the car seat and pulled it tight, it was very difficult to grasp enough of the upper and lower belt to secure it in the clasp. But, through the magic of enough sweat and a few curse words since the kids weren't around, I finally managed.

The upper sides of the car seat is padded well and provides a nice head rest for napping in the car. It is also angled nicely so there is a slight recline, but not too much for the alert child to look out the window.

I highly recommend this car seat for anyone who has a miniature contortionist or just needs a good car seat for a growing toddler that will stay with them through the years.