following on from car seats - what about booster seats......

[Katherine]

With 3 seats sqaushed into the back of our car, one of them has to be a booster seat. I now have 3 - the Britax ranger which is great, a cheap one from mothercare also with a back which converts into a booster which has also been great and a cheap grotty thing I borrowed from a neighbour.

Trouble is that because its a tight fit you can't get your hand round the Britax back to fasten the buckle. The mothercare one has "arms" on the booster which causes the same problem. The only one which works is the grotty old thing which I hate.

What I need is a booster seat without "arms" sticking up as this is the bit that gets in the way. But I've looked everywhere and "arms" seem to be in at the moment. Any suggestions?

Given that the booster is simply to raise the child so the belt is in the right place and we use one of those belt positioning things anyway I'm tempted to just give him a cushion. Do you reckon this is OK?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

sorry to shout, Katherine, but that's dangerous! In a collision, the cushion could fly out from under your child and cause him/ her to slide out under the seat belt. The belt itself could then cause serios damage to the neck of the child. The "arms" on the booster seats aren't "in" they're necessary to make sure the booster stays put against the seat back.

Don't do it

Can you rearrange them so that the Britax is next to the roomiest one?

DS1s (4.5) booster seat has an integral 5 point harness so you're not fumbling about for the seat belt fastenings each time. It does then convert to a standard high back booster, with the seat belt fastening the child and the seat in. My only complaint is that the crotch strap is too short and non-adjustable. It does have arms

the Britax Skyliner has three different width fittings, maybe it would fit on the narrowest fitting?

Ok OK no cushion. I'm really strict about seat safety so wouldn't do anything dangerous. I still don't see why the "arms" are so necessary though. The "grotty" old thing has 2 littlwe bars which come out along the sides so the belt is held in place. This doesn't get in the way of fastening the belt at all. Its the ones where the "arms" come up that get in the way and I don't see how they hold the belt in place at all.

Can't rearrange the other seats as the baby seat needs a 3 point harness so the maxi cosi has to go in the middle. Will have a look at this skyliner......

Katherine , a bit confused. If the baby seat needs a 3 point belt, don't the boosters too ? We do have a booster w/out the side wings for occasional use, in addition to a Britax Freeway and Maxi Cosi Rodi, but it is still hard to do up the belt because the seats are the individual sculptured sort and the socket is recessed between them.

We got a Britax Cruiser Ranger (think) from Kiddicare.com It's a booster seat with a back that you use the normal seat belt on but has no arms. Said on the box that it can be used from 9 months, I think it's quite compact and it wasn't horribly expensive. I've seen the same style in mothercare so they must be quite easy to get hold of.

Lisz - I've got booster seat on one side, maxi cosi in the middle as that takes a lap belt and then the baby seat on the other side. The baby seat next to the MC is not a problem. With it facing the other way there is actually a large gap to get you arm in to clip it. But where the britax or booster are next to the MC then its really difficult to foce your hand in to fasten it up. I can just about manage it but DS is now 5 and likes to do it himself. Its just frustrating not to be able to get a booster thats the right shape. Maybe I should just try to make a funky new cover for the "manky old thing" !

If the skyliner is adjustable widthwise though it might work but would want to try it out. Will plan a trip to mothercare world or babies r us once current bump evolves into baby

Ah, see what you mean now - I was thinking that you were using the boosters at the same time. Seems sensible to go and try out different permutations. It is difficult enough getting young kids into their seats and belted up w/out being pregnant too !

Have just emailed Britax for dimensions for Skyliner as I can't find them anywhere. However have no faith in them getting back to me. Does anyone else have any info on the 3 width fittings. Just want to measure up and see if it fits so I can order online.
Thanks