Which is more important?

U

Unregistered

Guest
I baby-sit a family with a two year old and a five year old. The 2 yr old weighs 30 pounds and the 5 yr old weighs 42 pounds. They have two extra seats that they leave at home in case we have to go out.

The Britax Marathon will rear face to 33 pounds then forward face to 65 pounds.
The Evenflo Bolero will harness until 40 pounds and then be a booster to 80 (?) pounds.

Should I put the 2 yr old forward facing in the Bolero and the 5 yr old harnessed in the Marathon or...

Do I put the two year old rear facing in the Marathon and use the Bolero as a booster for the five year old?

Which one is more important... extended rear facing or extended harnessing?
I want to have it all figured out and practice installing them before an emergency happens that requires us to use the car.

Thank you.
 
ADS

menfusse

New member
I am curious to see what the techs say about this one, but if it were me, with the 2 year old at 30 lbs, I would put in FF in the bolero and the 5 year old harnessed in the MA. If he were smaller, I might think differently, but since he is so close to that RF limit, I think I would feel better with him FF and the 5 year old harnessed.
 

tjham

New member
Very good question. I agree with having them both harnessed. But it IS a very close call. What do the parents say about it?
 

Kellyr2

New member
Yeah, I'd harness them both, 5 yr old in the MA.
BUT as the babysitter, I'd ask the parents which they'd prefer, and if they say to put the 5 yo in the booster, I'd politely mention the other way and see if they had a problem with it.
 
O

Original Poster

Guest
The parents don't know what to do either. The 2 yr old is in a Scenara to rear face longer and the 5 yr old has a Regent. So it sounds like it is best to have them both in harnesses.

You say if the 2 yr old was smaller you would put him rear facing, though? I thought it was age more than size that was important?

Thank you.
 

Splash

New member
Yes, age is more important than size. I think what they meant when they said if he were smaller, is because he is very close to outgrowing it by weight anyway. If he was 25 pounds, he would have a LONG way to go. As it is now, he could gain that weight in a month.
I say harness them both as well.
 

Norway

New member
I am still not convinced about the extended harnessing. But even if I was, I would still put the smallest child RF and the 5yo FF in a booster. The difference between RF and FF is much greater than harness vs seatbelt (with booster). The 5yo is much stronger and more developed and can handle FF much better than the 2yo.
 

CandCfam

New member
I'm surprised that so far most would be them both harnessed...

I have to agree w/ Norway about RF being safer than FF.... and I would RF the 2 YO and booster the 5 YO - but only if he/she is able to sit properly in it.

Am I missing something w/ regards to harnessing the 5 Y/O that I should be aware of?:confused:
 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
I stronglay agree that boostering depends on the child....

RF is safest, but if the big kiddo cannot/will not use the booster correctly for the ENTIRE length of EVERY ride, then he must be harnessed.
 

SusanMae

Senior Community Member
Try the 5 yr old boostered---he's got to learn sometime. You're probably taking short trips around town...not driving with him for hours on end. If he doesn't stay seated properly---then he goes back in a harness.

He won't learn without the opportunity though.

Plus a 5 yr old is old enough to go to school---I know the kids in my class sat on the rug for 20+ minutes. He should be old enough and mature enough to site for 20 minute rides.

Susan
 

Victorious4

Senior Community Member
FWIW, my parents have severe arthritis & nerve damage ... so when my daughter was the proper age & weight for a booster we got the Parkway (deep head wings with EPS foam for added safety) -- I showed my daughter the GM video about how to properly use the booster & taught her to engage the Automatic Locking Retractor on the shoulder belt. We also practiced getting her used to sitting still correctly in the booster on the living room floor each night for progressively longer periods of time. However, she's still only 4 & now that my parents have helpful new medications & are again physically able to use a harness seat correctly they bought an Apex to keep her harnessed since it is safer than the booster.
 

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