Ok mamas, I have a pretty big dilemma concerning my car situation come March when my 3rd is due. My other 2 kids are still in seats...my 3 year old in a forward facing seat, and the 6 year old is in a booster seat. We have a Subaru Outback, which we thought was spacious, however we aren't sure we'll be able to fit a infant carrier/seat. Do they have smaller carseats, or do we really have to buy a bigger car? We just don't know what to do...do any of you with 3 in carseats have a smaller car? If not, do you have any suggestions for cars that will work that don't cost a lot or are huge gas hogs? Thanks!
I have a Buick Regal sedan, and I can squeeze two big toddler car seats, and a rear facing infant seat between them. It's tight, but not unsafe...
I don't know if this will help, but this site has a god list of smaller/light weight car seats.
http://www.carseatsite.com/recommended_car_seats.htm
It's not a bad idea to try it out before you have the baby so you can decide if the seat set up is workable, but if it's any reassurance, we were able to squeeze two forward facing seats plus the infant carrier (with base) very snugly into the back of our old Saturn sedan. You'll probably be able to find a seat that will work in your Outback.
In Oklahoma kids that are 6 can sit in a regular seat. I don't know what your state reg's are but a lot of them are age 8 now. If she is old enough I would switch her to just the seat belt.
I googled your vehicle because I just figured you would have a 3rd seat. It said yours is a 5 passenger vehicle. I guess I would never buy one that didn't sit at least 7. I am always having a friend or two wanting to go to Walmart or somewhere so I have to have that extra room.
I would say that sitting the baby in the middle or behind the passenger would be best, to be within reach of you. Then put the older child next to the baby so they can hold a bottle or binky in the baby's mouth if needed. They can also keep the baby entertained if it is lonely. The seat behind the driver can be the other child.
I am hoping to have a third child soon and I have been contemplating the back seat of my Jeep Patriot. I already have a Britax Marathon 70 back there for my daughter. My son is finally out of his booster seat and can use a regular seatbelt. However, I have been concerned about fitting an infant seat back there as well. I have been researching carseats that will puzzle well together within the length of my back seat (which I also looked up). Initially I wanted to put the Cosco Senenra from my husband's truck in the Jeep and buy a Chicco Keyfit 30 for the new baby which would leave enough room for my son to use a regular seat belt. But my husband wanted to keep the Senera so I will have to pair the Marathon 70 with a new Chicco Keyfit 30 and hope my son still has adequate space back there.
The Chicco Keyfit 30 is the most narrow infant carseat on the market...incidentally it is also the highest rated. It is very popular and supposedly super safe.
What kind of forward facing seat and booster are you currently using? Find out how wide they are and how much room you would have left for the infant seat. I think you will be able to fit three across in you back seat IF you have the right carseats. Better to buy new seats than a new car! Unless you were in the market for a new car anyway.
I have a 2009 Nissan Altima, which fit 2 infant carriers(Graco snugride 35s) and a booster quite well. Then the twins needed car seats(Graco nautilus), and while it is now a tight squeeze, it works.
How big and tall is the 6yr old - can he begin to sit in the back of the car with a seat belt without a booster?
I have 3 small kids, and when our mini van is in the shop we have had to put all 3 seats across my husbands Toyota Camry. I imagine it's about the same amount of space. It is tight, but it does work. I had my one son in a britax marathon, the infant seat with base in the middle, and a high back booster on the other side. You'll just have to try it and squeeze!
