No back boosters w/side curtain airbags

So my van has been in and out the shop for the past 6 months with pretty expensive issues. Today I had to take it in and they think the engine is going.

Well, the only thing we can really afford right now is a lease and the best fit is a GMC Terrain. I am not going into my finances here but just know that this people are my family and I bought this van against their advise (and not at their dealership) and have lived to regret it for the past 5 years and we are still upside down in it. I know that they have my best interest at heart so this is the best they can do for me without coming out and giving me a car. At the end of the lease, we would at least be out of debt.

My problem is that my oldest two (7 and 5.5 yrs are booster trained) would have to go into harmany backless boosters. I may be able to puzzle a radian with the MA I have and put the 5.5 yr old back in a harness but the 7 yr old has LONG outgrown just about everything but the Regent/Frontier85.

It has side curtain airbags, how much does that make a difference?

I guess I am trying to weigh in on if they would be as safe in backless boosters with side curtain airbags as they were in my 04 Freestar in highbacks.

I know I am asking for opinions and I am looking for EDUCATED opinions.

I know we will discuss this later , but are you not planning on using the regent for J? I'm not familiar with that car, does it not have 3rd row?

I would think they would still be as safe, but boosters are not my area of expertise. LOL

djma said:

I know we will discuss this later , but are you not planning on using the regent for J? I'm not familiar with that car, does it not have 3rd row?

I would think they would still be as safe, but boosters are not my area of expertise. LOL

Click to expand...

No third row so no regent.

DS1 rides outboard in a backless in DH's truck (also equipped w/ side ABs) and I don't even flinch over it. Not even a little. In fact, it's so un-flinch worthy to me that he remains outboard, in a backless, in a vehicle equipped with side ABs, even though I have the option to move him to the center and have a HBB outboard. He's fully booster trained. He's a responsible booster rider. He has adequate vehicle head support. The shoulder belt fits him properly.

This article seems to show no difference in backless or highback boosters: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/124/5/1281.full

I would be comfortable with kids in backless boosters in a vehicle with side airbags. My own almost 9yo has been in a backless booster in my DH's Jeep for 2yrs because that's the easiest thing to buckle and he doesn't have side airbags. She sits properly, has good head support, and has good belt fit in the LiteRider.

While I'm a huge proponent of keeping the highback as long as possible, sometimes it's just. not. possible. It sounds like this is the only option you have for the immediate future. So, I would keep in mind a few things--belt fit in the booster is paramount.. If the fit in a highback booster is marginal and the Harmony literider is the only other option available, I'd pick it every time, no matter where in the car the child is or whether there are airbags or not. The literider is known for excellent belt fit. Also, side curtain airbags deploy slowly compared to frontal airbags. They don't come out w/the force of the frontals. I would have no problem w/my kiddos next to them without a highback booster. And I'd certainly much rather have the side curtain airbags in that situation than not. We don't have side curtain airbags in ANY of our vehicles, so my son always rides in a highback booster. BUT my mil has a brand new car w/everything. I'm okay w/her driving ds1 in his Harmony Literider. There's not any official testing or studies proving that a highback is a necessity over a no back (ie comparing highbacks to no backs in crashes-I don't think there is anyways). I think we can assume that it could be helpful in a side impact or to help restrain a wiggly booster rider, but there's really not much to base our assumptions on that a highback is sooo much better than a no back booster. We can probably assume that it is helpful in certain types of crashes, but a child riding in a well fitting no back booster who is mature enough to do so is SAFE. Esp considering that it's a brand new car w/side curtain airbags.

Maybe after you've had a chance to play w/the vehicle a bit more, you'll figure out some other solutions that will work for your family. Maybe if the youngest was in the Radian, your 5.5 yr old could use a high back booster? You'll have to mess around w/a bunch of seats when you get it home.

And arly--how old is child 3 and what highbacks were the older 2 riding in?

hths

henrietta

hths and hope I got my info straight! LOL

I got to take it home with me so I have played with it with all the seats I have. My two oldest were in a TB and Monterey and regent sometimes. My youngest is 3 yrs, 38 lbs, and on the top slots of the ma with about an inch to go.

Thanks, everyone, you've given me a lot to think about.