Car Seat with Two?

[mrsjrd23]

Technically the safest spot is where you can get a proper secure install in your car. I think generally the middle is perceived as safest since it is less likely to be involved as much with side impacts - we've never installed in the middle though. CSFTL will tell you to put the most at risk child in the middle (ie booster only or forward facing convetible) and install an infant seat on either side.

ETA: I don't think there is any difference in safety between driver's side and passenger's side

[karinothing]

May 16, 2015 0:25:02 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

May 15, 2015 23:39:32 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

There is no statistical difference between the driver or passenger side in a crash. The center has a higher margin of safety (because it is further from the point of impact), but it is hard to get car seats side-by-side unless you have narrow ones (I got a Radian next to an infant seat).  ETA: This is assuming you can get a secure installation in all seating positions and that your car allows car seats in all seating positions).

And safety depends more on whether they are RFing or FFing than age. A FFing toddler/preschooler is less safe than a RFing infant/toddler. If you are able to put them side-by-side and one is FFing, the FFing one should go in the middle because they are more vulnerable to injury than a RFing child.

But most people can't make that set up work, and that is okay.

A lot of people put the older child on the passenger side if they do a lot of street parking because then you are likely carrying the younger kid around to the sidewalk and getting the older kid out (versus letting the older kid out and walking them around the car). It was more convenient for me to have the infant carrier on the driver's side so I wasn't constantly walking around the car.

Do you know if there's a list of cars where FF middle convertible and RF side convertible can be done? Not that we're in the market for a new car, but just thinking. I think it's next to impossible in our Prius.

Not that this is convertible, but we are really going to try this with a FF middle convertible and infant seat, except infant in the middle and convertible on the side (and FF). I really hope it works because I don't want to lose our entire back seat lol. I noticed my car has a larger than typical middle seat...so I am hopeful lol.

[anna7602]

FWIW, none of the rental cars we've used in the last year accommodate a booster seat and infant seat comfortably side by side (ie, with one of them in the middle). We've placed the bucket seat on the sidewalk side depending on how we park (easier to install than if we're standing on the traffic side) and the booster seat on the opposite side. I have occasionally crammed myself in the middle if necessary, but it was really, really uncomfortable.

I feel like the footprint of the convertible is even bigger than the bucket (I'm talking about bucket without base) or the booster, no?

[karinothing]

Stop destroying my dream anna7602!

[curbsideprophet]

May 16, 2015 0:42:31 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

May 16, 2015 0:25:02 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Do you know if there's a list of cars where FF middle convertible and RF side convertible can be done? Not that we're in the market for a new car, but just thinking. I think it's next to impossible in our Prius.

This guy does a lot of lists of possible three-across seats (so they would also work for two side-by-side), so you could look at his Prius page.  But I think essentially you are limited to Radians (and other Diono convertibles) or Cleks, and maybe the Harmony Defender for a FFing only seat.  

car-seat.org also has a three-across thread (with pictures), and I know I've seen a Corolla in there.  

www.thecarcrashdetective.com/2014/09/3-across-installations-prius.html/


You usually can't use LATCH because it puts the outboard seat too far into the backseat.

Do you know if he actually installed the seats or is just going by measurements?

[undecidedowl]

May 16, 2015 6:21:59 GMT -5 karinothing said:

May 16, 2015 0:25:02 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Do you know if there's a list of cars where FF middle convertible and RF side convertible can be done? Not that we're in the market for a new car, but just thinking. I think it's next to impossible in our Prius.

Not that this is convertible, but we are really going to try this with a FF middle convertible and infant seat, except infant in the middle and convertible on the side (and FF). I really hope it works because I don't want to lose our entire back seat lol. I noticed my car has a larger than typical middle seat...so I am hopeful lol.

I drive a Nissan Rogue and this is what we do. Radian FF on the side and infant seat in the middle. When he outgrows the infant seat we will put another Radian RF in the middle.

[undecidedowl]

May 16, 2015 12:00:55 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

May 16, 2015 11:51:15 GMT -5 undecidedowl said:

I drive a Nissan Rogue and this is what we do. Radian FF on the side and infant seat in the middle. When he outgrows the infant seat we will put another Radian RF in the middle.

What infant seat do you use? Can you put the drivers seat back very far with rear facing in the center? We had a hard time with that (in the rogue and his Mercury Milan) and have figured that we will only be able to FF in the middle or behind driver so my H can be comfortable driving. If he is a passenger, he can sit more squished but I don't want him to be squished when he is driving.

We have done it with a Graco Snugride 32 and a Baby Trend Flex-Loc in the Rogue. It's my car so the driver's seat isn't super far back but DH borrows it all the time and hasn't said anything about not having enough space. DH also drives a Milan and I'm pretty sure he RF in the center seat of that too. Maybe he has short legs?