Question Third row in a wagon...a poll

[cevamal]

After this thread I have one more question.

Here's the seat:

Technically it's illegal in VA to put a child under 8 (under 9?) there. The law requires a carseat or booster, and boosters aren't "properly installed" if used in a RF seat which again makes it illegal.

IF you had a 5-8yo child who fit properly in the seat:

To be able to fit in an adult seat belt the child must: be tall enough to sit without slouching, keep his/her back against the vehicle seat back, keep his/her knees completely bent over the edge of the seat, keep his/her feet flat on the floor, and be able to stay comfortably seated this way. Further, the lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should rest over the center of the shoulder through the center of the chest.

Would you use it for occasional use? With or without a backless booster? For purposes of discussion the child fits in the seat w/o a booster, I'm curious which you think is safer.

(We don't pick up the car until tomorrow, hence the academic discussion. )

 

[cookie123]

I didn't vote. I would use it on a child old enough to not use a child seat but also big enough to fit correctly in the seat belt.

 

[LISmama810]

I honestly don't know what I would do.

If I had no choice but to put a kid in that seat or in the front, and the child ABSOLUTELY fit correctly in the rear seat (but was under the legal age to ride without a restraint), I would probably put the kid in the back.

If the child didn't fit properly, I don't know what I would do. I don't see how misusing a booster seat would make it "more legal," though it MIGHT make it more SAFE (which would be more important).

Unless the seatbelts are adjustable, I can't imagine the seat fitting a wide range of children--it seems like it would be more of a hit-or-miss thing, especially with the seat looking as wide as it does. (Or if the particular kids do fit NOW, will they still in six months? A year or two?)

 

[emandbri]

I would use it but you already know that. That is assuming they fit, of course.

 

[cevamal]

I didn't vote. I would use it on a child old enough to not use a child seat but also big enough to fit correctly in the seat belt.

I'm only asking about kids under 8, so in that case you'd vote "no, not at all". Sorry, I didn't make that terribly clear!

 

[Guest]

I'm only asking about kids under 8, so in that case you'd vote "no, not at all". Sorry, I didn't make that terribly clear!

Thanks. That made it much clearer.

I voted no. I wouldn't stick a young kid back there. I'd cram an older person back there in hopes their more mature body could handle any crash forces. Yes, that seat is RF which should be safer, but I'm just not comfortable with those kinds rear facing seats in general.

 

[cevamal]

If the child didn't fit properly, I don't know what I would do. I don't see how misusing a booster seat would make it "more legal," though it MIGHT make it more SAFE (which would be more important).

You caught me before my ninja edit. I had meant to say "more safe". That said, I think having a (misused) booster would make it less likely to appear illegal to a cop who didn't know booster's aren't designed/tested for RF.

Unless the seatbelts are adjustable, I can't imagine the seat fitting a wide range of children--it seems like it would be more of a hit-or-miss thing, especially with the seat looking as wide as it does. (Or if the particular kids do fit NOW, will they still in six months? A year or two?)

How is that different from a backless booster in any other seat? I'm asking--not arguing. I've never used a backless booster and have only very rarely used even a high-backed booster.

 

[An Aurora]

Nope, not under any circumstances.

 

[LISmama810]

How is that different from a backless booster in any other seat? I'm asking--not arguing. I've never used a backless booster and have only very rarely used even a high-backed booster.

Not all boosters fit all kids, either. Some are great for taller kids, some for shorter kids, some for wider or skinnier kids, etc. Also, we tend to recommend HBB with adjustable belt guides, which helps with the fit of the seatbelt.

It's very likely that a, say, 5-year-old would fit great on that seat, but a 7-year-old wouldn't. Or vice-versa. Or one 5-year-old will, and another won't. Without having the ability to adjust things, there are too many variables that make it unlikely to fit a wide range of kids, IMO. But I haven't seen it in person, played with it, etc.