Does he 5-step?

[luckyclov]

DS1 is 9 years, 2 months old and 53" tall (68 lbs). He's far more torso than legs (outgrown every HBB except the FR85 in booster mode and PWSG/L).

This was experimental ONLY, he will not be riding without, at least, a backless booster for quite some time.

He's in the 8th seat of a 2011 Sienna. The 8th seat sits lower then the captain's chairs and is also shorter depth-wise.

He's all the way back...and fully upright. He has adequate vehicle head support. His knees bend fully over the seat edge. The shoulder belt fits great. The lap belt is not as "high" as it appears in the full length picture, but it's also not as low as it could be, ideally. There is contact with the bony hip.

Thoughts?

 

[babyherder]

I think he 5 steps. But, like you, I'd keep him in the booster anyway.

 

[Carrie_R]

I would be comfortable allowing him to ride there in a pinch - like if you have an extra kid who needs transported but appears without a booster. But I would stick with the backless for everyday for added support (as you intend to. )

 

[luckyclov]

I would be comfortable allowing him to ride there in a pinch

He normally rides in a PWSG (HB still), but that's actually why I was experimenting (he, clearly, didn't 5-step in any other rear seat); the unexpected, "oh, crap, what do I do with all these kids?!" moment that may, or may not ever, pop up. You know, only one of us would prepare for that kind of stuff.

 

[carseatcoach]

I don't love the lap belt, but if he *had* to ride that way for whatever reason, I wouldn't panic about it.

ETA that he's a lot closer to 5-stepping than MY 53" 9yo.

 

[Qarin]

That's how my 52" 10yo fits in the third row outboard of my parents' 2005 Nissan Quest. I would be OK with her riding there in a pinch, but would prefer a booster to go from borderline to definitely good lapbelt fit.

 

[luckyclov]

ETA that he's a lot closer to 5-stepping than MY 53" 9yo.

It's ONLY in that 8th seat...it's shorter depth-wise, which plays a big role. Not a chance of 5-stepping (yet) in any of the other 5 rear seats.

Yep, I agree. Don't love the lap belt fit, but in a no-other-option pinch, I'd be OK with it.

 

[carseatcoach]

The back seats in the Saturn are very deep, and in the Kia they're very buckety. 5-stepping won't be anytime soon. And my kid tends towards the leggy.

Warning, picture:

 

[luckyclov]

She is leggy (and cute!). She looks so much "taller" than my 53"-er. We don't have legs in my family, just torsos.