U
Unregistered
Guest
Help! I am no carseat tech, but I like to think I am fairly knowledgeable when it comes to seats. However, I'm having major issues working out a seating arrangement for my kids.
The facts:
-We have a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. There are tethers in the two middle (captain's chair) seats, and one on the back bench, between the middle and driver's side. As unhappy as I am with this van, a new vehicle is impossible right now.
-We have four kids:
DS1, 7 years old, 49 lbs, in a Britax Frontier (harnessed)
DD1, almost 6 years old, 35 lbs, FF in a Britax Boulevard
DS2, almost 5 years old, 46 lbs, FF in a Graco MyRide 65
DD2, 4 years old, 32 lbs, RF in a Diono Radian r100
-Baby #5 is due in November
At the moment we have the boys in the middle row with their seats tethered, and the girls in the back with DD1 (FF) tethered. However, once the baby comes, we will have to do some rearranging of seats to fit everyone. We were planning on buying two more Radians in order to fit three across in the back (with DD1, DS2, and DD2- who will be rearfacing still- in them), and have DS1 in his Frontier and the baby in the infant seat in the second row. However, I've just recently realized that we cannot have another tether retrofitted to accommodate two FF seats in the third row.
So, my question... how should I best arrange these seats and children, with only one tether available in the third row? DD1 could rearface again, but that will only work for another 5lbs until this problem arises again. I would *really* rather not put DS1 in a booster yet as he doesn't sit still enough for it yet, and I'm not entirely sure that a booster would fit in the third row with two Radians (and a combination of two Radians and a Frontier will not fit three across, anyway).
Second question- can someone please explain to me how tether weight limits work? From my understanding, Chrysler's limit is 48lbs and after this, tethers for forward facing seats should not be used?
Thanks for any help anyone can offer
The facts:
-We have a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan. There are tethers in the two middle (captain's chair) seats, and one on the back bench, between the middle and driver's side. As unhappy as I am with this van, a new vehicle is impossible right now.
-We have four kids:
DS1, 7 years old, 49 lbs, in a Britax Frontier (harnessed)
DD1, almost 6 years old, 35 lbs, FF in a Britax Boulevard
DS2, almost 5 years old, 46 lbs, FF in a Graco MyRide 65
DD2, 4 years old, 32 lbs, RF in a Diono Radian r100
-Baby #5 is due in November
At the moment we have the boys in the middle row with their seats tethered, and the girls in the back with DD1 (FF) tethered. However, once the baby comes, we will have to do some rearranging of seats to fit everyone. We were planning on buying two more Radians in order to fit three across in the back (with DD1, DS2, and DD2- who will be rearfacing still- in them), and have DS1 in his Frontier and the baby in the infant seat in the second row. However, I've just recently realized that we cannot have another tether retrofitted to accommodate two FF seats in the third row.
So, my question... how should I best arrange these seats and children, with only one tether available in the third row? DD1 could rearface again, but that will only work for another 5lbs until this problem arises again. I would *really* rather not put DS1 in a booster yet as he doesn't sit still enough for it yet, and I'm not entirely sure that a booster would fit in the third row with two Radians (and a combination of two Radians and a Frontier will not fit three across, anyway).
Second question- can someone please explain to me how tether weight limits work? From my understanding, Chrysler's limit is 48lbs and after this, tethers for forward facing seats should not be used?
Thanks for any help anyone can offer