KTARS
06-21-2007, 04:52 PM
Hey everyone.
I apologize in advance for the life story here - but I need some help finding 3 seats that will fit across in my car so I figure I'll give you as much info as humanly possible in hopes that you all can help! :)
My baby is almost 13 months old and still in her Chicco Keyfit. The day to swap her into the convertible seat is fast approaching, so I think I need to start preparing my car seat line-up for it. The problem is that 3 across in my car is TIGHT ... REALLY REALLY TIGHT.
I drive a Ford Explorer - older style - 1998 model and I have 3 kids that I need to put in there!
Oldest - 4 years, 5 months old - 30 lbs and 41" tall. She is *just* at the top slots - maybe slightly over for the Britax Roundabout - so she now rides full time in the Marathon.
Middle kid - 3 years old (well he turns 3 next week) - 27 lbs and 38" tall. He currently is riding in the Roundabout. He was RF in the marathon, but we had to pass it along to my oldest - so he is now FF in the Rounabout (too tall to RF in that particular seat as his head is at the top of the shell).
Baby - almost 13 months old - 15 lbs - 30" long - currently rides in the Chicco keyfit. She's only on the 2nd slots as the 3rd slots are still above her shoulders - but she's been eating like a pig these last couple weeks, so I'm expecting a growth spurt (FINALLY) on her prety soon. She also has a loooong neck (think Audrey hepburn neck .. lol) - so she has maybe 3" of shell above her head left in the chicco. Her head is right at the chicco symbol ...
Sooo .. right now i have the FF marathon (center), the FF roundabout (outboard passenger), and the chicco (outboard drivers side) and they *just* fit in my car. They are each independently tight and stable BUT they all touch each other and the end seats both touch the door as well - so its a TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT fit.
Other minor tidbits ...
*the middle seat in the back is lapbelt only.
*the belts lock after pulling them out
*only have headrests on the two outer seats
*no tether anchors in my car for FF
*our Roundabout has an "old" style base which is larger than the newer bases and it is too wide to put in the middle so it has to be an outboard seat.
I also have these other seats that are currently in my husbands car to use as well.
*Recaro Young Sport
*Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 (I'd like to avoid using this one at all cost as it is a royal PAIN to use - and to boot the harness is too short for my 3 and 4 year olds anyway)
*Maxi Cosi Priori - which my friend told me expires 8 years after manu. date for this particular seat? is that correct? If so, then it expires next year ... I think. Either way, it makes me nervous that its older - so I think I wnt to replace it soon anyway.
I am more than willing to buy a new seat for any of the kids if needed. I just need something to FIT.
I am most likely getting a new (larger) suv within the next year - but I can't guarantee myself that it will happen before the baby is officially too big for the keyfit!
I also want to add that I am SPOLIED rotten my my Britax seats (and the Recaro & Chicco too) - I'm constantly taking the seats in and out of my car -so easy installations are a MUST.
I also do not want my 4 year old in a booster seat yet and if I am able to flip my son back to RF - that would be awesome as well.
Soooo - what are my options? Other than buying a new car immediately! LOL
Thanks in advance for any help you all can give me!
Trista
I apologize in advance for the life story here - but I need some help finding 3 seats that will fit across in my car so I figure I'll give you as much info as humanly possible in hopes that you all can help! :)
My baby is almost 13 months old and still in her Chicco Keyfit. The day to swap her into the convertible seat is fast approaching, so I think I need to start preparing my car seat line-up for it. The problem is that 3 across in my car is TIGHT ... REALLY REALLY TIGHT.
I drive a Ford Explorer - older style - 1998 model and I have 3 kids that I need to put in there!
Oldest - 4 years, 5 months old - 30 lbs and 41" tall. She is *just* at the top slots - maybe slightly over for the Britax Roundabout - so she now rides full time in the Marathon.
Middle kid - 3 years old (well he turns 3 next week) - 27 lbs and 38" tall. He currently is riding in the Roundabout. He was RF in the marathon, but we had to pass it along to my oldest - so he is now FF in the Rounabout (too tall to RF in that particular seat as his head is at the top of the shell).
Baby - almost 13 months old - 15 lbs - 30" long - currently rides in the Chicco keyfit. She's only on the 2nd slots as the 3rd slots are still above her shoulders - but she's been eating like a pig these last couple weeks, so I'm expecting a growth spurt (FINALLY) on her prety soon. She also has a loooong neck (think Audrey hepburn neck .. lol) - so she has maybe 3" of shell above her head left in the chicco. Her head is right at the chicco symbol ...
Sooo .. right now i have the FF marathon (center), the FF roundabout (outboard passenger), and the chicco (outboard drivers side) and they *just* fit in my car. They are each independently tight and stable BUT they all touch each other and the end seats both touch the door as well - so its a TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT fit.
Other minor tidbits ...
*the middle seat in the back is lapbelt only.
*the belts lock after pulling them out
*only have headrests on the two outer seats
*no tether anchors in my car for FF
*our Roundabout has an "old" style base which is larger than the newer bases and it is too wide to put in the middle so it has to be an outboard seat.
I also have these other seats that are currently in my husbands car to use as well.
*Recaro Young Sport
*Eddie Bauer 3 in 1 (I'd like to avoid using this one at all cost as it is a royal PAIN to use - and to boot the harness is too short for my 3 and 4 year olds anyway)
*Maxi Cosi Priori - which my friend told me expires 8 years after manu. date for this particular seat? is that correct? If so, then it expires next year ... I think. Either way, it makes me nervous that its older - so I think I wnt to replace it soon anyway.
I am more than willing to buy a new seat for any of the kids if needed. I just need something to FIT.
I am most likely getting a new (larger) suv within the next year - but I can't guarantee myself that it will happen before the baby is officially too big for the keyfit!
I also want to add that I am SPOLIED rotten my my Britax seats (and the Recaro & Chicco too) - I'm constantly taking the seats in and out of my car -so easy installations are a MUST.
I also do not want my 4 year old in a booster seat yet and if I am able to flip my son back to RF - that would be awesome as well.
Soooo - what are my options? Other than buying a new car immediately! LOL
Thanks in advance for any help you all can give me!
Trista