New 5-step pics

[April]

Okay, that is a windstar right? Have you tried a different seating position with and without a backless? In MY windstar in that particular spot, my kids fit really well in a backless there from about age 8-9.5, and then the shoulder belt starts slipping off their arm. Then I take out the backless and that is the only place in the van they will 5-step. I'm on my 3rd round of that routine now with DD2. It started with my oldest until she was 10 and she could 5step. Eventually I was able to move her to the drivers side 2nd row but not the back. Then DS1 sat in the pass outboard spot with a backlessn then without. Now he is turning 10 (and big enough) to move drivers side 2nd row, and DD1 finally fits fine in the back row. So DD2 is now in a harmony backless in that spot you're using. It seems to be a good "training" spot for kids between 8.5-10.5 if that made any sense at all.
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[itzmeigh]

There are pictures of her in the booster in the SCM.

Looking at her in the booster, it looks like she is actually slouching just a bit. Not on purpose, but because her thighs are so long that they aren't supported in the booster all the way to her knees. IMO if you look at her you can see that the booster is positioning her with her hips pushed forward.

If you ONLY look at belt fit then it DOES look like the belt fits her better in the booster. But if you ask me, I think she FITS better without the booster.

 

[Brianna]

There are pictures of her in the booster in the SCM.

Looking at her in the booster, it looks like she is actually slouching just a bit. Not on purpose, but because her thoughts are so long that they aren't supported in the booster all the way to her knees. IMO if you look at her you can see that the booster is positioning her with her hips pushed forward.

If you ONLY look at belt fit then it DOES look like the belt fits her better in the booster. But if you ask me, I think she FITS better without the booster.

I only saw a recent one of her in a backless... are there recent ones of her in the FR85 or PKWY?

 

[itzmeigh]

I haven't seen any of her in a high back but HEVY has said a couple of times that she is still in one. I think in that scm thread.

Either way, Backless or High Back, I think her positioning looks off because she is so larger. I do believe there comes a point where "fit" isn't just about the belt and is also about the way the child literally FITS in the seat. That's where I think Rachel is now. The seatbelt only looks like an overall better fit for her. IMO.

 

[HEVY]

I'll take more pics tomorrow. What do you mean side by side? You want to see pics in all four seats, with all the boosters?
The belt fit does look better in the nbb. She won't be using the third row, it's basically useless, too far from me and too close to the back window. Her feet dangle a bit in the boosters, but that's how she prefers it, she stopped using the footstool sometime last year. I know the belt in the second row drivers side does not fit, in any way, it's the short bench and the belt is off, that's why the FR85 is there, that's where I prefer her. With a belt guide it might work.

 

[itzmeigh]

What I want to see is her in the booster and in the seatbelt only from the same angles. So for example...

From the side with the door.

From the front showing the lap belts fit.

From the front showing the shoulder belt fit

From the front showing the whole fit.

You've shown all those angles already but in either booster or belt. I want to see the same set in both.

And in the same seat. Don't use one seat for the booster and one for the belt.

 

[LISmama810]

The belt close to the neck isn't a safety concern, just a comfort one. The problem is that a less-mature and uncomfortable kid will put the belt behind her neck or under her arm to get it off her neck. As long as Rachel won't mess with it, it's fine.

IF she still fits properly and comfortably in a booster, I'd probably keep her in it just to avoid the potential discomfort of having the belt close to her neck.

 

[HEVY]

I just measured her and she is 56 & 3/8 inches She is practically 1/2 inch from 4'9

 

[itzmeigh]

That still won't change my answer. I still think the fit is better with the belt.

 

[HEVY]

Well she 5-steps in the boosters too. Do you think I should return the connext and try to sell the PWSGL? Which by the way was used maybe a handfull of times and keep the FR85 until June (she still wants to wait until her bday).

Side view

This is the safest seat and the belt only fits with a HBB.

NBB with shoulder guard

No booster, belt adjuster up and down. I could use one of those adjusters here.

Back seat, belts are twisted, got one fixed but I think it's high on her hips.

 

[HEVY]

PW, she just fits in height.

FR, still room to grow.

 

[Phineasmama]

From those pics it really really does look to me like she fits better without the booster. The FR85 looks like the best fit on her out of the three though.

I wouldn't return the Connext, I would keep it in case she goes with a friend and doesn't 5 step in their car.

 

[T4K]

I'd go with whatever Rachel likes.

 

[HEVY]

So my PW is a year old, how much I sell it for?

 

[T4K]

So my PW is a year old, how much I sell it for?

Whatever someone will pay. You'd probably get more here than on CL.

 

[SignCuer]

Yeah she fits better in the seatbelt than the booster. However, the booster fit is acceptable so I would say it's Rachel's decision of what she prefers. If she wants to stay in the FR85, then that's perfectly fine.

However, I do agree to sell the PWSG.

 

[cupcakepirate11]

Imho it looks like she five steps just fine

 

[itzmeigh]

She fits best in the seatbelt. I would hold in to one backless booster for friends. But I'd sell everything else.

I think of the boosters that she fits ok in the FR85 but I would NOT continue to use the others for her. I do not agree that she still fits in the others.

 

[safeinthecar]

I concur, fit is better without a booster. The Frontier is acceptable, but I'd only use it for long trips when she's going to need sleep support.

 

[HEVY]

OMG, how did this happen? Her friend won't fit in the connext, but that doesn't mean other friends won't, if, most of the kids her age are way smaller than her. I'm pretty sure she will 5-step in other cars. Wow, I wasn' expecting this but this is her yearly growth spurt time.