Question Front seat with booster vs rear seat with no booster

Unregistered · May 18, 2010

I have three kids...9 months, 2 and 6. The two younger children are in convertible seats and the older is in a booster seat. Sometimes my mom needs to fit all three kids in her sedan and they do not all fit across the back seat. Since she only does this occassionally and is driving less than 2 miles when she does it, I do not want to try to find new seats that will fit three across as I cannot really afford to do that (we already own 9 car seats). My question is, is it safer to put my 6 year old 55 lb son in the middle rear seat with a seatbelt only or in the front seat with a booster? I have been searching for information on this, but cannot find anything. Thanks so much!

wendytthomas · May 18, 2010

What are your nine seats? Maybe there's a combination that'll work? What sedan and what year? How heavy is your two year old, and are they forward or rear facing?

My first reaction is to get a Ride Safer Travel Vest for that middle position, provided it's either a lap and shoulder belt, or a lap belt with a top tether available. Since the RSTV doesn't expire, even though you'd be out $120 or so it'll last you through all three kids. So a fantastic deal, as this would be likely to happen again in a few years when the two year old is older, then again when the baby is older.

But maybe there's a combination of seats you already own that'll work for everyone.

Wendy

carseatcoach · May 18, 2010

Neither is a good choice, but if there truly is no other choice (and I'm pretty sure we can come up with one), probably I'd go front seat pushed all the way back with booster.

Is there a shoulder belt in the center position?

Katy · May 18, 2010

I do a lot of 3 across in seats. What seats do you have I'm sure we can figure something out. Certain seats puzzle better with others, Especially if you have both RF and FF kids. If your 6yr cannot pass the 5 step test he cannot be in just a belt. If the car has airbags he should not be in the front at all. Let's find a safe alternative.

Unregistered · May 18, 2010

Unregistered said:
I have three kids...9 months, 2 and 6. The two younger children are in convertible seats and the older is in a booster seat. Sometimes my mom needs to fit all three kids in her sedan and they do not all fit across the back seat. Since she only does this occassionally and is driving less than 2 miles when she does it, I do not want to try to find new seats that will fit three across as I cannot really afford to do that (we already own 9 car seats). My question is, is it safer to put my 6 year old 55 lb son in the middle rear seat with a seatbelt only or in the front seat with a booster? I have been searching for information on this, but cannot find anything. Thanks so much!

The vehicle is a 2008 Hyundai Azera. The baby is rear facing and the two year old is front facing and is 26 lbs. The carseats we have are 2 Britax Marathon's, 1 Britax Roundabout, 1 Britax Roundabout 50, 2 Cosco Scenaras, 1 evenflo big kid booster, 1 britax parkway booster, and 1 backless booster. There is latch on the two outer rear seats and the baby cannot be behind the driver's seat. We tried the two scenaras with all of the boosters and it almost fits, but is just a little too tight.

wendytthomas · May 18, 2010

Did you try with the Sceneras both rear facing? Your two year old is definitely small enough to rear face (that would be ideal in any car, actually), and that may get you some space.

Wendy

NannyMom · May 18, 2010

What is the backless booster you have? Walmart sells a Harmony Literider for $13, and I've found it's narrower than most backless boosters.

Thanksgiving_Twins_Mom · May 19, 2010

wendytthomas said:
My first reaction is to get a Ride Safer Travel Vest for that middle position, provided it's either a lap and shoulder belt, or a lap belt with a top tether available. Since the RSTV doesn't expire, even though you'd be out $120 or so it'll last you through all three kids. So a fantastic deal, as this would be likely to happen again in a few years when the two year old is older, then again when the baby is older.

Wendy

:yeahthat:. If you want to get an idea of how much space a RideSafer vest takes up versus a conventional booster, you can see the pics I posted at the bottom of this thread - cars pictured are a 1997 Honda Civic sedan and a 2002 Ford Focus sedan

safeinthecar · May 19, 2010

Unregistered said:
The vehicle is a 2008 Hyundai Azera. The baby is rear facing and the two year old is front facing and is 26 lbs. The carseats we have are 2 Britax Marathon's, 1 Britax Roundabout, 1 Britax Roundabout 50, 2 Cosco Scenaras, 1 evenflo big kid booster, 1 britax parkway booster, and 1 backless booster. There is latch on the two outer rear seats and the baby cannot be behind the driver's seat. We tried the two scenaras with all of the boosters and it almost fits, but is just a little too tight.

Did you try the sceneras side by side with the booster outboard?

myliljunebugs · May 19, 2010

Are you installing with the lower anchors? If so try seat belt installs, that will usually give you a few inches. The sceneras combined with the parkway should work, especially if you have it beside a rear facing seat.

Question Front seat with booster vs rear seat with no booster

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