I got my Recaro ProBooster today!!!

Yea!!  I am so happy!  I have been salivating over this seat since Recaro had a press release about it several months ago.  Offically, it hit stores June 1, but people have been preordering for a while.  I kept debating since I don't need to seat (trust me I don't and can't even justify it).  Well, I ordered.  I got a good price and I ordered.  I got the Blue Opal.  It arrived this afternoon.

Monkey is the one who found the box on the porch.  As soon as he saw it he asked if it was his new booster.  I said it was one for us to play with and he was slightly disappointed.  Neither of us could wait to open the box (for different reasons though, he actually wanted the box).  I pulled it out and was in love!  It is a very well designed seat with lots of side impact protection (SIP).  It also looked very cushy and plush. 

So, out to the car we went.  It had to go behind the passenger seat (at least that was my intended spot) as I already have a Britax Frontier and a Clek Oobr in the backseat.  When I set it down I had a sinking feeling that it wouldn't fit (I have a pretty narrow backseat).  It didn't.  The base fit, but the shoulder area didn't.  It was just too wide and the door wouldn't close.  I was so disappointed, but not totally discouraged.  Instead I un-installed the Frontier so I could play with the two boosters.

Monkey is 5.5 yrs old, 40 lbs (clothed), and 45" tall.  The belt fit on Monkey is the same in both boosters.  The lap portion of the belt touches the tops of his thighs.  The shoulder portion is in the middle between his neck and the edge of his shoulder.  The belt guides on the ProBooster are more "user friendly" meaning it is easier to get the seat belt into the guide.  Monkey could not buckle or unbuckle either seat himself (we need to work on that).  Monkey's legs bend just at the edge on the ProBooster and about 0.5" over the edge of the Oobr.

Overall, I like both seats.  I like them for different reasons, but I like them.  Monkey likes them too.  Right now he says he prefers the ProBooster, but he has yet to ride anywhere in it.

ProBooster Specs:
Weight of seat: 13 lbs
Seat life:  Six years from date of manufacture (DOM)
Weight minimum:  30 lbs
Weight maximum: 120 lbs
Height range for child: 37-61"
Widest point (shoulders): 19.5"
Base width: 16"
Seat depth: 13.5"
Height at highest setting (from seat to top of headrest)" 30"
Price:  About $120 depending on where you shop and what coupons you can find.

ProBooster Pros:
It is light.
Lots of SIP
Deeper seat than most boosters
Wider at shoulders than many boosters
Very cushioned
Breathable fabric on SIP
Has a recline bar to fit more vehicle seats
Does not need head support behind the head rest
Removable cover


ProBooster Cons (I may add more later as we use the seat):
No carry handle
Does not have LATCH or rigid LATCH
Does not become a backless booster for older kids (8+)


Oobr Specs:
Weight of seat: 25 lbs
Seat life:  Seven years from DOM
Weight minimum: 33 lbs
Wight maximum: 100 lbs
Height range for child:  38-57"
Widest point (shoulders): 18.25"
Base width: 15"
Seat depth: 12"
Height at highest setting: 29"
Price: $200-300 depending on cover and where you shop

Oobr Pros:
Magnesium reinforced frame
Carry handle
Rigid LATCH
Recline feature
Cup holder
Lots of wild colors and some patterns
Becomes a backless booster for older kids (8+)

Oobr Cons:
Heavy
Cover on back isn't removable (it is on seat)
Expensive


As a tech and a parent I DO not recommend putting a child under 5 or 6 into a high back booster.  Most state laws require a child to be at least 4 yrs AND 40 lbs to be in a booster seat.  It is my experience that most four year olds are not mature enough to ride in a booster.  Please read my post  "Is My Child Ready for a Booster."

Side by side at lowest position.  Oobr is on left and ProBooster on right.

Side by side at highest position

Profile (you can see the rigid LATCH on the Oobr)

So, why the title of Crazy About Car Seats?

Well, because I am kind of a little crazy about them.  I have been this way for a few years now.  Car seats really intrigue me.  I am not sure why, but they do. 

My son is an only and he has had nine car seats (in four cars) since he was born almost 5.5 yrs ago.  We have owned a Graco Snug Ride with two bases, an Evenflo Triupmh, an Evenflo Titan, Evenflo Generations, two Cosco Regal Rides, a Britax Frontier, a Graco Nautilus, a Cosco Apex 65, and, finally a Clek Oobr.

We started off with a Graco Snug Ride with two bases.  He outgrew the Snug Ride by length at 4 mos.

Our next two seats were an Evenflo Triumph and a Titan.  The Triumph was in my Jeep.  It is hands down my favorite seat ever!  It has been discontinued for a while, but its replacement, the Evenflo Triumph Advance, is even better!

The Titan went in my husband's Corolla.  I didn't like the seat from the beginning, but it was cheap and it worked.  The harness stopped tightening on it consistently at about the 1.5 yr point.  We were visiting my husband in Korea at that time and I left it there.

I replaced the Titan with an Evenflo Generations.  I thought I would like it as much as the Triumph and I liked that it turned into a booster.  It was a bad choice.  It even made the top five worst booster list!  The only thing good that I can say about this seat is that it is narrow and fits well in my Jeep with the Britax Frontier next to it. So, I have kept it as a spare seat.

Each set of grandparents bought a Cosco Regal Ride.  It was another inexpensive, no frills seat.  It got the job done.  He outgrew these seats just after he turned four.  They have pretty low top harness slots.

When he turned four we decided that he looked too "squished" in his current seats so we purchased a Britax Frontier for my car, a Graco Nautilus for my husband's, and an Apex 65 for my parents' cars.  I had no intention of putting a squirmy, bouncy, four year old in a booster.  To me four is WAY too young for a booster.  He will be harnessed until at least age six.  Anyway, the Frontier is now my second favorite seat.  The Nautilus is okay.  It gets the job done, but my son and I like the Frontier better. The Apex is nice and had a very good price.

Now, at age five my son has finally hit 40 lbs clothed so he has outgrown the Generations. In January I began my search for the perfect booster.  I thought I had found it in the Oobr.  It is a mammoth booster with a magnesium frame!  It can be LATCHed, has deep head wings, and made the IIHS list for best boosters.  The icing on the cake was that it came in a pirate pattern (Skurvy).   So, I ordered one.  My son loves it!  I like it too.  It is heavy and can be difficult to move between cars, but I love that I can LATCH it in place. 

So, with nine seats for one child I might be considered "crazy."  My husband just thinks I am obsessed.  Maybe I am. I've already found another booster I want to "play with."  It is the new Recaro ProBooster.  I am waiting to hear about a price for techs.  If it is low enough I may get it.

Great ClekJacket!

I am so thrilled!! I just won a ClekJacket (cover) for the Clek Olli or Ozzi. I won it by commenting on the Clek Facebook page. The contest ends this Friday.

The ClekJacket my son picked out is the Treehouse Camo. I was a little disappointed when he chose that design. I really liked the Julius Multiple Choice. Well, I was in for a surprise! The jacket came this morning (I won it last Friday) and I love it! The camo is really pretty, if camo can be pretty. The jacket is soft as well. My son also loves it! Now, I just need to buy (or win) an Olli or Ozzi so I can use this wonderful jacket when my son is older or when older kids ride with me.

Thank you Angela at Clek!!