where is my 7 year old safer?

[sunnymommy]

She is probably around 55-60lbs and over 48" tall. If the choices are the back middle seat with only a lap belt or the front seat in a low back booster in a car without an airbag - is she actually safer in the front? Seems so against the grain, but in thinking about it I am wondering if actually the front with the shoulder belt would be better than the back with only a lap belt?

[jackyl08]

Yes, technically speaking, she would be safer in front with the seat pushed all the way back. No one, child or adult, should ride in a lap belt only.

[jaelynsmommy61607]

I agree safer in the front with an air bag even. Lap belts should only use used to install car seats.

[luvsviola]

Since there is no airbag, I would do the front.

[jjordan]

I agree that she is safer in the front.

However, since the back outboard seats weren't mentioned as options, I'm guessing there are harnessed car seats back there? Ideally you could find a way to put a harnessed car seat in the lap-only seat belt, and have the boostered child in the back seat with a lap/shoulder belt. Unless you ONLY have lap belts in the whole back seat?

Also, putting a child in the front seat when there is a back seat available *might* be against state laws.

[sunnymommy]

They didn't all three fit across in the backseat. This is in Daddy's subaru legacy which they don't ride in very often so we don't spend a lot on seats for it. What we have is a huge 14 mo old backwards in a Scenera behind the passenger. A tiny 3 1/2 yr old (who still rides RF in my van but can't in the subaru) in an expired Cosco FF behind the driver that is going to be traded shortly for a Scenera we just picked up yesterday. And then 7 yr old in a low back booster which just didn't fit right even when she was on the side with 3 yr old in the middle. Her booster was crooked and so didn't make the seatbelt fit her right anyway. Maybe with 2 Sceneras the fit will be different so I will try that configuration again. Thanks for reminding me of that possibility!

[luvsviola]

I'd try a Maestro for the 3.5 year old. Narrow and much taller top slots.

[jjordan]

Yes, try a Maestro for the 3.5 year old, and try a Harmony Literider booster for the 7 yo.

If you can't fit 3 across, then the 3.5 year old should be up front (forward facing).

ETA: I am assuming this car does not have LATCH, but if it does and you're using it for either of the harnessed seats, try installing with the seatbelt instead and you will gain space. Push the outboard harnessed seat as much to the outside of the car as you can. If 3 across doesn't work with the RF seat behind the driver and the FF seat in the middle, try the RF seat in the middle and the FF seat behind the driver.

[sunnymommy]

Originally Posted by jjordan If you can't fit 3 across, then the 3.5 year old should be up front (forward facing). ETA: I am assuming this car does not have LATCH, but if it does and you're using it for either of the harnessed seats, try installing with the seatbelt instead and you will gain space. If 3 across doesn't work with the RF seat behind the driver and the FF seat in the middle, try the RF seat in the middle and the FF seat behind the driver.

The car is a '93 so def no latch

The RF seat Must be installed behind the passenger or it is lifted off the seat by very tall Daddy's driver seat in the farthest back position (both installed behind the driver or in the middle). Which also means the passenger seat will not be in the farthest back position.


Interesting - Why the 3 yr old in front rather than the 7 yr old?

[jjordan]

Originally Posted by sunnymommy The car is a '93 so def no latch The RF seat Must be installed behind the passenger or it is lifted off the seat by very tall Daddy's driver seat in the farthest back position (both installed behind the driver or in the middle). Which also means the passenger seat will not be in the farthest back position. Interesting - Why the 3 yr old in front rather than the 7 yr old?

Rule of thumb is to put the oldest harnessed (forward facing) child in the front seat.

ETA: you know what? Scratch that. If there is no passenger side airbag, then I would put the RF child in the front seat.