Putting 2 carseats in Honda Civic...

[TLC1994]

Well, it's almost time to get the infant seat out of storage for baby #2 (only 5 more weeks! YIKES!)

Anyway, we will have both a brand new Graco Platinum CarGo (just bought it, haven't even opened the box yet) for my 3 year old and a FP Stay In View for the baby.

Here are my questions...

1) We have to take our car in next week to get the rear middle seatbelt fixed and I was wondering if it's worth the $25 or so to get the latch system installed for the Graco seat (you don't need it for the FP SIV infant seat, right?).

2) As far as placement goes - we currently have my 3 yr. old behind the passenger seat so it's easy for me to see her, hand her things, etc. when I'm in the driver's seat, which is the majority of the time. Should she stay there and the infant seat go behind the driver's seat or should we try to fit the infant seat in the middle? Any other placement ideas?

3) If it's worth it to pay for the latch system, should we get it for all 3 seats in the backseat, or just the one and get the 2nd later when the baby moves to a convertible seat?

4) What else do I need to know???


Thanks so much!

[Joolsplus2]

Well...What year is your Civic? You can't actually have the lower LATCH bars put in (only a couple audi's and VW's can...no other cars), but you CAN easily get the top tether anchors (that sounds to me like it would cost about $25...I usually buy them for $12 a piece or so), and YES, you should absolutely get top tether anchors installed, as they add tremendously to the safety of a forward facing seat (which you install with the seatbelt, then hook the top tether up)....get them in all three positions, if you plan to keep the car awhile, it just adds an element of flexibility and convenience to your seating choices.

I have always had my seats the way you do...older toddler in the px side, RF child behind the driver. I found I *had* to keep them separated for everyone's safety and sanity. If your older toddler is calm enough to be next to the baby, I'd put the Cargo in the center and the SIV outboard, IF they fit properly...but I wouldn't bet on it being an easy task, if possible at all. So, to make an extremely long story short, do whatever works best for you, since ANY seat in the back is very safe for properly restrained kids.

Hope that helps! Wow, 5 weeks to go... I hope everything, birth-wise, goes smoothly for you! :)
Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx

[TLC1994]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that it's a 1999 Civic. I was just thinking about the top tether anchors anyway. The $25 is the cost of the part + installation.

There is a chance that we'd try to sell the car within the next year & get ourselves a van, so I'm a bit hesitant to pay $75 to have all 3 spots done. I know it's not a ton of money, but we're not exactly rolling in it either!

I guess I just have to figure out which car seat will go where. Our 3 yr. old is currently in the FP Safe Embrace, but the plan was that it would be moved to grandma's car when we install her new Cargo in our car. Would the 2 FP seats fit better next to one another? I thought I had read that somewhere. But the backseat of our car seems so small that I don't really know how they could. I'll definitely get the SIV out of storage before we take the car in and see how they fit.

Anyway, I kind of like the suggestion of putting the Cargo in the middle and the SIV outboard. The 3 yr. old likes to kick the seat, so at least that way she wouldn't be getting anyone in the back!

Thanks for your quick response. I'm sure this question or similar ones have been asked a million times and you always take the time to respond so nicely! Thanks for your help!

[Joolsplus2]

Oooooh, $25 a piece to install those top tether anchors...how do you spell, "highway robbery" (literally, it's in a car! lol) Check your owner's manual for installation instructions, but all it should involve is popping the little rubber circle caps off the back of the package shelf and screwing that little $12 part in...unless you have speakers that are blocking eveything up there?
Well, in any case, DO at least get one, but 2 if you can (esp. if you can get them cheaper and do it yourself). Try installing the Cargo and SIV...oh..right now...and see where you think they will fit best (I'm kidding about the right now part, but try before you take it in to get the seatbelt replaced ;) )

I keep waiting for these same questions to get boring, but for some reason they never do...and now that my kids are in school, I get to feel like I'm "working" during the week by hanging out here :)

Julie CPS Tech and mom to 2 in seats
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/RFAlbum/SarahMA.aspx