Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    San Jose, CA, USA.
    Posts
    1,069

    Default carseat gurus: what to do in my Honda Accord?

    Here's the scenario: DD is due in October. I currently have DS#1 (48", 58 lbs) in a Regent, and DS#2 (37", 32 lbs) in the Fisher Price wanna be Marathon (the one they discontinued, I forget the name).

    I need to fit the 3 kids across in my 2001 Honda Accord. I'm thinking I need to lose the Regent. DS#1 will be 6 years, 3 months when DD comes. DD will go into a Graco Safeseat 32.

    Scenario 1: Buy a backless booster for DS#1 (he'll go into the middle, as the least protected, and I don't want visibility issues with a HBB), keep DS#2 in the "Marathon" and DD in the Safeseat. Which backless booster to buy? The Graco Turbobooster is on sale for $19 this week at Target. Is this a good buy? Is this a good seat?

    Scenario 2: Buy a HBB booster for DS#1 now, wait for DD to outgrow the Safesat (around 1 year), at which time she will go into the wannabe Marathon, move my DS#2 into the HBB (he'll be around 4.75 years old, but is peanut sized), and buy a backless booster for DS#1 at that time.

    What to do? Too many decision!!!! Either way, the three seats will need to fit in the back of the Accord...too expensive to buy a new car.

    Thank you thank you thank you if you've followed me this far. Looking forward to everyone's advice

    --Jennifer

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Chicagoland - IL
    Posts
    920

    Default

    Hmm, how does DS1 do in a backless? I might think HBB (I don't know that it would obstruct that much more than DS1's head?) - if you get a HB Turbobooster, the back will come off later if a backless is desired.
    When DD outgrows the SS1 and takes over the FisherPrice, I might consider getting DS2 a Nautilus or something, especially if he's still a peanut... also, one year seems kinda early to outgrow the SS1 (I've heard 16-18mo. average), although my DS is on the smaller side (we still have room at 19mo.- he's a leggy booger) and I don't know how your kids trend size-wise.
    ***
    DS October 2007
    Busy Budgeted Chicagoland Mommy

  3. #3
    o_mom is offline Pink Diamond level (15,000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Central IN
    Posts
    15,743

    Default

    A couple thoughts, based on working three across in DH's 2006 Accord....

    1. You most likely will not be able to use a backless booster in the center as there is no headrest there. If you put a booster center, it must be a highback if there is no headrest.

    2. Buckling a booster center in a three-across is painful at best and impossible at worst. You also risk the booster child unbuckling the other seats.

    I think I would look at getting a Radian for your DS2 and putting that center. That will give you the most room. Since you have lower anchors, you can use them to aid the center install (you can't install with them, but you use them to get it tight and then unhook them after the seatbelt is tight). Then put the SafeSeat outboard on the side where the center seat buckles (probably driver's side) and a highback booster outboard on the other side. You will have to use the seatbelt to install the SafeSeat, but that isn't a big deal. For the booster, I would look at something with decent side impact protection, but not huge, like the Recaro Vivo, or hopefully this summer the new Parkway will be out as well as the Chicco Strada - in your case I would really wait to see if those two come out by the end of summer. When the SafeSeat is outgrown, you can see if the Fisher Price seat will fit next to the Radian RF, or possibly get something narrower if it doesn't.

    Good Luck!
    Mama to three boys ('03, '05, '07)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    San Jose, CA, USA.
    Posts
    1,069

    Default Thanks!

    O_mom: thanks for the excellent advice! I did not know that backless boosters need to be installed on a seat with a headrest. I just figured since he'd be the least protected, I'd stick him in the center.


    Do you mind sharing what three seats you have across in the Accord?

    Thanks again,
    jennifer

  5. #5
    o_mom is offline Pink Diamond level (15,000+ posts)
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Central IN
    Posts
    15,743

    Default

    On the backless, you technically don't need one if the head (top of the ears) is still below the top of the vehicle seatback when using the booster. Since you were worried about obstructing vision, that is only a concern if his head is above the top of the vehicle seat, in which case you need a highback booster - kind of a Catch-22. Make sense?

    I have had in order of Driver/center/passenger:

    RF Roundabout/FF Radian/Parkway
    FF Radian/RF Roundabout/Parkway
    FF Radian/Ridesafer Travel Vest/RF Roundabout
    FF Radian/RF Radian/Parkway
    Backless Turbobooster/ FF Marathon/SafeSeat1

    Here are some that other people reported from the successful three across thread over at car-seat.org:

    -----
    2004 Honda Accord

    all seatbelt
    FF or RF MA/FF Radian 80/FF MA
    Snugride/FF Radian 80/ FF MA
    SS1/ FF Radian 80/FF MA

    snugride, SS1 and MA take up about the same space.
    ----


    2003 Honda Accord

    FF Radian
    FF Boulevard
    FF Radian

    All installed with seatbelts.
    All tethered

    Not checked by tech.

    FF Radian
    RF Boulevard
    RF Scenera

    All installed with seatbelts
    Radian and Boulevard tethered

    Not checked by tech.

    ----------
    Mama to three boys ('03, '05, '07)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •