marytara's Full Review: Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Car Seat
We recently replaced our primary carseat, a Britax Expressway with the Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat. Though my 3 year old son was still within the acceptable range for the expressway (he is 34 pounds and the seat goes to 40 pounds), getting him in the seat was a daily struggle. Its winter, which means bulky coats and clothing and though we had the straps let all the way out the buckle was a challenge to close without our little boy screaming. I had thought this was purely a clothing issue. However, even without his jacket the straps were just too tight. They were one the highest setting and let out as far as they could go. My son is just over 3 feet tall but is long through the torso, so I think he just plain outgrew his seat. As we knew we were about to embark on a 7 hour car trip around the holidays, off to the store I went to find a replacement.
Initially I had planned on purchasing a Graco TurboBooster but after a bit of product comparison we opted for the Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat instead for $99. I chose this model because my son is still well within the range for using a 5 point harness which is safest. When he is a bit bigger this same seat can be used as a belt positioner similar to the TurboBooster.
Note: The belt positioners on this seat are the slim/"closed" design which I've since learned are not recommended because they cause problems with seat belt retraction/slack. So, we will probably NOT be using this seat as a belt positioning booster when he outgrows the safety harness.
About the Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat
The Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat is a booster seat recommended children older than 1 year old and between 20 and 100 pounds. The seat is forward facing only and not intended for infants. The seat can be used two ways, either with a built in 5 point harness or without the harness using belt-positioners.
In order to use the built in 5 point harness your child must be:
-between 20 and 40 pounds
-between 27 and 43 inches tall
-at least one year old
-shoulder level must be below the top harness slots
In order to use the belt positioners (there are 3 levels) without the harness your child must be:
-between 30 and 100 pounds
-between 35 and 54 inches tall
-ear level must be below the top of the booster seat
You'll notice that there is some overlap between these two options as far as size go. As luck would have it our 3 year old could use either harness option. However, it is recommended that if your child is between 30 and 40 pounds and their shoulders are lower than the top harness slots to use the 5 point harness for as long as possible (up to the weight limit).
Installing the Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat
The Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat installed quickly into my Subaru Outback using the combination lap/shoulder belt method. You can also use the LATCH system to install the seat if your car is equipped with LATCH (mine is older and does not). Like the Britax seats I've used in the past, the Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat has a tether strap which allows the seat to be connected to a bolted in anchor point in the rear of the vehicle. Once in place properly, the seat doesn't budge.
Our Experience
Once installed, the Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat is a very classy and comfortable seat. Ours is Navy Blue and black and has some faux leather trim on it. The seat is extremely comfortable and has mattress-style comfort padding. Being as my son spends quite a bit of time in the car his comfort really matters to me, and this seat is really cushy. In addition there is a cup holder and snack tray on one side and a small mesh storage pocket on the other. These things are not really necessary but they are small extras that make the seat very special and "big boy" for my 3 year old. There's also a detachable (with velcro) head pillow and a neck support ring. My son sleeps quite a bit in the car, so both of these have come in handy. Speaking of sleeping, there is also a snooze bar/recline adjuster under the front ledge of the seat to slightly recline the booster for sleepers.
Probably the best part of this seat right now for me is the ease of adjusting the harness straps. Because it is winter in Rochester, my son sometimes has on heavy jackets or snowpants one day, and then the next day he might have on a light jacket. With just the touch of a single button the harness can be loosened or tightened to ensure a safe fit in a short amount of time. Then, the two sides of the buckle on the harness get clipped in independently, which is a bit of getting used to for me (I'm used to the Puzzle Style clips that Britax uses). There is also a plastic clip in the front of the harness that holds the 2 sides of the harness closed in front of your child's chest.
Once my son is in his seat, I'm quite confident that he is both safe and comfortable when riding in my vehicle in his Graco Platinum CarGo 8489 Booster Seat. If you are looking for a safe, comfortable, attractive and affordable booster seat, I definitely recommend this model.
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