Is keeping a booster buckled and have child climb in and out safe?

[sewaneecook]

I'm expecting baby #3 in April and we're going to have our almost 4-year-old FF in a Radian, the new baby in a Coccoro, and our almost 7-year-old in a booster (haven't decided which one yet, likely a Turbobooster or a Parkway). I've read all sorts of issues with getting the booster buckled in a 3 across situation. Is there a problem with keeping the booster buckled and having my DS climb in to and out of the seat this way? If it's not safe, I'll obviously make it work to buckle him in each time. However, if it is safe, why isn't it mentioned more often?

[mama2soren]

It is safe, so long as you make sure the belt is positioned properly after he climbs in (slack removed, lap belt down low on his hips, etc). It won't be super convenient, though, which could get old fast if this is the situation in your main car.  What kind of car do you have?  Since you've chosen two very narrow seats for your younger children, you might find you have room to buckle and unbuckle if you choose a narrow booster too!  

[sewaneecook]

Thanks for confirming my suspicion that this is safe. We have a '05 Corolla, so a small car that will require small seats. We will likely get a mini van in a year or 2, once we have a bit more saved up to pay cash for it, but for now the Corolla is the main family car.

[devon]

We have an '04 corolla and we are able to get a FF Radian, RF Radian, and a Harmony LiteRider booster.  Actually, now we have two FF Radians and the Harmony.  We had a turbobooster and it was a knuckle bruiser to buckle.  Our 7 year old is in the harmony and he can buckle himself in (although he has developed a definite 'technique' to doing so involving wiggling around.

[sewaneecook]

The harmony definitely looks narrow. We would prefer a high back booster so DS can fall asleep more easily in it (on long trips, which we take 4-5 per year, plus he'll take short naps on errand running at least once per week). If we can't find one that fits safely, we'll obviously have to look at the no back boosters. Thanks for the suggestion.

[devon]

Quote:

The harmony definitely looks narrow. We would prefer a high back booster so DS can fall asleep more easily in it (on long trips, which we take 4-5 per year, plus he'll take short naps on errand running at least once per week). If we can't find one that fits safely, we'll obviously have to look at the no back boosters. Thanks for the suggestion.

 Yeah, our kiddo just turned 8 and he is still in the high-back portion of the Nautilus in our everyday car (an Odysee). I would prefer a high back if they are going to be sleeping still too.