Am I doing something wrong (another 3 across vent)?

[tiggercat]

I just spent some (more) time playing 3 across in my 2003 Camry.

This time, I was trying for FF Marathon, RF Graco Snugride, and FF Parkway.

I thought I had success with the MA in the middle (the booster was even buckleable because it was beside the nice high MA), but the snugride wouldn't fit into the base because of the front edge of the MA. I tried and tried to slide the snugride base towards the door, but it just doesn't go any further because of the contour of the vehicle seat.

With the Snugride in the middle, the MA was so lopsided it was rotated towards the door more than I am comfortable with, and the booster was absolutely impossible to buckle.

I think it was actually worse than when I tried the SafeSeat with the MA and PW.

I see pictures of 3 across in a Jetta, for goodness sake, why can't I fit 3 in my Camry without having to give up my Marathon? :mad:

[MomToEliEm]

Did you ever try the parkway in the middle? It is a lower seat so it might work where you have a high seat (marathon), low seat (parkway) and high seat (graco). Putting two high seats next to each other might not work well.

[Jewels]

I think it was actually worse than when I tried the SafeSeat with the MA and PW.


I've heard that the SR doesn't puzzle well with the MA :( Am I thinking a SS1 for the baby might be a future carseat purchase?

What about a Radian to replace the MA beside the SR until baby outgrows the SR and then you can have a MA, Radian, PW?

As for putting the parkway in the middle, that would be a pain to buckle and unbuckle every time and making sure you don't unbuckle one of the other seats.

[joolsplus3]

How long till Greg passes the five step test....:o

No, seriously, I wish I had a perfect (free) answer for you, this has got to totally suck!

[tiggercat]

Did you ever try the parkway in the middle? It is a lower seat so it might work where you have a high seat (marathon), low seat (parkway) and high seat (graco). Putting two high seats next to each other might not work well.

Actually I did try that out too when I was switching things around, but I couldn't get the 2nd seat installed without squashing the heck out of the sidewings of the PW. I don't know if I'd ever be able to get it buckled that way, either.

[tiggercat]

I've heard that the SR doesn't puzzle well with the MA :( Am I thinking a SS1 for the baby might be a future carseat purchase?

What about a Radian to replace the MA beside the SR until baby outgrows the SR and then you can have a MA, Radian, PW?

As for putting the parkway in the middle, that would be a pain to buckle and unbuckle every time and making sure you don't unbuckle one of the other seats.

I'm not sure if I am totally comfortable with how tight the SS1 was with the MA either.

I know the Radian would be an option for Megan right now, and then baby could have it when s/he is older, I just don't really like the RN all that much.

[tiggercat]

How long till Greg passes the five step test....:o

No, seriously, I wish I had a perfect (free) answer for you, this has got to totally suck!

Greg has a long way to go in this vehicle. His knees are nowhere near the end of the seat and the lapbelt is miles high. Shoulder belt fit is fine w/ the factory adjustors. I love those things when I sit back there.

I was considering maybe a clek booster in the middle for him? No SIP, but he'd be in the middle and between 2 other seats... It works without latch too, right? There is no centre latch in this vehicle.

It's not that I mind buying another seat, it's just that the only seat I can see working any better (RN) is not one I particularly want. LOL. And I really love my MA.

[joolsplus3]

Yeah, I hear ya on keeping the MA... I think I saw on the Clek site you have the Oto and the Olli in Canada now? If you could find anyway to try both of them, I would...the belt guide/armrest situation is SO different between them that I'm not sure which one would work best (Oto is lower, but it can be hard to finagle the belt into the guide on the buckle side, esp. next to another seat...thinking the Olli armrests might be an easier 'reach through' set up..but might be too high). See if you can find an Evenflo Right Fit, too (old and ugly, but SO easy to buckle, and they don't expire)

[tiggercat]

I've only seen the one with the tiny little belt guides, but I haven't exactly been looking at boosters lately. I'm not sure if I could actually bring myself to put him in a LBB! I know he is 7, but he's still my little baby :D I also just realized that the centre doesn't have a headrest, I'll have to see if he is short enough to use a lbb there.

[snowbird25ca]

The Graco infant carriers and the MA just don't puzzle well side by side because the edge of the MA and the round part of the handle are right at the same place... In our old ION I could always get my snugride base to just fit, but when I snapped the seat on it turned the base to the side slightly. I didn't really have a choice because the outboard driver's side was basically not an option for installing any seat in any direction and the installs were tight independent of each other... but I was never 100% happy with it.

I think seat contouring and where the armrests on the door are located/designed contributes to being able to fit 3 across almost more so than the size of the vehicle. A small vehicle with a pretty much flat seat and no jutting out armrests would be much easier than a bigger vehicle with semi-contoured seats and armrests that stick out.

I'd suggest trying another infant carrier to see if it'd let you keep the MA in use, but there really aren't any I like other than the Graco ones... (of course your opinion might be different on that. ;))

[tiggercat]

The Graco infant carriers and the MA just don't puzzle well side by side because the edge of the MA and the round part of the handle are right at the same place... In our old ION I could always get my snugride base to just fit, but when I snapped the seat on it turned the base to the side slightly. I didn't really have a choice because the outboard driver's side was basically not an option for installing any seat in any direction and the installs were tight independent of each other... but I was never 100% happy with it.

I think seat contouring and where the armrests on the door are located/designed contributes to being able to fit 3 across almost more so than the size of the vehicle. A small vehicle with a pretty much flat seat and no jutting out armrests would be much easier than a bigger vehicle with semi-contoured seats and armrests that stick out.

I'd suggest trying another infant carrier to see if it'd let you keep the MA in use, but there really aren't any I like other than the Graco ones... (of course your opinion might be different on that. ;))

I totally agree about the seat contours being the issue. There is physically tonnes of space in the vehicle, but the actual ob seating locations are too close to the middle to allow the seats to be installed correctly and have enough room.

I've thought about different infant carriers, but honestly I don't like any of the other options. A peg *might* work, but I am not spending that kind of money for something my big kid will outgrow in a few months. Evenflo is a total no way in he double hockey sticks, and I don't like the designer 22 at. all. The only one I haven't seen is the Combi seat (centre?). Have you seen them? It looks to be available only in a travel system.

I know I don't *need* an infant carrier, I have 10lb babies and Megan did fine in the MA from birth. I'd just like the convenience of having one with 3 kids. That and convertibles are going to be fun to figure out too!

[snowbird25ca]

I've thought about different infant carriers, but honestly I don't like any of the other options. A peg *might* work, but I am not spending that kind of money for something my big kid will outgrow in a few months. Evenflo is a total no way in he double hockey sticks, and I don't like the designer 22 at. all. The only one I haven't seen is the Combi seat (centre?). Have you seen them? It looks to be available only in a travel system.

I know I don't *need* an infant carrier, I have 10lb babies and Megan did fine in the MA from birth. I'd just like the convenience of having one with 3 kids. That and convertibles are going to be fun to figure out too!

LOL, I had originally put the same opinions about infant carriers in my post, and decided to delete them since you hadn't asked & I didn't want to seem biased to a particular brand. ;)

I haven't seen the combi seat, but I'm fairly certain it's only available in a travel system. Sears use to have it online, but I haven't seen it recently and I haven't gotten in to a store to look for it.

I'm guessing adding in a convertible you're not going to have much choice but to get a Radian. We don't have any other really narrow options here. Although rf'ing MA and ff'ing Radian don't puzzle so well together in a tight space. They puzzle great when they're both ff'ing because the Radian slides right under the lip of the MA, but they don't do that when when is ff'ing and one is rf'ing. In my truck I can get them opposite directions using center and passenger outboard, but I can't using center and driver outboard - 60/40 split, and seat contouring. :rolleyes: Although I can just barely fit the safeseat drivers outboard next to a ff'ing center radian.

[Jewels]

I'm guessing adding in a convertible you're not going to have much choice but to get a Radian. We don't have any other really narrow options here. Although rf'ing MA and ff'ing Radian don't puzzle so well together in a tight space. They puzzle great when they're both ff'ing because the Radian slides right under the lip of the MA, but they don't do that when when is ff'ing and one is rf'ing.
Here is the Combi at TJ Kids (http://www.tjskids.com/cart.asp?whichpage=1&mode=price&search=null&maincat=63&category=4&brand=0&expand=categories&pagesize=&item=3819), $189.

I wonder if you could fit a MA rf in the middle with the Radian outboard. I know our middle seat is raised up a bit and the side seats sink in more if that would give the MA more of a boost that the Radian would fit beside it :confused:

[tiggercat]

I'm guessing adding in a convertible you're not going to have much choice but to get a Radian. We don't have any other really narrow options here. Although rf'ing MA and ff'ing Radian don't puzzle so well together in a tight space. They puzzle great when they're both ff'ing because the Radian slides right under the lip of the MA, but they don't do that when when is ff'ing and one is rf'ing. In my truck I can get them opposite directions using center and passenger outboard, but I can't using center and driver outboard - 60/40 split, and seat contouring. :rolleyes: Although I can just barely fit the safeseat drivers outboard next to a ff'ing center radian.

I wish we had some options here, like the keyfit or the latchloc.

I really don't need a travel system, I'll probably get a nice double, or something with an add on toddler seat for Megan. I have 2 Maclarens also, and I sling my babies a lot too. Hehe.

Maybe I'll just use the snugride without the base for the first bit. It works, just a pita, and no one else can take baby anywhere.

I think if I get a RN, I'd put it in the middle FF for Miss M and use the snugride OB for baby. Then when baby outgrows the snug, pass whichever seat works to the baby and use the other for Megan. I do know that the MA RF in the middle is a really tough installation. The armrest area really interferes and it has to be just right not to push the armrest down into the seat while installing. I'd probably end up with the MA FF ob and RF RN in the middle. Of course Greg will be a whole year older by then, so I might feel more comfortable with a backless as a regular seat for him. The right one could give us a bit more space.

Do you think it would be wrong to remove the foam bolster on the edge of the seats that causes me so much stress :whistle: Just a wee modification ;)

[tiggercat]

Here is the Combi at TJ Kids (http://www.tjskids.com/cart.asp?whichpage=1&mode=price&search=null&maincat=63&category=4&brand=0&expand=categories&pagesize=&item=3819), $189.

I wonder if you could fit a MA rf in the middle with the Radian outboard. I know our middle seat is raised up a bit and the side seats sink in more if that would give the MA more of a boost that the Radian would fit beside it :confused:

I'll be the handle on the combi would interfere in the same way, unless it is significantly narrower allover. It's not so much the base as the mid point of the seat. :(

Actually, I just remembered that I have a Scenera on loan to a friend. I wonder if it would fit beside the snugride in some configuration? Of course Megan hasn't used it in a long while, she might be too tall... That could be a temp solution without purchasing anything immediately.

[snowbird25ca]

I'll be the handle on the combi would interfere in the same way, unless it is significantly narrower allover. It's not so much the base as the mid point of the seat. :(

Actually, I just remembered that I have a Scenera on loan to a friend. I wonder if it would fit beside the snugride in some configuration? Of course Megan hasn't used it in a long while, she might be too tall... That could be a temp solution without purchasing anything immediately.

If she still fits it it'd probably do the trick. If you're that close with the snugride, then I'm guessing the 1.5" you'd gain by switching from the MA to the scenera would be enough. Worth a try anyways.

[tiggercat]

I think I'll try that. My friend is going to laugh when I offer to trade back my Scenera for an MA. :o

[safeinthecar]

Is the Evenflo Confidence available there? It puzzles really well with a ffing MA.

[snowbird25ca]

Is the Evenflo Confidence available there? It puzzles really well with a ffing MA.

Yes, the Confidence is available here. Isn't it wider than a parkway though? Or is it just that the lower profile creates room to reach a buckle?

[tiggercat]

Is the Evenflo Confidence available there? It puzzles really well with a ffing MA.

I believe we do have the confidence, but I thought it was wider than the PW. Does it have side wings on the body? I'll see if I can take a look at one. Thanks!