Help with seat arrangement, please!

[nylle]

Hello everyone!

I have a few questions to ask and I know someone on this board will be able to help me. =)

I have two children right now and am expecting our third in April. We drive a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The issue is that my dd is within half a pound of the rear facing weight limit (she's 2 1/2 years old, 39 inches, and 32 1/2 lbs). I'm really bummed that we're going to have to move her to forward facing before long.

She is currently rf on the outboard passenger side in a Boulevard, and her brother is rf in the center in a Decathlon (He is 15 months, 30 lb). I will have to go get Tether anchors installed in the Jeep as it is a 1998.

1st Q:

What seating positions can tether anchors be installed in for this car? (My thought is outboard only, but I'm unsure).

2nd Q:

Would it be better to put dd ff in the center in the Decathlon, and ds rf in the outboard position in the BLVD , as he's better protected? If there's no tether anchor in the center, is it even safe to put a ff seat there?

3rd Q:

DD has a car circle for preschool. Assuming I could put her ff in either the ourboard OR center position, is there a large safety difference? Just trying to weight the difference in safety versus her teacher being annoyed by having to walk all the way around the car to put her into the center position.

4th Q:

Our next baby is due in April, and although we will be moving up to a van, it won't be right away. What would the best configuration be for the three seats, and what would be the best 3rd seat to get? My first thought was another BLVD for the SIP, but have also thought about the Radian...am open to ideas. I very rarely use the infant seat past a few weeks.

Sorry so long, thank you if you got this far! Any help is appreciated!

Ellyn

Ava 8/24/2004
Jace 9/21/2005

[murphydog77]

Hi Ellyn. Let's see if I can help.

1. Center position only. Here's the part number if you should need it: 04728952AB

2. Since the tether anchor is going to be in the center, that's where I'd put the ff seat. So, that's where your dd should go. I'd put her in the tethered Decathlon if your kids don't mind switching seats ;).

3. You might find that you'll need to move her outboard when the baby comes just for convenience. It'll be hard to try to adjust the harness from the front seat (BTDT, lol) or while leaning over another rf seat. If that's the case, I'd stick her back in the BV on the side. In the meantime, I'd probably leave her in the center.

4. See #3 for configuration suggestion. As for seats, I'd probably stick with the BV. It's got nice positioning pillows for newborns to go with the sidewings. The Radian does fit small babies well, too, but if you're looking at Siennas, forget it, it won't work. How about another Decathlon?

Heather, CPS Tech/Instr.
http://www.CarSeatSite.com

[nylle]

Thanks for all your help! So, if it's center only, what should I do if ds needs to go ff before the baby comes, as well? I'm hoping he doesn't, but he's very big for his age.

I guess my option is to get a new car before then or not tether it. lol. The idea of having a seat ff without a tether really just bothers me, though.

ETA: the main reason I was thinking of another BLVD for the 3rd seat is that way, both kids outboard will have SIP. If I get a decathlon, one of the outboard kids won't get that protection, and we don't have side curtain airbags.

Thanks!

Ellyn

[o_mom]

If you have to install outboard without the tether, I would use the seatbelt with the shoulder belt lockoff. That will add a small amount of restraint toward the top of the seat, though not nearly as good as a tether.

[mommyto4]

As long as they fit, I would do Decathon in center FF, and Boulevards outboard RF.

[Kidrepair]

I don't know how the 98 differs from the 95. We have a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee and have 3 kids, a 7 yr. old in a PW, 3 yr. old in a MA and a 3 mo. old in a Baby Trend LL. There is no way another Britax will fit in the backseat, I barely fit the infant seat with the other 2 Britax seats. I am thinking if we cannot afford a van once our baby is out of the LL we will probably have to get the Radian. I am hoping the Radian works well in my car either rf for the baby or ff for the 3 yr. old.

[nylle]

Thanks for all the input! I have had 3 britaxes in the back before when babysittinng a friend's baby, so I know it's possible...but not fun. lol. All three kids were rearfacing, which did not make it easy to get the middle kid fastened. Maybe the 98 is a little different.

I'm thinking I'll put dd ff in the center when she gains this last half pound and hope that a) her preschool teachers don't mind coming around to the other side of the car for pick up, and b) that her brother takes his time going from 30 lb to 33 lb so that we can move into a van before he needs to go ff, so we don't have to address not using a tether for one of them.

Thank you all! If anyone else has any other suggestions, let me know!

Ellyn