Question FFing 2-year-old outboard, what seat?

[Ninetales]

My daughter is 2 (3 in February) and has to be FF due to her weight. She's been in her Myride in the middle of my Impala. Yesterday there was an incident in a parking lot where her harness got stuck in the seatbelt and while trying to tighten it I managed to puncture the seatbelt with the splitter plate.

So now she has to be outboard. I know all properly used seats are safe but I'm so nervous having her both outboard and FF. I have a Myride, a Complete Air, and a Radian. I have no side curtain airbags. Would you have a preference, or what should I consider?

 

[jjordan]

If you are concerned about side impact protection, which it seems like maybe you are, then I love the looks of the ProSport. However, with a heavy child, the requirement to discontinue top tether use at a certain weight (what is it? 50-something pounds?) might be a deal-breaker for you. I don't expect to be using the harness at that weight anyway, so it's a non-issue for me.

If you're going to use one of the seats you already have, then I'd probably go with either the MR or CA, whichever she or you prefers. FF Radians sort of scare me after seeing the scary-looking side impact videos.

Of course you know that we don't have any evidence about any given seat being safer in a given situation than any other seat if they are all used properly. So the opinions expressed in this post are just that, personal opinions, not based on hard evidence, just wishy-washy "thoughts," and they should be taken as such.

 

[glockchick]

Can you get the belt replaced? That's probably what I'd do.

As long as she's outboard, I'd probably keep her in the MR just because of the deep shell. Of course we have no proof, but I'd hope the shell would limit intrusion into her personal space in the even of an accident.

 

[Ninetales]

I plan on looking into replacing the belt but it needs a new battery right away and some other work pretty soon. We're in the midst of a financial crisis and being the holidays too, it won't be right away.

 

[creideamh]

I agree with the MR, then the CA, then the RN (depending on which version... if it has headwings, I'd tie it with the CA.) Same reasons as above ^^

 

[Ninetales]

That's kind of what I figured. No headwings on my Radian.