to not know whether my 3yo should sit in the front or back of the car?

[TheScience]

I am no car seat expert and do not have any ERF seats etc. I do try to stay within the law of course and want the safest arrangement with the seats we have.

What I'm not sure of though, is when I am transporting 3 under 4s in car seats, is it better to have my 15kg 3.9yo on a booster cushion in the back middle seat, or a HBB in the front?

whoever is the heaviest should go in the front when transporting 4 children - in the appropriate child seat of course. A 3.9 year old shouldnt really be on a booster cushion though but in a high backed booster as it has side impact protection. In fact at 15kgs he could still be in a harnessed seat as the maximum weight for them is 18kgs.

It is not advised to use a hbb in the front seat with an airbag as the back of the seat brings the child too far forward to be safe.

Booster cushions are only allowed once child is over 22kg.

the seat should be moved as far back from the dashboard as possible. If the appropriate restraint is a hbb then that is what should be used whether in the back or the front seat.

www.childcarseats.org.uk/choosing-using/positioning-child-car-seats-in-cars/

some boosters cushions are ok from 15kgs (those in Group 2 and 3) others are only Group 3 and only suitable from 22kgs (I still wouldnt use a booster cushion for a child of that age though)

The booster cushion is a Trunki portable one which is labelled from 15kg.

There isn't an option to put a harnessed seat or HBB in the back as it won't fit between the infant seat and group 1 seat - only the booster cushion fits. I understand legally as he is over 3 he could just use the adult seatbelt if no seat will fit.

The HBB will only fit in the front seat. The seat can be pushed back a bit but not very far due to the baby seat behind.

In similar circumstances but an older eldest child, I have the baby in his fixed seat in the middle, escapologist on the passenger side, and eldest behind the driver.

On the other hand, I'd say a HBB might just be more better than the back seat. It's a tricky one.

Do you have a three point seatbelt in the middle seat in the back?

Yes to 3 point seatbelt.

They should all be in the back seat. Get another parent to drive in a separate vehicle, 2 kids each or get a different car, like a minivan.

Of course, get a new car or second car! Why didn't I think of that.

Because you're fine with putting a 4 year old in a front seat?

Doesn't have to be an expensive new car, could be used. If you're going to be transporting 4 kids regularly it's something I suggest you look into. If it's a one off thing, ask for help from someone else with the transport.

OP said three children, didn't she?

3 children.

I'm asking whether it is safer for the 3 year old to go in a HBB in the front, or on a booster cushion in the back. Funnily enough I don't have the spare cash to buy a new bigger car.

I would thjnk in the back

Can you not fit a hbb in the back? I only ask as we have two hbb And a stage one in our back seats!

I wouldnt over think it, op. I might go for the middle back seat if i had to choose. I would prob also use a seat belt adjuster to make sure it didnt cut into his neck. Then dont worry too much about it.

Are you talking about this being a regular arrangement? ( ie are they all your dcs, or is it a lift for someone?)
What have you been doing up to now if all yours?
Have you checked online to see if there are any high backs that have a slimmer build?

I think the back option is better, given it's meant to be safest seat in car. Definitely no to just using the adult belt with no booster this could do a lot of damage in the event of a crash. Would somewhere like the In Car Safety Centre give you advice?

Yes I thought so.

Baby in the middle (you reach over the HBB before its occupant gets in), toddler next to baby - fiddly to use the seatbelts next to each other, but it needs doing very very infrequently. Eldest in HBB with last car seat. Slightly fiddly doing up, but child can usually undo it himself at the end of a journey.

Unfortunately we did get fed up of said arrangement and get a seven-seater after four or five months, but we were able to part-ex the five-seater to offset the cost. If that's really not an option for you then three in a row can work.

merci - the Trunki seat has a clip that goes on the seatbelt to pull it into the right place iyswim.

Two children are mine and one is a relative, probably have this arrangement once a week on average.

Have tried two seats - a Kiddy Guardian Pro and a Kiddicare seat and neither will fit between a group 1 seat and an infant seat. I don't intend to buy another carseat (or car) tbh.

If you can turn off the airbag in the front, I'd put the infant carrier in the front and the older kids in the back.

The infant carrier is by far the safest seat (rear facing and best side protection), so I'd use that in the riskiest position in the car. ONLY PUT A REAR FACING SEAT IN THE FRONT IF YOU CAN DISABLE THE FRONT AIRBAG THOUGH.

Fatal - the HBB won't fit in the back with two other seats, only the booster cushion will.

*If you can turn off the airbag in the front, I'd put the infant carrier in the front and the older kids in the back.

The infant carrier is by far the safest seat (rear facing and best side protection), so I'd use that in the riskiest position in the car. ONLY PUT A REAR FACING SEAT IN THE FRONT IF YOU CAN DISABLE THE FRONT AIRBAG THOUGH.*

Yep i'd go for this aswell.

They need to start making the back row 3 full seats really dont they? What with all these bigger and bigger child seats having to be used for longer.

In the back. He'll get side protection from the other two seats and the trunki/bubblebum has the option to adjust the seatbelt height.

Don't overthink it. Some on here just love a bit of unnecessary angst over car seats.