Car seat measurement, 3 across question.

[LuckyFins3Lil'Fish]

I've been on the search for finding 2 or 3 car seats that will fit 3 across in my 1999 Suzuki Vitara.

I need one FF for my soon to be 2yo (who already outweighs RF) & 2 RF for my soon to be here twin girls.

I've played w/ 2 radians & 2 Graco Comfortsports (since I know they all measure 17" wide). I didn't have great success getting the 2 radians to fit RF w/ my DS's FPSVD but had luck w/ the Comfortsports. I know the only reason I had success w/ the comfortsports is because the mgr that helped me to my car w/ them to play seatbelt puzzle let me install them because he was clueless & the place where I could look at the Radians the girl acted like she knew all & wouldn't let me install to test. So I know if the comfortsports & the FPSVD fit then so will 2 radians & the FPSVD. I've learned that the middle seat needs to be installed first & then outside seats for my puzzling to work.

But here is my actual question. While, yes I really like the radians their price is a tad out of reach since I need to buy a minimum of 2. I'm not sure the harness adjuster tab on the Comfortsport is doable for me. It is more of a tab that has to be pulled to adjust rather then a button/lever you push in to adjust (am I making sense). I'm one handed so I can't pull on the tab to adjust.

Do you ladies know of any other convertible seats that are only 17" or less across that I can look at & try out. The list of car seat measurements I have is not very up to date (from car seat data.org).

Here are what I know of.
Radians
Graco Comfortsport
Evenflo Tribute
Compass True Fit (coming out in Jan)

Are there others out there that I don't know of? I do know that the 17" width is as big as I can go if I want to keep my FPSVD for my DS.

TY in advance.

[skaterbabscpst]

Honestly, unless you absolutely are stuck with the seat you already have and absolutely cannot make another seat work I'd run far far away from the Comfort Sport. You'd get the same amount of use from a Safe Seat 1 and that's at least portable (something you're going to need with twins and a 2 yo!) Plus the CS is a real pain to use RF in addition to being outgrown way too quickly.

My suggestion would be to see if you can fit the Radian FF in the center, and try the FPSVD or Marathons (or even the new Triumph Advances) RF on either side. The FP/Britax/Evenflo seats sit up high on bases and the Radian doesn't have a base so it may puzzle well with them.

[LuckyFins3Lil'Fish]

I already know that the Triumph Advanced isn't going to work, 2 Scenereas don't even really work & the triumph is an inch wider then the Scenera (2" wider then Tribute, CS, or Radian).

Also, about infant seats. The SS1 is too wide as well & I tried out DS's SR w/ out great success either. I'm going to go to BRU tonight or tomorrow & try out 2 SRs w/ the FPVD & see if that works, but I'm not sure it will because when we had DSs SR behind the passenger seat the passenger seat was pushed way up & even my short 5'5" self just barely fit in the front seat so I don't think I could safely drive w/ a SR behind my seat. It would probably have to be the FPSVD staying behind me where it is & the SRs in middle & outer.

Curse having such a small friggin SUV. Having Twins has really opened my eyes to just how small my little SUV is. Waaaaaaahhhhhh!

[Kecia]

Are you planning to use convertible seats right from the beginning with the twins? I'll be honest, unless you think you'll go right to the end with the pregnancy and deliver 2 singleton-sized babies (7+ lbs), infant seats might be a better choice initially. I don't have a problem putting full-term healthy newborns into convertible seats but twins have a tendency to come early. I'd much rather see small and/or pre-term babies in infant seats.

With that said, I realize that you're just trying to find seats that will work with the CR you already have in the vehicle you have. The ComfortSport is a royal pain to adjust when it's rear-facing (as you've discovered). I'd scratch that one off the list right away. The Evenflo Tribute has a similar adjuster which is also very difficult to use so I don't recommend that one either.

Do you have a Target in your area? If you do, check out the BabyTrend Flex-Loc. The base on this seat is very narrow. They might have one at BRU too as part of a travel system.

If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive convertible with EPS foam and a very low bottom harness slot you might want to take a look at Evenflo Titan Deluxe. It's on sale at Walmart right now: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4366127 You should be able to get free shipping to your local Walmart store and return them there if they don't fit or you don't like them.

The newest version of this seat is the Titan Elite http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5933973 which has revised weight limits. The original Titan (and Titan Deluxe) is rf from 5-30 lbs, ff from 20-40 lbs. The new Titan Elite is rf 5-35 lbs and ff 22-50 lbs. However, I'm skeptical that a 40+ lb child would actually fit in this seat so I'm not sure that I'd recommend spending more $ on this newer version. The extra 5 lbs rf is nice but there's no guarantee that the child won't outgrow the seat by height before even hitting 30 lbs.

Another option is to use infant seats without the base. Not the most convenient option but an option nonetheless.

HTH and good luck!

Kecia

[BABYGIRLLYNDSEY]

I have a Suzuki XL7 vehicle with three rows of seating, 7 passenger. I can barely fit three Radians in my middle row. Rear facing requires my front seats to be pushed way up. I'm not sure but I think your Grand Vitara might be a little smaller. Good luck in your search.

[wildeyes]

The newest version of this seat is the Titan Elite http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5933973 which has revised weight limits. The original Titan (and Titan Deluxe) is rf from 5-30 lbs, ff from 20-40 lbs. The new Titan Elite is rf 5-35 lbs and ff 22-50 lbs. However, I'm skeptical that a 40+ lb child would actually fit in this seat so I'm not sure that I'd recommend spending more $ on this newer version. The extra 5 lbs rf is nice but there's no guarantee that the child won't outgrow the seat by height before even hitting 30 lbs.


Kecia
i saw this seat in the store at bru. i made the girl measure the top slots. they are 14 inches approx. but it was only $100, so if you are short ppl, you might get away with it.

[stayinhomewithmy4]

I think you will have the best luck getting a Radian and putting it in the center for your DS. IME, lots of RF convertible seats puzzle nicely with a FF Radian. Then, you should have more freedom to choose which convertible seat you want.

The Safety 1st Intera, taken off the base, measures 16" across, and RF it could puzzle well with your FPSVD. Without the base, the Intera sits very low on the seat, similar to the Radian. If you would rather have infant seats, the Baby Trend Flex Loc has the narrowest base, as far as I know. I have installed it & played with it several times and I really like it and think it's a great seat for the price.

I hope you find something that works for you - there must be SOMETHING that will work, right?! :) Good luck and be sure to let us know what eventually works out!

[LuckyFins3Lil'Fish]

You ladies have been awesome. I went to BRU w/ the DH tonight & took a Baby Trend Flex Loc out to the car. It was clearly not going to work w/ the FPSVD on the outside but it did work (just barely) w/ the FPSVD in the middle. Putting DS in the middle would be easier w/ infant seat use because then we could just move the infant seat out of the way to let DS in & out (he's thankfully learning to climb in & out of his seat all by himself). The Flex Loc also didn't require the seat to be moved as far forward as DSs SR did. So, it's looking like we are going to go w/ the Flex Loc. TY Kecia!