Which child would you put in the seat w/out side airbags?

todzwife · Jun 12, 2011

We are going to be traveling with an extra kiddo and I'm trying to figure out how to put the kids in my Tribeca.
There are 2 seats in the back. They are not big enough for an adult's legs. My kids both fit ok back there but there are no side curtain airbags back there.

So which child would you feel best about being back there.

Child #1 8 YO 65 pounds- low back booster (could possibly put in a HBB)
Child #2 7 YO 50 pounds- HBB
Child #3 5 1/2 YO 40 pounds- Radian

ketchupqueen · Jun 12, 2011

Is there a TA for the Radian? What HBB are we talking?

Carrie_R · Jun 12, 2011

Something with wings, preferably beefy ones.

bnsnyde · Jun 12, 2011

Our car (05 Civic) has no side curtain airbags, and I don't like that!

I would go with the Radian b/c it's steel-framed and has a harness. Just my opinion. But I put Radians outboard when given a choice between other FF options.

joolsplus3 · Jun 12, 2011

The steel frame doesn't make it inherently safer, it's just a different way of manufacturing that may make it less bulky. And a convincing label for marketing materials

If I could get a good install back there, I'd put the smallest harnessed child back there, since there is the least room for head and foot excursion.
I suspect an 8 yo might not need a booster at all, if the space is too small for adults, the lapbelt should be low, feet flat on the floor, shoulderbelt on the shoulder (a backless can make the fit WORSE if the shoulder belt is low and rides off the side of the arm).
Maybe the 7 yo in a highback is easiest in terms of self buckling and fit? Unless the 5 yo can self buckle and the Radian fits well (and top tethered).

Just brainstorming

todzwife · Jun 12, 2011

ketchupqueen said:
Is there a TA for the Radian? What HBB are we talking?

Yes there is a TA for the Radian, although using it cuts into the nearly already non existent cargo space in the back LOL!

joolsplus3 said:
The steel frame doesn't make it inherently safer, it's just a different way of manufacturing that may make it less bulky. And a convincing label for marketing materials
If I could get a good install back there, I'd put the smallest harnessed child back there, since there is the least room for head and foot excursion.
I suspect an 8 yo might not need a booster at all, if the space is too small for adults, the lapbelt should be low, feet flat on the floor, shoulderbelt on the shoulder (a backless can make the fit WORSE if the shoulder belt is low and rides off the side of the arm).
Maybe the 7 yo in a highback is easiest in terms of self buckling and fit? Unless the 5 yo can self buckle and the Radian fits well (and top tethered).

Just brainstorming

DD is 5 1/2 and can buckle herself. I didn't even think to try the 5 step on the 8 YO, but you're probably right about her not needing anything back there. Subaru said that it's still a "safe" seat because it's over the wheel well, and there is a giant steel frame piece there. I'm not convinced. I'd rather hit my head on an airbag thank you.

ketchupqueen · Jun 12, 2011

If there is a TA, Radian, tethered, hands down.

Reasons are threefold. One, tether to prevent excessive head excursion in the small space. Two, harness provides significant SIP. Three, look at my crash photos of how my girls' seats rotated around the fulcrum of the tether. Their heads were held further inside the protective shell of the vehicle rather than flying out toward the point of impact.

cryswilkins · Jun 12, 2011

I agree. Tethered Radian, and is there anyway to put a rear-facer backs there? Personally, I would put the most protected children in the third row, and the booster riders in the second.

Sent from my Droid using Car-Seat.Org - excuse my autocorrect.

Which child would you put in the seat w/out side airbags?

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