Need advice | Three across in Lincoln MKX 2011

[Nectar27]

Hi,

I have a 7 yo, 4yo and a 3 mo.

The elder ones are currently sitting on backless boosters as we make only very short trips.
The baby currently travels in an infant seat with a base.

I am planning to get high-back boosters for the elder ones, and also will need a new (all in one or convertible ) car seat for the baby in the future.

What would be good booster models for the elder ones, especially for long trips where they may fall asleep?
Also, which is a good model can the baby move into and then continue?

I guess the youngest can move into a convertible and then proceed into a backless booster once they are old enough, whereas the elder ones can use models which are high back - backless combo.

Should I get harness seats for the elders?

p.s. I am looking for reasonably priced car seats, not very fancy or expensive ones.

TIA

 

[ketchupqueen]

Hi there!

Can you provide some information about the height and weight of your kids? How do the 7 and 4 year old do sitting in place? We would usually recommend a harness for the 4 year old but a booster as appropriate for the 7 year old, but in a tight 3 across sometimes a harness helps. What seats are they currently in specifically? What's your total budget?

 

[Nectar27]

Hi there!

Can you provide some information about the height and weight of your kids? How do the 7 and 4 year old do sitting in place? We would usually recommend a harness for the 4 year old but a booster as appropriate for the 7 year old, but in a tight 3 across sometimes a harness helps. What seats are they currently in specifically? What's your total budget?

Hi,

I was finally able to get them settled to take the measurements.
7yo:
Weight: 25 kg
Height: 48 in
Torso: 26 in

4yo:
Weight: 16 kg
Height: 42 in
Torso: 22 in

They are well behaved in the car, and don't play with the seat belt or buckles.

Right now both of them are on the Clek Ozzi boosters with latch, and I want to change to proper seats.

As you have mentioned, it is very difficult to buckle the belts (seats installed with latch) when I have the infant seat base in the middle, and the boosters have very hard sides; every time I have to buckle them up.

Hence I am thinking of getting seats that can do Harness -> High back booster -> backless booster for the 4yo and 7yo.

For the baby, I am thinking of getting a convertible, and then a backless booster when they are too big for the convertible.

Can you suggest some combos of harness seats + convertible? I am looking at a budget of about 150 CAD each for the boosters, but could stretch a bit.

p.s. I am in Canada.

I didn't give much thoughts into the car seat arrangements when I got the current car; When I am changing the car in a couple of years, I will have to check for the sufficient spacing for the seats, and the buckle access especially.

 

[ketchupqueen]

3 across in this car may bust your budget; I'm not sure of current Canadian prices.

Suggested harnessed seats to fit 3 across would be the Chicco MyFit (combination harness to high back booster) or possibly Graco Tranzitions (combination harness/booster with high back and backless mode), and your cheapest option for a 3 across friendly convertible for baby is the Graco SlimFit3 LX.

 

[Nectar27]

Thank you for the suggestions.

Graco Tranzitions seem to be a good seat for both the elders, and has the three modes I am looking for.
However, I see that harness mode is limited till 49" whereas my 7yo is 48".
This takes me back to the difficulty of buckling up in booster mode.

The Graco SlimFit3 LX also seems suitable, albeit a little costly; however that shouldnt matter as it can be used for upto 10 years.

 

[SafeDad]

Thank you for the suggestions.

Graco Tranzitions seem to be a good seat for both the elders, and has the three modes I am looking for.
However, I see that harness mode is limited till 49" whereas my 7yo is 48".
This takes me back to the difficulty of buckling up in booster mode.

The Graco SlimFit3 LX also seems suitable, albeit a little costly; however that shouldnt matter as it can be used for upto 10 years.

The MyFit definitely has the tallest standing and seated torso height limits of these, and may be the best option for your 7yo if you intend to keep them in a 5-point harness as long as possible. In general, it is usually easier to install than the Tranzitions as well. A narrow backless booster is a very reasonable option for a 7 year old, though for 3-across, you may find that using LATCH to attach it to the vehicle may reduce the room for an adjacent car seat because of where the anchors are located in the vehicle. It is often necessary in smaller cars to only use the seatbelt for installation and for boosters to allow the car seats to be a little farther apart.

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I would suggest that a RideSafer vest might be an option for the middle seat, giving more flexibility for models used in the outboard seats. For Canada, you would need to look further into this option if none of the others work- https://saferide4kids.com/helpie_faq/can-i-use-the-vest-in-canada/

 

[Nectar27]

A narrow backless booster is a very reasonable option for a 7 year old, though for 3-across, you may find that using LATCH to attach it to the vehicle may reduce the room for an adjacent car seat because of where the anchors are located in the vehicle.

This is what I am leaning towards now, and probably will go for a different one.
As you mentioned, the Clek Ozzi makes it very difficult even for me to buckle, as it is installed using LATCH.

The reason I was checking about the harness was for ease of buckling and head support if they sleep during travel.

Is there any option for a head support if they are on a backless booster?
Otherwise, can I consider any narrow high back booster that has good head support and is easy to buckle up?

p.s. I saw this on the RSTV site: https://shop.saferide4kids.com/products/cardiff-headrest

I would suggest that a RideSafer vest might be an option for the middle seat, giving more flexibility for models used in the outboard seats. For Canada, you would need to look further into this option if none of the others work- https://saferide4kids.com/helpie_faq/can-i-use-the-vest-in-canada/

This is a good suggestion as I can get more options like you suggested, but looks like it cannot be normally used in Canada.

 

[SafeDad]

For backless boosters, you would be limited to whatever head restraint is in the vehicle seat, and either the top of the restraint or top of the seat must be at or above the top of the child's ears for adequate head support in a rear-end crash. I can't recommend for or against third party accessories, and I have no personal experience with the Cardiff. @murphydog77 has a review of it here for more information: https://carseatblog.com/39364/cardiff-travel-headrest-review/

A narrow high back or all-in-one like the SlimFit3/True3Fit (not the original SlimFit) would be an option. The Maxi-Cosi Rodifix was a good option for this, but they may be discontinued as they seem to be impossible to find at retail. The Peg Perego Viaggio Flex 120 is similarly narrow and has no "arms" that can hinder buckling, but it is even more expensive than the RodiFix was: https://amzn.to/3IWwGWD

@ketchupqueen may have some more ideas for you.

 

[ketchupqueen]

I wouldn't personally recommend the Cardiff after several that I had fell apart under normal use and left sharp pieces exposed

The Tranzitions in booster mode might work?