New baby coming- OK to put oldest in backless booster?

[askew]

We have a surprise 3rd baby coming this summer and I don't think I can fit 3 across in my car, nor do I want to get a minivan. My oldest will be 6.75 at the time. He is 48" and 50# now. He is currently in a Britax Frontier with the belt. He got to move from the harness to the belt when he turned 6. My 3 year old is teeny tiny and in the Britax Boulevard. I would like to fit a bucket seat in. I have a Lexus RX400h. The smaller suv. I also don't have latch in the middle seat (I don't think) so I was thinking the seats on the outside and the booster in the middle. Or is is safer to put the Boulevard in the center since she is still harnessed? Any help appreciated. 

[vermontgirl]

Bump. 

I have the same question. Third baby due in May. My son will be almost 7. He is over 50 pounds and fairly tall for his age. My four year old daughter is a teeny four year old. I think we will put her in a slim five point harness (she is in a britax convertable right now) and put my almost seven year old son in a backless booster. 

Thoughts please! I don't want to buy a larger car than my camry. 

[LeighPF]

We also need to do three across in a car. I checked and both the Graco Turborider and one of the Evenflo high back boosters are less that 17 inches (so no bigger than a radian)

@Askew

I think the Boulavard in the middle would be easiest to get everyone in, but the booster would be easier for your oldest to mind the baby. The Boulavard is pretty high up, so there is extra space underneath.

@Vermontgirl. Radians have been on sale at Albee baby and Amazon. Great for your three year old.

I would order from somewhere that is good with returns and try things out. That is my plan.

[DahliaRW]

Techinically, booster in the middle is the safest for the boostered child since there is more side impact protection in the middle and that child is not in a harness.  That being said, you have to do what works in your car, and that may not be it.   I would make sure any ffing child in a harness is positioned where there is an upper tether.  Also, you have to think about what child will be ok next to the baby.  Sometimes younger children will poke at or irritate the baby. 

[askew]

I always thought the middle was the least safe seat, I have visions of flying through the windshield. I never thought about poking the baby. I might not trust my little one. Thanks for the input!

[DahliaRW]

Originally Posted by askew 

I always thought the middle was the least safe seat, I have visions of flying through the windshield. I never thought about poking the baby. I might not trust my little one. Thanks for the input!

I have been told by multiple techs that the middle is the safest due to the side impact protection.  If the seat/seatbelt is doing it's job that child is not going to go flying anywhere.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by askew 

I always thought the middle was the least safe seat, I have visions of flying through the windshield. I never thought about poking the baby. I might not trust my little one. Thanks for the input!

I have always heard that the middle is the safest seat because it is the furthest from any collision.  My son always sits in the middle seat and it drives his sister crazy (since that means he is sitting next to her instead of on the other side) but he likes to be safe (and, probably, annoy her).  If you are properly restrained, flying through the windshield would not be a concern.