Three kids, but can't fit booster for the oldest

[nvorsanger]

We have the TurboBooster for my stepdaughter, who is 8 but not yet big enough to sit without a booster. Most of the time she rides in my husband's car, so there is no issue with fit.

We do have an issue with our second car, a Volvo wagon, though. This is the only car we can use if we drive all three of our kids at once. I have my toddler in a Marathon & my baby in a Roundabout, one on each side. Our 8-yr-old sits in the middle.

But there is only 11 inches in width at the very back of the seat, b/c the seat belt "holders" (don't know what they're really called--the part that you clasp the shoulder belts into) come up from there. So the TurboBooster doesn't fit. Nor will any other booster I'm aware of, at least as far as the printed measurements I've found. I called Volvo a while back, & they didn't seem to have any suggestions (I think I will try them again).

It makes me very nervous to drive our 8-yr-old around without her being in a booster, & I think it will be a while before she is big enough not to need one. A new car is not an option, so I really don't know what I can do to make her safer. Are there any super-skinny seats? Or has anyone else dealth with this problem?

Thanks.

[Joolsplus2]

I definitely wouldn't want to go boosterless with an 8 yo, either!
I think I'd seriously look at the RideSafer Travel vest....it's a vest that works like a booster, so she wears it, and sits right on the seat, and there's no trying to squish a booster, or your poor knuckles in there. I know a mom who has a volvo wagon and uses the ride safer, but her page is down, so I don't have pictures :(. My 7 yo ds loves his, and we'll be using it in Grandma's Volvo (that middle spot is such a tight squeeze!)
Anyway, here's a link to the ride safer at froogle (I'm afraid to click a link to a store, sometimes it erases my posts!)
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=ride+safer+travel+vest&btnG=Search+Froogle
It's kind of spendy for a "booster", but it makes a great travel seat and you probably can use it part time for years, or re-sell it on ebay when your SD doesn't need it anymore. I'd get the Large one.

:)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[nvorsanger]

Wow, thanks Julie. I didn't know about this product. Yes, it is pricey, but if it does the job, it will be more than worth the money.

Just wondering: I assume, since you're recommending it--& use it--that it's generally considered a safe/acceptable product by experts. But are there any safety concerns I should consider? I didn't see any concerns expressed when I did a quick web search. Not that I have too many other options, in any event....but I just thought I'd ask.

I *really* appreciate your help.
Nancy

[Joolsplus2]

I just saw crash tests on that...let me see if I can find them again...<searching>....Phew, ok...check out this site, it has videos:

http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/newsite/index_.php

or

www.safetrafficsystem.com

And I first saw these at the Lifesavers conference last year, and they got a good response from safety experts there :)

Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[nvorsanger]

Julie:

I have been offline for a few days.

Thank you again! I definitely plan to buy it--I'll feel soooooo much better knowing we've done the maximum to keep all three kids safe. I appreciate your time & effort in digging up the links very, very much.

Nancy