3 across, hbb, & buying new seats?

laurengt

Active member
This summer we are planning on many times when we will have our 2 nephews with us so rather than move seats I'm just going to buy some new ones. DS is in an XTSL, outboard on drivers side (2002 ford escape).

My nephews are 3 and 7 buy are small. 3 y.o. (will be 4 in May) is about 29#, 35"; 7 y.o. is about 40#, 44".

I was already planning to buy another Radian to have as a spare, so I will likely just have the 3yo in that, RF ( he's ff in his parents car but I'm not comfortable with that liability in my car, since my son is bigger and still RF).

The big question is what HBB / combination seat to buy for the 7yo. He is in a hbb belted in his moms car and sometimes uses a backless booster, but with his size I'm just not comfortable with belting him and would prefer to harness him if I can get him to cooperate. (Am I being ridiculous wanting him harnessed?) HBBs need be installed at a headrest, correct? And if he is using the belt, he'll need to have the shoulder belt, so I am planning to have him seated outboard, passenger side. Anyone know what seat would fit in that position in my escape? I am not opposed to a pricier seat but would prefer to stay under $200, since I'm already looking to purchase another Radian at the same time.
 
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wendytthomas

Admin - CPST Instructor
Staff member
A high back booster would be fine. Most don't require a headrest.

Even though he's small, he has a seven year old skeleton. I wouldn't blink for a second at him in a booster in any car (as I also had a seven year old, 40 pound child who was boostered full time, and had been part time boostered for long before that).

Wendy
 

laurengt

Active member
wendytthomas said:
A high back booster would be fine. Most don't require a headrest.

Even though he's small, he has a seven year old skeleton. I wouldn't blink for a second at him in a booster in any car (as I also had a seven year old, 40 pound child who was boostered full time, and had been part time boostered for long before that).

Wendy

Thank you! I had neglected to think that despite his size, his skeleton is more developed than a younger child.
 

babyherder

Well-known member
The only reason I might want a harnessed seat for your older nephew is because it might be easier to buckle in a 3 across. I would put him on whatever side of the car makes it less likely that he can unbuckle a harnessed seat by mistake.
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
I helped a family get 3 across in a Mazda Tribute (or was it a Mercury? anyway, same basic vehicle as the Escape). We did two RXTs and an Evenflo Big Kid. We had to slide the booster out slightly in order to buckle. The Monterey didn't work at all. Some others may have, but they already had the Evenflo and the folding armrests seemed to be an advantage.
 
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laurengt

Active member
crunchierthanthou said:
I helped a family get 3 across in a Mazda Tribute (or was it a Mercure? anyway, same basic vehicle as the Escape). We did two RXTs and an Evenflo Big Kid. We had to slide the booster out slightly in order to buckle. The Monterey didn't work at all. Some others may have, but they already had the Evenflo and the folding armrests seemed to be an advantage.

Thank you.
 

laurengt

Active member
crunchierthanthou said:
I helped a family get 3 across in a Mazda Tribute (or was it a Mercure? anyway, same basic vehicle as the Escape). We did two RXTs and an Evenflo Big Kid. We had to slide the booster out slightly in order to buckle. The Monterey didn't work at all. Some others may have, but they already had the Evenflo and the folding armrests seemed to be an advantage.

What seat position did you have the Big Kid?
 

crunchierthanthou

New member
Driver's side outboard. We briefly had it in the center, and I can't remember now why it ended up outboard. Some sort of parental decision, I'm thinking.
 

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