For budget reasons, I need to get an inexpensive used car/suv for commuting 2+ hours daily round trip, that is fuel efficient. I also need to be able to drop off my 4 children at school each morning, which is just a couple miles away. My priority is safety, not comfort (the kids just need to fit... I need to be comfortable driving 2 hours). Most of the time, there will not be all 4 children in the car, but I do need to fit them for a short drive. We have a van for the whole family.
Question 1: My oldest will be 13 in November. He's about average for height, and around 25th percentile for weight. He no longer needs a booster, as the belts fit him. But, what about the passenger air bag? Will I need to request installation of an ON/OFF switch for whatever vehicle we get? (Which will be used... probably no later than 2009, more likely a 2005-2007).
Question 2: The other three kids currently all need boosters. 10 year old is still in a low back booster (he's too tall for a high-back). He is probably close to meeting requirements for no booster, as he's taller for his age. But not yet in all vehicles. My younger two are small and need high-back boosters (ages 7 and 5). How difficult is it to fit three across with booster seats only? Do those ride safer vests work well? I'd be willing to pay for one or two vests if it meant I could fit them in a hybrid car that gets great gas mileage. Also, it seems like if I could find a low back booster without arm rests (do they exist?), it might be easier to fit three boosters together. Or would it be safe for the 7 year old to just have a low back booster also (no chance he'd be sleeping/slumping over)?
Question 1: My oldest will be 13 in November. He's about average for height, and around 25th percentile for weight. He no longer needs a booster, as the belts fit him. But, what about the passenger air bag? Will I need to request installation of an ON/OFF switch for whatever vehicle we get? (Which will be used... probably no later than 2009, more likely a 2005-2007).
Question 2: The other three kids currently all need boosters. 10 year old is still in a low back booster (he's too tall for a high-back). He is probably close to meeting requirements for no booster, as he's taller for his age. But not yet in all vehicles. My younger two are small and need high-back boosters (ages 7 and 5). How difficult is it to fit three across with booster seats only? Do those ride safer vests work well? I'd be willing to pay for one or two vests if it meant I could fit them in a hybrid car that gets great gas mileage. Also, it seems like if I could find a low back booster without arm rests (do they exist?), it might be easier to fit three boosters together. Or would it be safe for the 7 year old to just have a low back booster also (no chance he'd be sleeping/slumping over)?