3 in the back of a jeep liberty

[jldumm]

HI- any help out there i have a two year old torturing a newborn (almost 3mo now!) and the 4 year old isn't much better. this is where i know to come for car seat help.

I have a cosco convertible, cosco  5 point hiback booster and a graco infant seat that i can use for another 3 months or so. i also have a britax convertible but it doesn't fit....

So with the three seats i have to put the baby in the middle rear facing to get it all to work. I have put a piece of cardboard between the baby and two year old, but that only works until he figures out how to get it down.

Any ideas for reasonably priced solutions.

Any ideas for what will fit when i need 2 convertibles with the hiback.

i plan to 5 point harness the older one for at least another year.

[Maedze]

First things first, how old and tall are your two older children?  The Cosco High Back booster is an extremely small harnessed seat, with only a 40 lb weight limit and only 15" tall top harness position.  It's a rare four year old that fits in it safely.

Is your two year old rear facing or forward facing?   How tall is s/he and how much does s/he weigh? 

What is your budget for new seats? 

[jldumm]

4year old dd is 42inches and 34 lbs

2 year old ds is forward facing 27lbs and 30 inches.

i would like the most reasonable priced option but any would be cheaper than a new car

[Maedze]

Two major things:  a 42" child almost definitely will not fit forward facing in a high back Cosco seat.  Her shoulders are likely well over the top slots, unless she's unusually short-waisted.  Check her shoulders, but I'll be surprised if she still fits.

Secondly, are you familiar with the new regulations that all children under 4 years old who fit rear facing in their convertibles need to ride rear facing?   Not only that, but the Cosco Scenera, like all Dorel brand seats, has a 34" minimum to use forward facing.  It is illegal for your 2 year old to ride forward facing in the Cosco Scenera, because she does not meet the bare minimums.  

For your four year old, I would try the brand new Baby Trendz Eurosport, only just released in Target in the last few weeks.  It's affordable at 100 dollars, and quite narrow.  It harnesses to 50 lbs and would likely keep your four year old harnessed for several more years.

Use the Scenera you have rear facing for your two year old outboard behind the driver (more upright to make room for the driver), and buy a second Scenera at the full 45 degrees rear facing for your newborn behind the passenger.   

Two year old is away from the baby and is safely and correctly restrained, and you've only spent 150 or so :-)

Unfortunately, if that won't puzzle, you're probably going to have to spring for a Sunshine Kids' Radian or two, and that's going to get pricey, so I hope for your sake the Scenera/Trendz/Scenera combo will work out 

Originally Posted by jldumm 

4year old dd is 42inches and 34 lbs

2 year old ds is forward facing 27lbs and 30 inches.

i would like the most reasonable priced option but any would be cheaper than a new car