Narrow combo seat or booster as final seat? Need to fit with 3 across

**tarnator** · 10-02-2016, 11:39 PM

Hi there,
I haven't posted in a while. I actually thought that we were set for a bit longer in our present combination, but I just discovered that one of our seats had expired! ...by almost a year...

Right now, both kids are FF in the back of our Acura RDX. They are both in a harness and OK with it. I have a small 7 yr old (45lbs) and a large 5 yr old (44lbs). Because of the way I had the seats, we were just barely able to squeeze a Harmony booster in between the seats when we had to take a 3rd child. I just tried both our other 2 seats to replace the expired one, and they won't work with the booster. Ugh.

So....I need:
1. A narrow seat, without high seat wings, so that we can still squeeze in a booster.
2. either a high back booster or a combination seat (on the fence about whether we need to keep them both harnessed)
3. Prefer something that can latch in place.
4. Less than $200 preferred.
5. Canadian seat

Suggestions?
Our other seat which we love is a Radian R100, but I don't want to spend that much since they are both pretty close to using just high back boosters.

**Car-Seat.Org** · 10-02-2016 11:39 PM

**ketchupqueen** · 10-03-2016, 12:26 AM

In a tight three across, a harnessed seat is usually better.
unfortunately I'm not sure which of the newer narrow seats are on the Canadian market or what the seats are priced at up there.

**Mary_Ann** · 10-03-2016, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by ketchupqueen

In a tight three across, a harnessed seat is usually better.
unfortunately I'm not sure which of the newer narrow seats are on the Canadian market or what the seats are priced at up there.

I would try a Harmony Dreamtime (high back) or an Evenflo AMP for the 7yo. For your 5 yo, i would go with a combination seat. The Graco Tranzition would be my first pick as it is narrow and will make a great booster down the road. It was on sale for 180$ lately.

**tarnator** · 10-03-2016, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by Mary_Ann

I would try a Harmony Dreamtime (high back) or an Evenflo AMP for the 7yo. For your 5 yo, i would vit combination seat. The Graco Tranzition would be my first pick as it is narrow and will make a great booster down the road. It was on sale for 180$ lately.

The Harmony Dreamtime doesn't have latch though, does it? I will have a look at the AMP...

**ketchupqueen** · 10-03-2016, 11:45 AM

You're unlikely to be able to use LATCH/UAS in a tight three across anyway.

**Mary_Ann** · 10-03-2016, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by ketchupqueen

You're unlikely to be able to use LATCH/UAS in a tight three across anyway.

Unfortunately, our LATCHable boosters aren't narrow and are usually expensive. I have a Britax Parkway loosely latched in my tight 3 across, but there is no way I could fit a forward facing seat next to it. It's quite large in the torso/shoulder area. The Harmony and AMP slimmer all around.

For harnessed seats, your sons are likely too heavy for a LATCH install.

**tarnator** · 10-03-2016, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Mary_Ann

Unfortunately, our LATCHable boosters aren't narrow and are usually expensive. I have a Britax Parkway loosely latched in my tight 3 across, but there is no way I could fit a forward facing seat next to it. It's quite large in the torso/shoulder area. The Harmony and AMP slimmer all around.

For harnessed seats, your sons are likely too heavy for a LATCH install.

True. Sort of. I have been able to get the backless booster between 2 latched seats right now, so I know that it does work. I am pretty sure that if I got another Radian R100 that I could still do it. How about the Harmony Defender?

**Mary_Ann** · 10-04-2016, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by tarnator

True. Sort of. I have been able to get the backless booster between 2 latched seats right now, so I know that it does work. I am pretty sure that if I got another Radian R100 that I could still do it. How about the Harmony Defender?

I'm pretty sure the Radian has a 40lb weight limit for a FF install, so you would need a seatbelt install, same with the Defender.

The Defender is a nice seat, but is harder to buckle in booster mode.

**tarnator** · 10-04-2016, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mary_Ann

I'm pretty sure the Radian has a 40lb weight limit for a FF install, so you would need a seatbelt install, same with the Defender.

The Defender is a nice seat, but is harder to buckle in booster mode.

The Radian is good to 65lbs in FF install. Then up to 100lbs in booster mode. I could probably use the seat up to highschool!

**ketchupqueen** · 10-05-2016, 02:15 AM

She means using the lower anchors.

FYI most kids will not be able to use the booster mode long if at all on that seat.

**tarnator** · 10-12-2016, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by Mary_Ann

I'm pretty sure the Radian has a 40lb weight limit for a FF install, so you would need a seatbelt install, same with the Defender.

The Defender is a nice seat, but is harder to buckle in booster mode.

I now understand what you mean. I had no idea that the Latch install on seats did not span the FF install weight range! That is crazy unclear! I even went through a couple of car seat manuals and didn't see any mention of that.

I am feeling a bit stumped. Not sure whether to go with just a HB booster and forego the latch anchor point (harmony or Amp), or to get another combo seat with harness option and pay more for it (Graco tranzition or another radian r100)....

**Mary_Ann** · 10-12-2016, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by tarnator

I now understand what you mean. I had no idea that the Latch install on seats did not span the FF install weight range! That is crazy unclear! I even went through a couple of car seat manuals and didn't see any mention of that.

I am feeling a bit stumped. Not sure whether to go with just a HB booster and forego the latch anchor point (harmony or Amp), or to get another combo seat with harness option and pay more for it (Graco tranzition or another radian r100)....

Yep, it's quite misleading, don't feel bad!

I will stick with my first recommendation of a narrow high back for your 7 yo and the Graco Tranzition for your 5 yo.

If you have a BabiesRus near you, you should be able to try them in your car. Make sure to really install the Tranzition, not just put it in the seat.