Patriot201
Car-Seat.org Ambassador
I have kept the kids in my life harnessed as long as possible because... it is easier for me. I do use boosters if necessary, but prefer harnessed seats because I find them much easier to use.
This past week, however, I have had to use boosters a lot and I have been reminded of why I so very much prefer harnessed seats.
Case One: Almost-eight-year-old child, about 65 pounds, backless Turbo, Subaru Outback. What a pain it was to get the seatbelt buckled each and every time. Ugh! The booster kept slipping over the female end of the buckle, making it a total pain.
Case Two: Five-year-old child, about 45 pounds, Parkway SG, Toyota 4Runner. Trying to "install" this seat in the center so two adults could sit in each outboard seat was impossible. The booster sat OVER the female end for the passenger-side outboard seat. We could scoot the booster over, buckle the adult, then slide the booster back. It was a pain. When we moved the booster to an outboard position, it became difficult to buckle.
At one point, we were able to get two kids in a five-point harness faster than we were able to get one kid in a booster.
I don't usually have this much difficulty with boosters, but I still think this was reinforcement of why I prefer harnessed seats. I am not looking forward to the day that all the kids are in boosters.
This past week, however, I have had to use boosters a lot and I have been reminded of why I so very much prefer harnessed seats.
Case One: Almost-eight-year-old child, about 65 pounds, backless Turbo, Subaru Outback. What a pain it was to get the seatbelt buckled each and every time. Ugh! The booster kept slipping over the female end of the buckle, making it a total pain.
Case Two: Five-year-old child, about 45 pounds, Parkway SG, Toyota 4Runner. Trying to "install" this seat in the center so two adults could sit in each outboard seat was impossible. The booster sat OVER the female end for the passenger-side outboard seat. We could scoot the booster over, buckle the adult, then slide the booster back. It was a pain. When we moved the booster to an outboard position, it became difficult to buckle.
At one point, we were able to get two kids in a five-point harness faster than we were able to get one kid in a booster.
I don't usually have this much difficulty with boosters, but I still think this was reinforcement of why I prefer harnessed seats. I am not looking forward to the day that all the kids are in boosters.