Please help...3 Across...using LATCH

[letsgo]

Here's my situation:

I plan on purchasing my DS4 a Nautilus. I am expecting twins within the next several weeks, that will both be in Snugrides. We just bought a Saturn Outlook with a bench for the second row, I am putting my son in the center and the babies on either side of him.

Is it true that I can't share the LATCHES for all 3 seats? I thought I read that on here. Or does it depend on which vehicle we have? How do I install them, will the Nautilus have to use the center seatbelt (DS only weighs about 32 lbs, so I will definitely be using the 5 point harness for quite awhile) and the infant seats the LATCH? I'm sorry if these are dumb questions, but I never realized how much I didnt know about car seats until I found this site...:o

I'm kinda in a panic about this...PLEASE HELP!

[Starlight]

The best way to install the seats is whatever way they safely secure the best.

It is not safe to double up on the LATCH. Your vehicle most likely has only 2 complete sets of latch, and it's not okay to borrow the connectors for a 3rd seat, or to add the weight of another seat on top of seat in those positions.

SOOOO, yes, you'd have to at the vesy least install the GN with the seatbelt, and you could most likely install your outer seats with the LATCH.

Okay? :D

[crunchierthanthou]

The outlook does not have a dedicated set of lower anchors for the center position. However, GM defers to the carseat manufacturer in regard to borrowing outboard anchors and Graco allows it (so long as the vehicle manufacturer does and they aren't being used by another carseat). That being said, seatbelt installations are probably your best bet for three across.

You can often install the outboard seats closer to the doors with the seatbelts than you can with LATCH (which is usually closer to the center of the vehicle). Using the seatbelts will leave the most space for the center position. Borrowing LATCH in the center position will possibly make the outboard seatbelt buckles inaccessible- a likely scenario based on other GM vehicles I've been in lately.

Keep in mind when attempting three across that each seat needs to be tightly installed independent of the other seats. Meaning, still less than 1" of movement in any direction at the beltpath if the seat(s) next to it are removed.

[bbartlettnfld]

I would put the Nautilus in the center with the vehicle seatbelt and then install your infant seats either side with LATCH. This may make it difficult to get DS into the Nautilus as he would have to climb or be lifted over one of the infant seat bases. So you might want to see if you can fit the Nautilus on one side and put the infant seats middle and other side. You can only install one seat to each set of LATCH anchors so what you read was right, one of the carseats will have to be installed with the seatbelt.
Oh and just in case you are worried that LATCH is safer than the seatbelt it isn't. Both are equally safe, LATCH was designed to be easier and reduce user error. So don't worry about the seatbelt install being less safe.
BethAnn

[singingpond]

It's important not to share LATCH anchors (i.e. attach two carseats to the same anchor), and it's important not to use LATCH in seating positions where it is not allowed by the vehicle manufacturer. However, as others have said, it is perfectly fine to use seatbelts for carseat installs -- LATCH is not safer. As crunchierthanthou pointed out, when installing three seats across, you often have to resort to the seatbelts anyway, since they commonly allow you to get your outboard carseats closer to the outside of the vehicle, so that you have enough space for a third seat in the center.

I'm not sure how wide the seating area is in your vehicle, but keep in mind that the Nautilus is a seat that is moderately wide (19.25" or 19.5" if I recall correctly) across the entire armrest area, and that it doesn't puzzle or overlap well with adjacent seats, because of those straight-up-and-down armrests. If this is a problem, you could consider a narrower seat like the Radian for your older child. Since he is just 32 pounds, I assume he is likely to fit height-wise for quite a while in a Radian....

If vehicle seat width is an issue, you could post back with more information about the vehicle, and your son's size, and I'm sure people will come up with more suggestions for you.

Katrin

[letsgo]

Thank you all for your help! I did not know I couldn't share the LATCH anchors, and I also was worried when I heard that because I thought LATCH was safer than seatbelts. You have helped put my mind at ease about that.

One more thing, it is still necessary to use the top tether for the Nautilus in the center, even if I am using the seatbelt, correct?

Our Outlook is pretty wide, so I don't THINK I will have a problem with those seats across and also the bench seat slides back, so my DS should be able to climb in and get himself into the seat, and then I can reach across before I put the second Snugride in and fasten him in, or do it from the front seat, once I get in.

My next problem is just finding the Nautilus, they are out of stock everywhere that I have checked...and until then he is stuck in the Safety First Summit, which we HATE. :thumbsdown:

[SingleMomTo2Girls]

Yep, you tether any forward facing seat. :)

[mytwobugs]

My next problem is just finding the Nautilus, they are out of stock everywhere that I have checked...and until then he is stuck in the Safety First Summit, which we HATE. :thumbsdown:
If you have a Walmart near you Walmart.com shows them in stock and you can do the ship to store option and pick it up at the store to avoid paying for shipping.

[letsgo]

If you have a Walmart near you Walmart.com shows them in stock and you can do the ship to store option and pick it up at the store to avoid paying for shipping.

THANK YOU:)

[capeKO71]

I have the Outlook w/ the 2nd row bench and the Nautilus... you should have no issues doing 3 across... I get three across all the time.

One thing to note - the headrests in the outlook are a PITA... if you do install ff outboard, you should get the headrests removed or recline the seat a bit (car manual allows for this).

The Nautilus fits fine in the center spot - and there is no headrests there.

Another option if you find you need some space, you should be able to get infant seat/infant seat in the 60 side of the bench and still be able to fold up that 40 seat. You can use the nautilus in the 3rd row.

;)