[*LucyE*]

5.5yr DD is currently 19kgs and in the 5pt belt set up of the Maxi Rider. She is in the middle position with generally, a HiLiner and Meridian on either side.

I have trailed her in a HiLiner but the angled shape of the seat belt clip and the tight fit makes it very difficult to do up.

Is there another seat option that would be narrower?

I know those extension clips are not usually recommended because they are another potential failure point but is there any statistical evidence to show they are unsafe?

[ednaboo]

The other option would be the Infa Vario (and equivalent) booster. It is a similar width to the hiliner. TBH I also have 3 across and I find it easier to buckle up the child who rides in the Hiliner vis the one in the Infa. Have you tried putting the Meridian in the centre position? Then have both boosters in the outboard spots? This is how we do it, as no other cobination will fit. Also, if needed you can pull the booster out in order to buckle up the seatbelt, then slide the booster back in to position. We have to do this with the Infa, but not the Hiliner.

I know those extension clips are not usually recommended because they are another potential failure point but is there any statistical evidence to show they are unsafe?

Not that I know of. AFAIK they have not been studied at all for use with children and therein lies the problem Another issue with extenders is that they are all 30cm long. I worked out that in my car, this would mean the new buckle would lie right on my childs lap, which did not seem safe at all.

Your other option is to change your Meridian for a more slimline seat such as a Compaq. That would buy back some space.

This post has been edited by ednaboo: 04/06/2012, 11:37 AM

[MnCzMa]

can she not stay in the MR in the inbuilt harness? they are fine up to 22kg as long as height isn't an issue.

[lsolaBella]

Not that I know of. AFAIK they have not been studied at all for use with children and therein lies the problem Another issue with extenders is that they are all 30cm long. I worked out that in my car, this would mean the new buckle would lie right on my childs lap, which did not seem safe at all.

As Endaboo said, the seats are not tested with seatbelt extenders and most seatbelt extenders change the seatbelt geometry by reducing the triangular configuration of the seatbelt. Instead of coming across the hip (which is bony) up to the chest (which is also bony) the sash part of the belt will be coming across the soft abdomen which can cause internal injury.

[*LucyE*]

I thought they were tested with 22kg dummies not they are safe for a 22kg child. Clothing weight gets added so I haven't kept my kids in the 5pt seat belt past 20kgs to be on the safe side.

I knew the extender probably wasn't going to be a good idea.

I'd prefer not to move the Meridian to the center because DS2 is the wriggliest to load and clip in.

I might play with different combinations and use the third row. Was just hoping for an easy solution where I didn't have to help strap DD into the car during the school pick up craziness.

[lsolaBella]

The 22kg test dummy has winter weight clothing ADDED to them.

The lowest weight dummies have summer weight clothing added to them.

The new 'no weight limit' height marked 2010 standard seats are tested with the same test dummies. The rationale is that 97% of children under 4yrs are under 22kgs.

So I would use to 21-22kgs if my child still fit heightwise in a 5pt harness seat.

The '20kgs' suggestion was SnS back in 2006 when people were asking about higher harnessed seats.

ETA: The PP about the bony hip comes from personal knowledge.... I was in an interesting accident (hit by someone doing 70kms and spun 360 in the middle of an intersection). I went to the Dr to double check I was OK. He put pressure on my hips (that hurt) but I had no pain on my abdomen (I was only 3.5m post c/s). Dr was amazed. He said I was the first person I had seen post accident who had been wearing seatbelt correctly (ie. low across hips etc). So I know from experience how important it is to keep a seatbelt low across the hips and having the sash come across hips and across the middle of the chest. By doing so I did not have any injuries which are common when seatbelt is worn incorrectly.



This post has been edited by lsolaBella: 04/06/2012, 08:00 PM

[Henderan]

I have just successfully fitted two maxi cosi seats and an old style (narrow) Safe n Sound Compaq into my VW Passat wagon (done by Baby on Board). Very happy we got this to work, however the issue is when the eldest moves into a booster becuase currently there is literally not a milimetre between each seat and therefore we wont be able to physically get our hand down beside the seat to buckle in the booster.

Rather than using a seatbelt extender, has anyone tried bluckling up the booster first (leaving it buckled in) and then getting the child to "slide" in each time?

Thoughts welcome.

[Henderan]

Hi ednaboo,

Could you please elaborate by what you mean below?

"Also, if needed you can pull the booster out in order to buckle up the seatbelt, then slide the booster back in to position."

From what i understand, you slide out the booster, buckle up the belt and then slide the booster back in position. Does this mean that you have to slide the child in after the seatbelt has already been buckled in? Can this be done easily? If so, perhaps you have found the solution for people with 3 car seats across the 2nd row of "average" sized cars.... We have fitted 3 car seats across out VW Passat, but are concerned by the day we need to upsize to a booster.

[PreachersWife]

I have just successfully fitted two maxi cosi seats and an old style (narrow) Safe n Sound Compaq into my VW Passat wagon (done by Baby on Board). Very happy we got this to work, however the issue is when the eldest moves into a booster becuase currently there is literally not a milimetre between each seat and therefore we wont be able to physically get our hand down beside the seat to buckle in the booster.

Rather than using a seatbelt extender, has anyone tried bluckling up the booster first (leaving it buckled in) and then getting the child to "slide" in each time?

Thoughts welcome.

I did this for six months when my eldest needed to sit in the centre seat when DD2 was in the capsule (no way could I lift that heavy thing over another seat!)

It worked pretty well and if she got in first, she was usually all set by the time I strapped DS in and plonked the capsule in the base. And she loved being the the middle! We just left the seatbelt very loose very time she got out of the car.

Now she's on the passenger side, and I think that Ednaboo means that your child sits in the seat, you slide the whole thing a few centimeters to the edge of the seat, clip the buckle in and then slide the whole shebang back again. DH does this, as his bigger hand struggles to fit between the two seats.

Hope that helps.

[ednaboo]

Hi henderan. Preachers wife was correct; I mean

Now she's on the passenger side, and I think that Ednaboo means that your child sits in the seat, you slide the whole thing a few centimeters to the edge of the seat, clip the buckle in and then slide the whole shebang back again. DH does this, as his bigger hand struggles to fit between the two seats.

Ds does this himself with his Infa booster. We don't need to do it for DD who is in a Hiliner as this booster makes it easier to access the seatbelt.

I know of people who do it the way you mentioned, but that will only work on cars that don't have ALR seatbelts. ALR seatbelts lock when pulled to maximum length (to allow for child restraint installation).

ETA: I think you will manage when it is time to use a booster. I drive a Subaru Liberty which is similar in size to the Passat. In fact a Passat was the only other car on our shortlist at the time.

This post has been edited by ednaboo: 07/01/2013, 03:51 PM