What to do with Dd?

[hunypooh77]

Dd just turned 5 last month. She is big, 49 pounds and 44 1/2 tall. Right now she rides in FR85 in dh's truck (F-250 crew cab) and Xtsl in my Explorer. She is going to be out of the Xtsl pretty soon, right now her shoulders are pretty much even with the top slots. Problem is I need her in the middle. Baby is OB passenger side in Sr32 and Ds is OB driver side in a backless turbo booster. Baby will be going into the Xtsl and a MA classic, not sure which vehicle will get what. But what do I put in my Explorer for Dd? I need the baby Ob because its easier for me to get him in and out (I have lupus and my hands hurt, so does most everything else)

 

[EmmaCPST]

Is your question more about what will fit in your vehicle with the other kids, or just generally what seat to move her into?

Do you feel like she's ready to booster or do you want her to stay in a harness? If you're passing the Radian to the baby, really her only other option if she's outgrowing the Radian is to get another Frontier, but that may not play so well with the other kids in the car.

If you're going to booster her, the Parkway is pretty narrow and might be an option.

 

[djma]

What about the new securekid evenflo seat? Saw someone post that it was more 3-across friendly than a nautilus.

 

[hunypooh77]

Is your question more about what will fit in your vehicle with the other kids, or just generally what seat to move her into?

Do you feel like she's ready to booster or do you want her to stay in a harness? If you're passing the Radian to the baby, really her only other option if she's outgrowing the Radian is to get another Frontier, but that may not play so well with the other kids in the car.

If you're going to booster her, the Parkway is pretty narrow and might be an option.

I would love to keep her harnessed if possible, but I am sure she would be ok in a booster if she had to be. I did look at the Parkway, I like how it has the little strap that comes up between the legs but the belt path under the arm rests looks like it may be difficult. I already know the Frontier wouldnt work in my Explorer. From reading on here it seems it only fits OB...I am also not sure how a booster will fit in the center position either, its kinda narrow.

The reason I would like to keep her in a harness is that she rides in the Explorer 80-90% of the time, I actually feel less nervous about her being in a booster in the F-250 because its sooo much bigger. My 10 year old would still be in a Hbb in the Explorer if he still fit in it!

 

[beetlemama]

SK/Diono is the only manufacturer who allows the harness to be used when the shoulders are above the top slot and only considers the seat outgrown when the tops of the ears reach the top of the shell. I personally am not comfortable with that and discontinue use once the shoulders reach the top slot, but others are quite comfortable following the manufacturer's guidelines for it. If you want to do that you could keep her in it quite a bit longer, until you are comfortable moving her to a booster.

 

[EmmaCPST]

If a Frontier won't work in the seating position you need it to work in, then your only real option is to go to a HBB for her. Physically she's definitely there and I'm fine with most 5 year olds full time boostered unless you think she's not mature enough to be there, in which case you're going to have to really rethink what you want to do to get her in a Frontier in that vehicle. Like the PP said, technically you can use the Radian while the shoulders are above the top slots as long as the ears are still below the top of the shell, but that's not really a long term solution.

Do you have a Buy Buy Baby in your area? They carry a really good selectio nof boosters, I would try going there with your DD and your vehicle and seeing what booster fits best in your center seat and fits her best.