re: Car Seats

Quoting Happy_Mamma {OHT}:“ Hey ladies, I was hoping you could help me out. DH has a F-150 truck and the back seat is very small. ... [snip!] ... back seat is very small. Would you have any suggestions as to what convertable car seat would fit best back there? Thanks much!”

I have a f-150 extended cab. I can fit most seats in the back besides some infant seats. What ones are you looking at.

Quoting darlenesmommy CPST:“ I have a f-150 extended cab. I can fit most seats in the back besides some infant seats. What ones are you looking at.”

Well I cant seem to find the one I have online,but I think its a safety first brand. I dont particularly care for it and there is no way it will fit in DH truck. Which do yo have?

Quoting Happy_Mamma {OHT}:“ Well I cant seem to find the one I have online,but I think its a safety first brand. I dont particularly care for it and there is no way it will fit in DH truck. Which do yo have?”

I have fit these in our truck. Rear anf forward facing. The rearfacing ones were in the middle and the forward was middle or passanger side.


http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2934997


http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3028986


http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3091043

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012739

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3394547

Quoting darlenesmommy CPST:“ I have fit these in our truck. Rear anf forward facing. The rearfacing ones were in the middle and ... [snip!] ... http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012739 http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3394547”

Thanks. I asked over at car-seat.org, but no one has answered me yet.  

Quoting Andie.:“ Thanks. I asked over at car-seat.org, but no one has answered me yet.  ”

I know for sure the gn, safe seat and chicco 30 do not fit they hang off to much. The gn can not hang off at all and the very front hangs off where the curve is.

Quoting darlenesmommy CPST:“ I have fit these in our truck. Rear anf forward facing. The rearfacing ones were in the middle and ... [snip!] ... http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012739 http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3394547”

Thanks, yourve been great help!

I have been looking at convertible carseats since my twins were outgrowing their infant seats. I had narrowed it down to the First Years True Fit and the Evenflo Triumph Advance LX. Well when I went to the store to compare the 2 I purchased the Evenflo.. well I didn't realize it was gonna be so big in the RF position. So my question is are the First Years seat as big as this one or are they about the same size? Thanks in advance!

Quoting parkersmommy+twins:“ I have been looking at convertible carseats since my twins were outgrowing their infant seats. I had ... [snip!] ... RF position. So my question is are the First Years seat as big as this one or are they about the same size? Thanks in advance!”

The True Fit is pretty big as well, most convertibles have to be because they have to hold kids a long time. The True Fit (TF) has a removable headrest for kids under 22 lbs and under a red line on the shell, so that frees up some front to back space. If you need 3 seats in a row, it may not work because it is wide.

I would be happy to help you figure out seats, but I have a few questions:
What are your kid's stats?
What vehicle do you have?
Do you want matching seats for the twins?
Are you planning on extending rear facing?
Is your 7 year old in a booster?

My twins are both about 20.4 lbs and 28 inches in height. [that was in May]
My 7 year old is about 55 lbs and 4 ft 2 in tall.
I drive a 2002 Chevy Trailblazer.
Yes I would rather have matching seats.
Most definately EFR as long as possible.
I took my 7 year old out of the booster.   But from what I have been reading he should still be in one?

Thanks so much!

ETA: My Trailblazer does not have 3rd row seating.

Quoting parkersmommy+twins:“ My twins are both about 20.4 lbs and 28 inches in height. [that was in May] My 7 year old is about 55 ... [snip!] ... what I have been reading he should still be in one? Thanks so much! ETA: My Trailblazer does not have 3rd row seating.”

With having such limited space, I'd look at the Sunshine Kids Radian 65. It's the narrowest seat on the market. Rear faces to 35 lbs and forward to 65 lbs w/a tall shell. My oldest would of still fit rear facing at age 4 and still fits forward facing at age 7. Downsides are they are spendy ($200) and can be hard to get a good install. Luckily people on my car seat board are able to get a good install rear and forward facing in the Trailblazer (source). You can find a tech in your area here that could help you as well.

I know it's not always conceivable to get $400 of car seats, (I couldn't do it, I have to save up a long time when I need a new seat), you could get 1 Radian and something cheaper, like the Cosco Scenera ($50) or Safety First Avenue ($80) and then save up for another Radian. I'm pretty sure you'll need at least 1 Radian for 3 across.

For your 7 year old, I really think a booster is a safer option. Especially if he doesn't pass the 5 step test. I prefer highback boosters because they offer side impact protection, but if you have headrests in your car, a backless like the Cosco High Rise would be fine. If you have a shoulder belt in the middle, put him there and the babies on the sides.

Quoting Andie.:“ With having such limited space, I'd look at the Sunshine Kids Radian 65. It's the narrowest seat on the ... [snip!] ... like the Cosco High Rise would be fine. If you have a shoulder belt in the middle, put him there and the babies on the sides.”

Awesome, thank you so much!

Where can you buy the Sunshine Kids Radian? I haven't seen them in stores, but I have seen them on-line. When I am making a big purchase I would rather see it in person if I can.

We are hoping to get a more roomier vehicle which would illuminate the problem altogether, but if that falls through I will definately be looking into getting the Radian.

Thanks again for your help!

Quoting parkersmommy+twins:“ Awesome, thank you so much! Where can you buy the Sunshine Kids Radian? I haven't seen them in ... [snip!] ... but if that falls through I will definately be looking into getting the Radian. Thanks again for your help! ”

If you have any specialty baby stores in your area, try there. Especially higher end ones. Just see if you can look at the seat and try it out in your car. Then if you like it, just get it online if it's cheaper. Oh, and there is a 80 lb limit version of the seat, but it has the same shell as the 65 so if they have the 80, don't let it confuse you.   If the 80 works, so will the 65.

I've seen Target carry it on occasion.

You can get a Radian online at Albeebaby.com:
http://www.albeebaby.com/sukiracarseg.html
or Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G7YM0Q

Quoting Andie.:“ If you have any specialty baby stores in your area, try there. Especially higher end ones. Just see if ... [snip!] ... online at Albeebaby.com: http://www.albeebaby.com/sukiracarseg.html or Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G7YM0Q”

Thanks so much!!

I just wanted to share my random knowledge that I gained by going to a car seat check day @ my local fire dept..
I had my car seat installed in the middle (properly and all , yay!) BUT, the car seat tech told us that b/c we have the fold down arm rests in the middle of our back seat that it compromises the way the seat would work in the event of a crash & that it's actually safer for her to ride on the side b/c of this ..
I'd never heard of it b4 , and I really thought that i'd done all of my research ..so , I just wanted to pass that along !  

Quoting Punkerella-nips of steel!:“ I just wanted to share my random knowledge that I gained by going to a car seat check day @ my local ... [snip!] ... I'd never heard of it b4 , and I really thought that i'd done all of my research ..so , I just wanted to pass that along !  ”

Really interesting! Thanks for the tid bit!