What would you do in this (car seat) situation?

[CaptainMummy]

I dont drive, so not my car, but one day a week we usually go out with my mum. She has not got enough space in the back for three car seats, so my two youngest go in theirs (obviously) in the back.
I only have a high back booster for Paige now, which she is fine in... But shs has to go in the front in it.

Not too long ago, I decided to put her in the back between the other two seats (an infant carrier and a stage 1) with the adult seatbelt. This seems safer to me, as she is in the back and sort of has 'protection' (for lack of a better word) from the seats on either side.

Am I wrong in thinking this? Where should she be? (also, when she is in the front, I can barely fit in the back between the other two, so hearing that back is best for her would make it easier on my big bum too!)

 

[Moomette]

Sorry, but personally I'd keep her in the highback booster in the frontseat until she's over the height requirement for an adult seatbelt, which I believe is 135cm as that will be the safest available option to her.

 

[george83]

We have 3 children who need car seats and struggle to fit them in our car (we brought this on finance before our surprise 3rd baby came along so aren't in a financial position to change cars). Our youngest is rear facing in a group 0 seat whilst my 18 month is forward facing in his seat. Our 4 year old sits on a booster seat using the adult seat belt between the two of them. It's not possible for myself or my oh to sit in the back and him to go in the front because we wouldn't fit in the gap. Could you just get your Lo a booster seat in the back as she'd probably fit the seat belt better that way?

 

[AP]

I would use the high back booster in the front too (thats assuming you arent already using a booster at the back)

 

[minties]

I agree with the booster in front. Kids aren't even allowed to ride without some sort of carseat or booster until 7 years of age here, it's very unsafe. I am 149cm tall and I think a booster is recommended for kids 147cm tall or less in New Zealand. Even I find seatbelts sit on my neck.

What about a half booster in the back?

 

[LoraLoo]

I would also use the booster in the front. I feel this is safer than sitting in the back without.

 

[lauraemily17]

The back middle seat is the safest seat in a car but not so great if the seat belt isn't sitting in the correct position which I presume it wouldn't be given her age. Can you get a slimmer booster to fit in the back?

 

[too_scared]

In Canada children aren't allowed to sit in the front seat until they're big enough to be out of the booster. Which is at least 145 cm and 36 kg and they have to be at least 7-10 years old (age varies from province to province). Transportation Canada says air bags in the front seat are not safe for children under these requirements.

I would try to find a smaller booster and keep her in the back.

 

[sethsmummy]

you can get some blow up boosters now hun which i think are slimmer than conventional ones. personally i dont think its safe or ok to not have a child uf that age in a seat so id stick to her in the front in her high back. my eldest is 5 and a half and in a stage 1,2,3 seat at stage 1. xx

 

[CaptainMummy]

Thanks ladies. I guess ny judgememt was totally wrong! I will see if I can find a slim booster and if not, I will definitely stick her back in the front (I actually took the 1/2/3 from my sisters car so she can still use the harness in that)

This is why I like this forum, I genuinely thought she was safer in the back!

 

[xprincessx]

My LO is almost 5 and is very tall and I wouldn't stick him in a car without a booster at all and don't see myself doing this in the next few years either really. Much safer with a booster to ensure the seatbelt is in the correct position so I would definitely keep her in the front or even better find a slimmer booster for back middle x

 

[minties]

The lap part of the belt tends to sit across their tummy with no booster and can cause an incredible amount of organ damage in a crash, so definitely a booster until they are large enough not to use one . Even I sit on a firm cushion in the car being a short person.

I personally also wouldn't put either of my kids in thr front, and regulations here say they shouldn't either, unless there are absolutely no other seats available.