Anybody know of one? I drive an older model car and the center back seat has only a lap belt. At the moment I have him on the passenger side in the back seat, because the booster I have (and the others I've seen in stores) needs a shoulder belt threaded through it. He's about 36 pound, 4 years old.

I did see in one store the kind that has no back, just a seat and a bar-type cushion thing that folds up over the kid's lap. That's the type I had for my daughter when she was younger (she's 15 now so it was over 10 years ago) and I was under the impression these are no longer considered to be as safe. The one I had (not sure about the one in the store, since I had my "helper" with me and he wanted to "GO!" :love ) used only a lap belt. Would that be better than having him on the side?

Also, if I have to have him on the side, is there a safer side? I currently have him behind the passenger seat but that's only because he gets a bit too much enjoyment from kicking the back of my seat repeatedly. (Especially at the end of a long day on the way home. :LOL ) However, if it were safer to have him behind the driver's seat, I could deal with the kicking. Anybody know?

Booster seats that are compatible with lap only belt use are no longer manufactured or on the market. The last lap belt compatible booster I am aware of being sold was the Britax Laptop that was discontinued sometime in 2002.

Shield boosters (like what you mentioned) are not safe and I would avoid them at all costs.

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/shieldbooster.aspx

Use of outboard seats is perfectly acceptable and anyone who has more than one child has to use at least one outboard position. I read somewhere that the passenger side is slightly safer, I am trying to dig up a link

If it is a choice between leaving him on the side with the shoulder belt vs. putting him in the middle with a lap only-stay on the side. I did find some lap only recommendations for future reference:

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/lapbelts.aspx

They just don't intend on us having more than two kids these days! I think it is a minivan conspiracy plot! I have always preferred the kids on the passenger side, just so I can reach them easier to hand them something or look at them. I would say go to your local police dept for advice, but a friend of mine did when she became a grandmother. They were just as clueless as she was about whether she had it set up right :eyesroll

My car is only 4 years old and it too has only a lapbelt in the middle. So it's not just older cars. I have two kids so my preschooler has to ride on one side with her booster seat and my toddler rides on the other side. The middle seat remains empty because if I put them next to each other they fight. Very distracting to me! :irked:

Anybody know of one? I drive an older model car and the center back seat has only a lap belt. At the moment I have him on the passenger side in the back seat, because the booster I have (and the others I've seen in stores) needs a shoulder belt threaded through it. He's about 36 pound, 4 years old.



You have already gotten great info from the PPs. I did want to say that at your son's weight he is still within the limits of a harnessed booster, but you need to be sure he isn't too tall for it height wise (tops of ears below the shell of the car seat) or torso wise (shoulders are below the top harnessed slots). If he still fits by height, then why not keep him in a harnessed seat installed in the center with the lapbelt? Best practice is for a child to be harnessed until 40 lbs.

Please do not use a booster seat with a lap belt only. Should you be in a wreck, all of the crash forces will be distributed across your little one's pelvic bone (or abdomen if not properly positioned) and their entire upper body will be floung forward like a rag doll. The lap and shoulder combo help to distribute the crash forces more uniformally, ideally across the pelvic bone and the breast plate. These bones are the strongest in the body. Have you thought of a Britax product or even a Cosco Apex (out in June 2005)? These seats utilize a 5 point harness up to 65 pounds.

DC
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

If he's under 40lbs and is still short enough he should be in a regular carseat, not a booster. Once he's 40 lbs if you can't afford a carseat that uses the harness at a higher weight it's time to move him to the outboard seat with a shoulder strap positioning booster.

We have 3 kids in carseats in a Nissan Pathfinder (98). I don't know if this has changed, but SUV's are considered "light trucks" and are therefore not required to have a center lap/shoulder belt. We've been trying to figure out how to solve this issue. We're fine for now, but will eventually need to figure something out. I guess we'll keep shifting the kids around until the youngest has outgrown the center seat, which will be somthing with a 5-pt. harness and higher weight/height limit, and then we'll probably need to get a new vehicle. dallaschildren, do you have any idea of the width of that Cosco Apex? I've considered a Britax Marathon, but I'm not sure it would fit with two other seats.

Sorry to hijack!

...do you have any idea of the width of that Cosco Apex? I've considered a Britax Marathon, but I'm not sure it would fit with two other seats.

Not dallaschildren, but I believe the Apex will be 20.5 inches wide, so wide, but not as wide as a Britax Husky which is 22 inches.

We have 3 kids in carseats in a Nissan Pathfinder (98). I don't know if this has changed, but SUV's are considered "light trucks" and are therefore not required to have a center lap/shoulder belt. We've been trying to figure out how to solve this issue. We're fine for now, but will eventually need to figure something out. I guess we'll keep shifting the kids around until the youngest has outgrown the center seat, which will be somthing with a 5-pt. harness and higher weight/height limit, and then we'll probably need to get a new vehicle. dallaschildren, do you have any idea of the width of that Cosco Apex? I've considered a Britax Marathon, but I'm not sure it would fit with two other seats.

Sorry to hijack!

Here is a carseat measurements site:
http://www.carseatdata.org/csnumbers.html

It lists the Marathon as 19.5" wide.

It is fairly easy, IMO, to fit a Marathon around other seats because it sits "higher" than a lot of convertables, so while it's base is wide it then narrows and then widens again "above" where other convertable seats are high.

We have had three seats in the back of an Escort (two Marathons at one point) without "real" problems.

My Britax Husky, which has a 5-point harness good to 80 pounds, has instructions on how to install with just a lap belt (haven't tried it myself, but apparently it's designed to work). It does say that if you install with the lap belt you need to use the tether strap.

I know you said your car is an older model, but I had tether anchors installed in 2 1995 Fords (labor was free as a "community service" and the anchors were about $6 each) -- just call a dealership or search on the manufacturers' websites.

Thanks for all the advice. His old seat says it can be used to 40 lbs/40 inches and he's not quite either, his head does come over the top so I thought he'd be better in the booster. I like the idea of a 5-point harness that goes to 80 pounds, I will have to go shopping alone, specifically for a carseat and spend some time on it. Does anyone know of which stores sell the Britax seats?

Thanks!

The Husky is $219.95 at www.onestepahead.com; coupon code MAYBDAY gets you 15%; and if you join www.ebates.com you'll get an extra 6% back (total $175.74 plus tax and shipping). That's the best price I found.

My Britax Husky, which has a 5-point harness good to 80 pounds, has instructions on how to install with just a lap belt (haven't tried it myself, but apparently it's designed to work). It does say that if you install with the lap belt you need to use the tether strap.

I know you said your car is an older model, but I had tether anchors installed in 2 1995 Fords (labor was free as a "community service" and the anchors were about $6 each) -- just call a dealership or search on the manufacturers' websites.

The installation for a Husky is complicated because there are many different variables, so please read the manual very carefully! FWIW, with a lapbelt install you have to install it with the recline bar, using the short belt path and as chickabiddy said it MUST be tethered, so if you plan to install it in the center lap belt only position you need to get a tether anchor installed before you can use this seat.

Thanks for all the advice. His old seat says it can be used to 40 lbs/40 inches and he's not quite either, his head does come over the top so I thought he'd be better in the booster. I like the idea of a 5-point harness that goes to 80 pounds, I will have to go shopping alone, specifically for a carseat and spend some time on it. Does anyone know of which stores sell the Britax seats?

Thanks!

The seat is outgrown when the top of the ears go over the top of the back.

I recommend going to a local store that will let you try the seat in your car to make sure it fits. The Husky is a HUGE seat.

I wanted to clarify a few things that PP's had gotten incorrect.

Britax Husky: The recline bar MUST be installed unless you have tethered the seat OR you are utilizing the "short route" using your lap belt only.
My recommendation is to ALWAYS tether if possible (as does Britax), HOWEVER, you MUST use the tether if installing the Husky via the "short route" using the lap and shoulder. The reason for this is the installation the short route, takes the shoulder portion of your vehicle belt BEHIND the seat versus under the cover to the front side of the seat or under the cover across the seat. Obviously in this position, the shoulder belt is not positioned to hold the top of the seat and prevent excess excursion as if it was tethered(excursion is the amount of space the top of the seat moves forward). Thus the tether is REQUIRED.
You MUST tether the Husky if your child weighs 50 pounds or more (however once again...I recommend tethering all seats for increased safety).
Do not use the # 2 buckle position until your child weighs MORE THAN 50 pounds.

I think that's it for clarifications. As for the Cosco Apex...I posted pictures here awhile back when I found out the seat was being released. I will try to dig them up...I had the dimensions on there.

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats :thumb

I wanted to clarify a few things that PP's had gotten incorrect.

Britax Husky: The recline bar MUST be installed unless you have tethered the seat OR you are utilizing the "short route" using your lap belt only.

Actually, the Husky can ONLY be installed using the short belt path with a lap belt so you must use the recline bar.

This is what the latest manual states:

Always use the recline bar when installing restraint in vehicle using short route with vehicle lap belt.

Britax changed the rules for lap belt installation a while back so that you can no longer use the long belt path with a lapbelt installation which necessitates the use of the recline bar.

As for the Cosco Apex...I posted pictures here awhile back when I found out the seat was being released. I will try to dig them up...I had the dimensions on there.

Don't you believe me about the width? ;) I too have the information pdf. on the Apex. The complete dimensions are:

Width: 20.5"
Height: 27.5"
Length: 22.0"
Weight: 13.40 lbs

[/QUOTE]

Actually, the Husky can ONLY be installed using the short belt path with a lap belt so you must use the recline bar.

This is what the latest manual states:

Britax changed the rules for lap belt installation a while back so that you can no longer use the long belt path with a lapbelt installation which necessitates the use of the recline bar.

Don't you believe me about the width? ;) I too have the information pdf. on the Apex. The complete dimensions are:

Width: 20.5"
Height: 27.5"
Length: 22.0"
Weight: 13.40 lbs

[/QUOTE]

BUSTED. Yup, you caught me. I typo'd and did not put lap/SHOULDER "short route" when I said "the recline bar must be installed unless you have tethered the seat OR you are utilizing the "short route" using your lap belt only."
I did not mention the now defunct "long route" lap belt install technique at all, so as not to confuse anyone since it is not recommended any longer. I refer to the lap belt install as "short route" because that is exactly how Britax refers to it in their manual. Sometimes less information is better. Car seat installation is confusing enough. ;)
As for the width dimension you quoted...it has nothing to do with my not believing you. I'm sure you were kidding. It's just that I have answered a bunch of questions here and posted a whole lot of information over the years. My focus was on my prior post regarding the new Britax models and the Apex, and I couldn't remember if it contained all of the dimensions. My comment was all about my thinking out loud and in writing, and not in doubting your width number.
Are you a CPS tech?

Just a quick note.... the Cosco Apex release date was recently pushed back to late 2005. So no May-June 2005 release as Cosco previously reported. Cosco is acting very mysteriously about this seat. What is weird is they had the prototype out and in full view at a safety convention in March and now they pretend as if it doesn't exist or that they know nothing.
I know a lot of you have PM'd me and we've discussed this seat. So I thought I would let you all know the status. It is very frustrating. Not everyone who wants their kids to remain in a 5 point harness for longer than 40 pounds, can afford the Britax models. I was so excited. :irked:

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

BUSTED. Yup, you caught me. I typo'd and did not put lap/SHOULDER "short route" when I said "the recline bar must be installed unless you have tethered the seat OR you are utilizing the "short route" using your lap belt only."
I did not mention the now defunct "long route" lap belt install technique at all, so as not to confuse anyone since it is not recommended any longer. I refer to the lap belt install as "short route" because that is exactly how Britax refers to it in their manual. Sometimes less information is better. Car seat installation is confusing enough. ;)
As for the width dimension you quoted...it has nothing to do with my not believing you. I'm sure you were kidding. It's just that I have answered a bunch of questions here and posted a whole lot of information over the years. My focus was on my prior post regarding the new Britax models and the Apex, and I couldn't remember if it contained all of the dimensions. My comment was all about my thinking out loud and in writing, and not in doubting your width number.
Are you a CPS tech?[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I was kidding!

Unfortunately I am not yet a tech. I would love to be but I haven't been able to take the course because of childcare issues. It is pretty much impossible for me to be away all day when I have to take the kids to school at various times during the day, judo and other activities.

Anyway, I hang out with a bunch of CPSTechs and advocates in cyberspace where discuss all the latest info and bitch and moan! I also have a website which compares many of the boosters on the market today, if you ever need to refer someone who needs to make a booster decision!
Here's the link. (http://uccomama-ivil.tripod.com/)

BTW, have you heard about the new Recaro seats due out June 1st The Recaro Young Sport (http://) and The Recaro Young Style (http://www.proamauto.com/page11dqn.htm).

Just a quick note.... the Cosco Apex release date was recently pushed back to late 2005. So no May-June 2005 release as Cosco previously reported. Cosco is acting very mysteriously about this seat. What is weird is they had the prototype out and in full view at a safety convention in March and now they pretend as if it doesn't exist or that they know nothing.
I know a lot of you have PM'd me and we've discussed this seat. So I thought I would let you all know the status. It is very frustrating. Not everyone who wants their kids to remain in a 5 point harness for longer than 40 pounds, can afford the Britax models. I was so excited. :irked:

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats

I heard it was because it failed in testing. :(

I hope Cosco hurries up and gets it through, but not at the expense of lower harness slots. :eyesroll

Perhaps I missed something, but did any of the above answers indicate that there is a seat that can be used with only a lapbelt if your vehicle does not have tethers?

I guess I need to bite the bullet and have tethers installed in my van.

With carpooling and watching my niece, I need to be able to have up to five children in car/booster seats in my minivan. I haven't figured out how to transport everyone safely (ages 5, 5, 3, 1, and newborn).

Perhaps I missed something, but did any of the above answers indicate that there is a seat that can be used with only a lapbelt if your vehicle does not have tethers?

I guess I need to bite the bullet and have tethers installed in my van.

With carpooling and watching my niece, I need to be able to have up to five children in car/booster seats in my minivan. I haven't figured out how to transport everyone safely (ages 5, 5, 3, 1, and newborn).

There is no belt positioning booster that can used with a lap belt but a regular car seat can be installed with one. All a lap belt is good for is installing a harnessed car seat and all car seats, except for the Husky which requires a tether for some installs and for children over 50 lbs, can be used without a tether.

Car seats always perform better when tethered so it is certainly worthwhile installing tether anchors, but you don't have to.

THanks dallaschildren and uccomama, for sharing your knowledge! Sounds like the Marathon is narrower than the Apex, so we'll probably go with that for our center seat at least.

So our current (almost outgrown) seat, a Britax Freeway (almost identical to the Roundabout, but forward-facing only), is ok without a tether? And the Marathon would be, too? I have it in the center of the second seat in my 1995 Suburban, installed with just a lap belt.

I tried to get a tether anchor installed in my car, but all the dealers I contacted about it were clueless.

So our current (almost outgrown) seat, a Britax Freeway (almost identical to the Roundabout, but forward-facing only), is ok without a tether? And the Marathon would be, too? I have it in the center of the second seat in my 1995 Suburban, installed with just a lap belt.

I tried to get a tether anchor installed in my car, but all the dealers I contacted about it were clueless.

Verity....Yes, it is best practice to install Britax seats with their top tethers attached. Britax is the only line of safety seats on the market right now that can be tethered forward or rear facing. Always verify this with your seats owner's manual. Are you in the UK?
As for the installation of tether locations in your 95 Suburban...go here:
http://www.chevrolet.com/safety/latch/
The dealers you went to are being lazy. Of coarse someone there knows about tether locations for child seats. Be agressive and don't take no for an answer. If you are in the UK, then you can at least call a number in the above link, and get some referrals. Good luck.

Dallaschildren
CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats both in 5 point harnesses :thumb

I appreciate the information. :thumb

I'm not trying to be dense here, but where would a tether anchor go for the second seat (or captain's chairs) in an SUV or minivan? In the floor? I can only picture a tether anchor in a sedan.

Sounds like the Marathon is narrower than the Apex, so we'll probably go with that for our center seat at least.

I have been following this thread because we are in the same situation. We have 3 kids and drive a Jimmy. DD was in the middle with the lap belt, ds on the passenger side in the back, and dd#2 in a booster behind the drivers side. I have always been uncomfortable with this configuration, but I don't know what to do. If ds is in the middle then the girls can't get the seatbelt done up and neither can I. Ds's car seat is too wide where the seatbelts clasp into the seat. It takes a good 20min of blind searching for me to get them buckled and then another 20min to get them out because I can't squeeze my hand in there.

DD#2 is only 38lbs and technically should still be in a harness, but she's too tall. It's uncomfortable for her because her shoulder's are way above the holes the strap comes out of. For now we have put ds in the middle and dd#2 back in the harness carseat because it's easier to get her in and out of. DD#1 is in a booster seat in the front passenger side of the car. We don't have an airbag on either side, but I still don't like her being up there.

I have been looking at the Marithon for ds. I was hoping that it would be narrower at the back and the bottom so the girls can get themselves buckled up properly. I want to get the girls the new boosters from Britax as well. They just seem like they would be much safer since they are all squished back there and the boosters are right up by the side doors. Can anyone tell me if the Marithon would accomidate other children having to buckle up in a booster seat?

What did people do before minivans? This is so frustrating. We had a minivan, but downsized on our luxeries so I could be a SAHM. The Jimmy is great for us otherwise. Cargo room and great in winter weather, but trying to get 3 kids in the back with all the seating regulations and safety concerns is really frustrating.

I have been following this thread because we are in the same situation. We have 3 kids and drive a Jimmy. DD was in the middle with the lap belt, ds on the passenger side in the back, and dd#2 in a booster behind the drivers side. I have always been uncomfortable with this configuration, but I don't know what to do. If ds is in the middle then the girls can't get the seatbelt done up and neither can I. Ds's car seat is too wide where the seatbelts clasp into the seat. It takes a good 20min of blind searching for me to get them buckled and then another 20min to get them out because I can't squeeze my hand in there.

DD#2 is only 38lbs and technically should still be in a harness, but she's too tall. It's uncomfortable for her because her shoulder's are way above the holes the strap comes out of. For now we have put ds in the middle and dd#2 back in the harness carseat because it's easier to get her in and out of. DD#1 is in a booster seat in the front passenger side of the car. We don't have an airbag on either side, but I still don't like her being up there.

I have been looking at the Marithon for ds. I was hoping that it would be narrower at the back and the bottom so the girls can get themselves buckled up properly. I want to get the girls the new boosters from Britax as well. They just seem like they would be much safer since they are all squished back there and the boosters are right up by the side doors. Can anyone tell me if the Marithon would accomidate other children having to buckle up in a booster seat?

What did people do before minivans? This is so frustrating. We had a minivan, but downsized on our luxeries so I could be a SAHM. The Jimmy is great for us otherwise. Cargo room and great in winter weather, but trying to get 3 kids in the back with all the seating regulations and safety concerns is really frustrating.

Are you putting your DS in the lap belt in a booster or are you installing a harnessed car seat there? Either way, I think you have a major *problem* on your hands. No booster can be used with a lap belt. But the other issue is, you CANNOT use the middle seating position for a car seat in the Jimmy and many other GMC SUVs. Please check your car's manual because I am not 100 percent certain but I do know for sure there are some GMC SUV models that do not allow this.

I am asking a friend who is an expert on GMC (works for them) dallaschildren will hopefully see this post too and maybe she will know for sure.

ETA: I was correct, I am afraid. My friend has confirmed that no car seat is allowed to be installed in the center of a Jimmy back seat. This is also the case for the Bravado.

I don't have a Jimmy, or a Bravado, but why can't you use a child's car seat in the middle of their back seat? I assume it's not the issue of the seat having a lap belt only. My understanding is that it is ok to install a harnessed car seat using just a lap belt. (I have been doing this for years in my Suburban.)

I don't have a Jimmy, or a Bravado, but why can't you use a child's car seat in the middle of their back seat? I assume it's not the issue of the seat having a lap belt only. My understanding is that it is ok to install a harnessed car seat using just a lap belt. (I have been doing this for years in my Suburban.)

It is only an issue with the Jimmy and Bravados, your Suburban is fine. The problem is the space is too narrow. It is perfectly fine to install a carseat with a lap belt, actually, that's all a lap belt is good for.

Lap belts have been shown to injure the lumbar vertebra in a collision, so I would go and have the dealership install a shoulder harness. I did this for my 1988 Subaru DL stw.

ds is in a tethered carseat, using the lapbelt in the Jimmy. This is the first I have ever heard about not being able to use a carseat in the middle position. I am very upset about it right now. If I had know that I would have never allowed dh to purchase it (it has always been a sore topic for me).

applejuice, I am well aware of the dangers of using a lab belt. DD is in the front seat until we can figure something out. How would they instal a shoulder belt?

ds is in a tethered carseat, using the lapbelt in the Jimmy. This is the first I have ever heard about not being able to use a carseat in the middle position. I am very upset about it right now. If I had know that I would have never allowed dh to purchase it (it has always been a sore topic for me).

applejuice, I am well aware of the dangers of using a lab belt. DD is in the front seat until we can figure something out. How would they instal a shoulder belt?


:hug

I am really sorry, it seems totally lucidrous that GMC would make a car that cannot have a car seat installed in the center.

AFAIK, there is no way a shoulder belt can be installed in the center. Shoulder belts can only be retrofitted in the outboard positions and that isn't an issue for you. Even if you could refit a shoulder belt in the center, it still doesn't alter the fact the middle seat cannot be used to install a car seat. All it would do, is make it a useable position for an adult.

Thank you for starting this thread. Dh and I have been very worried about what to do with the kids and the Jimmy. Today I went to Ford and we are test driving a Taurus. They have given it to us for the whole weekend so we can make sure it's right for our family. It's a 2002 with 51,000km on it and hopefully we will be able to get financing for it (that will be the hard part so keep your fingers crossed).

We decided to go slightly used so our payments will be lower and financing would be easier to get. We decided against a mini van because with car payments we will need a more economical car to operate. There are 3 teathers in the back seat and 3 shoulder belts. DS's car seat fits great, DD#1's booster fits nicely and the shoulder belt comes across DD#1's body perfectly. We may not need to put her in a booster seat because the shoulder belt comes across her body right where it should be, and she will be in the center seat. We are going to try several things to see which is safer and what will work best. It has tons of trunk space and lots of nice options.

If the financing goes through then we will either trade in or sell the Jimmy and be done with it. Operating one veihicle will make it easier to cover the payments, which will be hard to get used to. However, I just can't keep driving the Jimmy knowing that my kids lives are at risk. It's different when you know. I don't think I could live with the guilt if something happened to them. Somewhere we will find the money to make the payments and keep our kids safe.

Thank you for starting this thread. Dh and I have been very worried about what to do with the kids and the Jimmy. Today I went to Ford and we are test driving a Taurus. They have given it to us for the whole weekend so we can make sure it's right for our family. It's a 2002 with 51,000km on it and hopefully we will be able to get financing for it (that will be the hard part so keep your fingers crossed).

We decided to go slightly used so our payments will be lower and financing would be easier to get. We decided against a mini van because with car payments we will need a more economical car to operate. There are 3 teathers in the back seat and 3 shoulder belts. DS's car seat fits great, DD#1's booster fits nicely and the shoulder belt comes across DD#1's body perfectly. We may not need to put her in a booster seat because the shoulder belt comes across her body right where it should be, and she will be in the center seat. We are going to try several things to see which is safer and what will work best. It has tons of trunk space and lots of nice options.

If the financing goes through then we will either trade in or sell the Jimmy and be done with it. Operating one veihicle will make it easier to cover the payments, which will be hard to get used to. However, I just can't keep driving the Jimmy knowing that my kids lives are at risk. It's different when you know. I don't think I could live with the guilt if something happened to them. Somewhere we will find the money to make the payments and keep our kids safe.

I am so happy to read your post. I felt so bad for you. It sounds like the Taurus is a great choice and I am keeping my fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for you.

cjr---

I am SOOOOO impressed you actually went out and got a new car! I've seen lots of people told that info, none of whom actually did anything about it.

:thumb

Thankyou. It is all depending on the financing. If it does not come through I honestly don't know what we will do. I hate the Jimmy so it really was a great excuse to get something more appropriate.

Just wanted to update and let you know that we are working on a deal with a 2002 Ford Windstar Sport minivan. It's in great shape and we managed to deal in a 2 year extended warranty on it. We're just hashing out down payments and so forth. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. We knew we needed to make a change, but it's such a big expense. Knowing that we were putting the kids in serious harms way, gave us that insentive to get the ball rolling. The payments are going to be tight, but we should be OK.

Just wanted to update and let you know that we are working on a deal with a 2002 Ford Windstar Sport minivan. It's in great shape and we managed to deal in a 2 year extended warranty on it. We're just hashing out down payments and so forth. Thanks again for bringing this to my attention. We knew we needed to make a change, but it's such a big expense. Knowing that we were putting the kids in serious harms way, gave us that insentive to get the ball rolling. The payments are going to be tight, but we should be OK.

Thanks for the update. Your new van will also have LATCH which "should" make your life even eaiser! :thumb