3 Boosters in a Row

Updated on August 29, 2011
J.G. asks from Akron, OH
5 answers

Morning ladies! I have an issue... currenly I am unemployed and expecting a little one in November - not the best of timeing, but we do love her already. Anyways, we were hoping to get a new bigger vehical before the baby came, but that isn't going to happen. So, here's the deal - I currenly have 4 in carseats/booster seats (7 yrs, 6 yrs, 4 yrs & 1 yr) and we are adding another one. None of the kids are able to get out of the seats because of age/wieght/hieght and current laws, so we have to find a booster seat we can use that will let us fit 3 in the back row of my Chevy Voyager (mini van). Do any of you know of a booster seat that can work?? The other issue is cost, since we have to get 3 of them - they have to be some what inexpensive, after all I'm jobless right now. I did see a backless booster at Walmart.com for @ $14 with good reviews, but I don't know if I can fit 3 in my back row... have any of you had any luck with this issue, these seat or even another one that will work?

Thanks ladies for your help!!!

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So What Happened?

I called Ohio State Highway Patrol which instructed me to a site called Safe Kids USA... on there I found a number for the local chapter which happened to be Akron Children's Hospital. Since my middle seat only had 2 belts - I have to put 3 seats in the back row, but since the middle belt is only a lap belt and there is no head rest it has been recommened for me to put the 1 yr old there in a car seat till my daughter is 8 yrs old & can get out of a booster. The boosters do require a shoulder belt (and the low backs should be put where there is a head rest only), so I have to put them on the outer spots of the back row & one in the middle row with the rear facing seat for the baby since the baby needs to be close just incase. As for my 4 year old - I was told once he is 40# he is no longer safe riding with the 5-point harness, so he will have to be put in a booster seat as well.

Thanks ladies for all your help!

More Answers

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

I had 5 kiddos close to the same ages as you will! 5 kids in 8 years! Crazy but fun!
Do you have to do the 3 boosters across the back row? It is really hard to do 3 boosters together because it is almost impossible for them to buckle their seatbelt. The boosters, when there are 3 of them, block the buckles.

If you have the bench seat in the second row I would put the 2 carseats that still have the 5 point harness with a booster in the middle. Then 2 boosters in the back. That is what we did. The big kids had to get in the car through the back. They liked hopping over the seat :)

If you have the 2 captain chairs in the middle row of your car, you just have to have the 4 year old use a 5 point harness carseat. Hopefully it will fit!

Good luck and congratulations!!

2 moms found this helpful

B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I would more consider a narrower harnessed car seat for your 4yr old or 1yr old, that can be installed in the third row in the middle, so two boosters can go outboard (on either side). The Sunshine Kids Radian (their new name is Diono) while spendy is a narrow seat that your 4yr old can sit in (harness, he's still pretty young for a booster) or your 1yr old can use it rear facing. That way your older two can sit outboard of the harness seat and still reach their buckles, then another and bab yinthe second row.

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B.A.

answers from Chicago on

We did a car seat and 2 boosters in the back of a cavalier, so pretty sure that even though it will be tight. You should be able to do it and the 7, 6 and 4 should be able to be in just butt boosters making the booster cheaper and smaller. The seven year old has a new chore of making sure that all her siblings are buckled before themself and getting a special treat for it, such as their choice of movie or even a 25 cent allowance per week for the extra help. WIth this amount of kids it's time to employ the if your old enough to help you do.

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R.K.

answers from Boston on

Go to toys r us and try different boosters to see how they fit in your van. Keep in mind that if the middle only has a lap belt you CANNOT use a booster seat in that position.
The graco turbo boosters seem pretty narrow to me.

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S.S.

answers from Cleveland on

Go to Walmart and measure the seats. We have the same dilema - our 5 year olds will be in boosters for a while, and I am due in a couple weeks and needed to fit a baby carrier between them. We did get a bigger vehicle, but we also measured at Target and Walmart, and while they both have thinner seats, the Walmart ones were thinnest. Hope that works out for you, espeicially since the cost is low.

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