Question 3 cross, 5step, and front seat questions

Potentially, we will be sending the 4 girls with my ILs tonight so there are fewer distractions at ds's speech eval tomorrow.

Dd1 is 9, 48lbs 54" tall, is beginning to 5-step in some locations in some vehicles. In our van, she's in a backless Monarch. In MIL's Jeep Liberty, she 5-steps in the center rear. Haven't checked outboard.

Dd2 is 7.5, 51lbs and 48.5". At home, she's still in a Regent (money reasons) and a old style PW in ILs' cars.

Dd3 is 5.5, 42.5" and 40lbs give or take, mostly in a PWSG, sometimes in a RNXTSL RF.

Dd4 is 4.5, 39 or 40", 31lbs. Rides in an older BLVD (pre-june 2006....expires in feb I think) FF (33lbs RF wt limit).

Usually, the girls ride in MIL's Liberty. Who would you put in front? Dd4 in a FF harness, or dd2 (the heavier of the 3 other girls) in a booster? In MIL's car we have done BLVD/dd1/PW across.

In FIL's truck, a newer model year Dodge Ram 3500 with the biggest cab available, I sincerely doubt dd1 would 5-step (since she doesn't in my van). Ultimately, I guess my question is who to put in front?

Both vehicles have airbag shutoffs for the passenger seat. MIL's is a sensor, not sure on FIL's.

The oldest, forward facing, harnessed child goes in front, with the seat moved back as far as possible.

Can you just trade vehicles with them? Then you just need to put your DS's seat in one of their vehicles.

As much as I prefer driving my own vehicle, it seems like trading cars would be the best option. That's what I intend to do in the future.

Idally, I would trade cars. However, MIL refuses to drive our van (or FIL's truck). They may come in 2 cars, and we will do 2 and 2 in that case.

I knew the seat all the way back, no rf, etc, but when I learne all that, I had no booster riders!

Why does weight matter on "heaviest FF harnessed kid"? I never did ask that question....just practiced it, lol.

If FIL will drive, we will gladly leaveour Sprinter van for them to use.

It's the oldest, not the heaviest. The oldest is the most likely to be able to take the extra crash forces in the front seat.

Pixels said:

It's the oldest, not the heaviest. The oldest is the most likely to be able to take the extra crash forces in the front seat.

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Makes sense....which is why I was confused on "heaviest". I thought it was heaviest.

And, ultimately, we wound up with dd1 in front of fils truck (in her backless), dd4OB, dd3 center, dd2 OB.

Not sure whether dh made that decision or ILs did....I'm not happy.

Momof4Girls said:

Makes sense....which is why I was confused on "heaviest". I thought it was heaviest.

And, ultimately, we wound up with dd1 in front of fils truck (in her backless), dd4OB, dd3 center, dd2 OB.

Not sure whether dh made that decision or ILs did....I'm not happy.

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That's what I would have done. The nine year old has a much better skeleton to handle things, and the backless booster put her even further away from the airbag (nothing behind her but the front seat).

Wendy