Please critique my current vehicle seating - Canada

[mommy24babes]

I currently have
DD1 7 yrs 9 mos 65lbs and 4ft1 Nautilus in booster mode in my vehicle
Monterey in DH's
DS1 5 yrs 8 mos 41lbs and about 43' Radian and nautilus harnessed.
DS2 2yrs 9 mos 27lbs and about 38'? Radian and soon to be expired ( dec 12)
graco cargo booster harnessed.
DD2 7 mos 17 lbs not sure how long. Graco snugride 32.

I also have available a 3 yo first years trufit .

I drive a 06 dodge grand caravan with middle row bucket seats and 2 extra tt points in the 3rd row.

Our seating changed a bit ago due to DD1 outgrowing her nauti harnessed.

Our prior seating was 3 big ones FF in the rear row and DD2 RF in the middle row.

The big 2 need to be able to get in and out of the van for kiss and ride.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[tam_shops]

In Dec, will ds2 be RF or FF?

If FF, I'd get a dedicated booster for DD1 and find the straps for the GN and move DS2 into that. I might also move 1 Radian and 1 GN in each car and put the larger child in the GN and smaller in Radian.

Are you *sure* the Radian is about to expire? I thought that the RN didn't come into Canada until Summer 2006? When did you get it and check the manual for the expiration. Did they have 6 or 8 years back then?

I'd put the babe in the TF when the time comes and/or the next oldest child FF, so the babe can RF in the RN if it has a higher weight limit.

And, next year when DD2 outgrows the bucket and needs another seat, I'd put ds1 in the least used vehicle in a booster seat--rather than buying another seat.

If it fits, I always put the older kids in the front--easier to reach to get them in/out and the older kids in the back b/c they can get in/out of their seats themselves.

tam

 

[mommy24babes]

Oops I made a mistake and it won't let me edit.
Kids are in my vehicle 90% of the time.
both radians are new last Dec it's an old graco cargo booster that's about to expire in dhs van.

DD1s nautilus will expire for harnessing in 2 years I think? Ds1s Nauti is 3 years old.

Ds 2 was rf up until last dec when Dd2 was born.
I'm not opposed to turning him back. He was happy rf and so was I.
With 2 rf seat in each of the middle row buckets the kids in the back would have a heck of a time getting out under 2 rf seats.

 

[bbartlettnfld]

I also say check the radian to see if its expiring this year. I bought mine in Summer 2007 (DOM of Jan 2007) and it has an 8 year expiry so not until 2014. I know they made some changes such as making the FF weight limit 65lbs from 48lbs. Mine is the 65lb version.

 

[lovemy2kidstw]

I think the OP is saying the graco cargo harness to booster seat will be expiring soon, not the radian

 

[canadiangie]

Just to clarify, an 06 GC offers just 1 factory installed tether anchor in the 3rd row.

Have you had the optional retro-fit anchor(s) added by Chrysler? They're just over $100 each, if that jogs your memory.

Just want to make sure you aren't thinking the 1 set of UAS in the 3rd row is 2 extra tether anchors -- looking from the cargo area it's sometimes confusing for people to decipher lower anchors versus tether anchors, specifically in a GC.

 

[mommy24babes]

Just to clarify, an 06 GC offers just 1 factory installed tether anchor in the 3rd row.

Have you had the optional retro-fit anchor(s) added by Chrysler? They're just over $100 each, if that jogs your memory.

Just want to make sure you aren't thinking the 1 set of UAS in the 3rd row is 2 extra tether anchors -- looking from the cargo area it's sometimes confusing for people to decipher lower anchors versus tether anchors, specifically in a GC.

Yes we had 2 additional top tethers installed at the dealership. I wont soon forget the $ 300+ it cost lol
I wonder if we got ripped off by the dealership.