97 Chevrolet Lumina- Many Questions

[shaffer01]

We own a 97 Chevrolet Lumina. There is no latch system and the top tethers have not been installed. We are currently using a cosco touriva forward facing passenger side back seat for our 3 year old- 35 pounds, 40 inches tall. We are using a cosco touriva rear facing middle back seat for our 16 month old- 21 pounds, 32 inches tall.

I recently learned some tourivas have been recalled but I do not know if ours are included. I would like to replace them but am unsure what to buy.

We are expecting our third child in September and hope to buy a bigger vehicle soon. However, I would like to buy seats that would fit 3 across in our Lumina just in case we need to use them that way.

Here are my questions:

Which affordable car seat could fit 3 across in our vehicle? I would like to buy 3 identical ones and obviously at $200 a piece, that would be steep.

How do you keep a child over 1 rear facing once their legs get long enough to be awkward? My girls are both tall for their age and I can't imagine my 16 month old being comfortable rear facing much longer.

I am feeling overwhelmed by all the choices and what will be best in our car for our children. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Amy

[MustangMama]

You can take it to any Chevy dealership and they should retrofit anchors for free.

It is cheaper to buy 3 new car seats than a new car :twocents::thumbsup:

I would get 3 Radian's if it were me.

Scenera's are a good choice too, they RF to 35lbs and FF to 40. They are only $45ish too. Your oldest is probably gonna outgrow it in a year or so though so you won't have 3 matching seats after that. Even if you wanted to go that route, you could buy your oldest a Graco Nautilus in a year or so - I don't see why it wouldn't puzzle with 2 Scenera's.

I'm not sure what else, gonna have to let someone else chime in.

Oh yeah, when your child is RF, they can criss cross their legs or hang them over the sides.

[shaffer01]

Thank you for your reply. I will look into getting the top anchors installed.

In searching online I have come across the Evenflo Triumph, which is convertible, can be rear-facing up to 35 pounds and can be forward facing up to 50 pounds, 50 inches tall. Any thoughts about this seat? Price: Approximately $150.

I also saw The First Years True Fit, which is convertible, can be rear-facing up to 35 pounds and forward facing up to 65 pounds and can be used as a booster after that. Price: Approximately $180. This seat sounds perfect to me. Am I missing anything?

I forgot to mention in my original post that we will probably be using our Graco Snugride for our newborn in September.

So here are are my questions:

Does anyone know if the Evenflo Triumph or the First Years True Fit would fit 3 across a 97 Chevrolet Lumina? What about 2 of these seats and one Graco Snugride?

Also, I have read that some stores will let you try carseats in your car to be sure they fit. Which stores are these? Do online sellers allow this?

Thank you sincerely for any advice.

Amy

[MustangMama]

Thank you for your reply. I will look into getting the top anchors installed.

No problem, I love helping people :thumbsup:


In searching online I have come across the Evenflo Triumph, which is convertible, can be rear-facing up to 35 pounds and can be forward facing up to 50 pounds, 50 inches tall. Any thoughts about this seat? Price: Approximately $150.

This is one of THE most recommended seats around here. They will last until your child is about 5-6 years old and then they can be ready for a booster depending on size.



I also saw The First Years True Fit, which is convertible, can be rear-facing up to 35 pounds and forward facing up to 65 pounds and can be used as a booster after that. Price: Approximately $180. This seat sounds perfect to me. Am I missing anything?

The TrueFit IS NOT a booster after the child outgrows the harness. It is a RF/FF combination seat that harnesses up to 65lbs, also getting your child to a decent boostering age. Another well recommended seat, however this one is kind of wide to do a 3 across.




Also, I have read that some stores will let you try carseats in your car to be sure they fit. Which stores are these? Do online sellers allow this?


The only stores that have let me do this are the higher end specialty baby stores.

Hope that helps :)

[Jeanum]

Babies 'R Us stores usually allow you to try out a display model seat in your car in the store parking lot. I can't say for certain if an Evenflo Triumph Advance would fit as part of a 3 across scenario in a '97 Lumina because the Triumph is a fairly wide seat with a rounded "bowl" shape. A definite try before you buy if at all possible. :twocents: The forum also has a "successful 3 across thread" that you can search to see if anyone posted about fitting 3 carseats in a Lumina: http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=33226

[Unregistered]

you might want to check your state car seat laws i know that in most places after a child is over 12 months of age and over 20 pounds they sit forward facing...

[CPSDarren]

you might want to check your state car seat laws i know that in most places after a child is over 12 months of age and over 20 pounds they sit forward facing...

Indeed, it's always a good idea to check state and local laws. I am not aware of any states that require forward facing after 12 months and/or 20 pounds. If you know of one, please post the relevant law as this would be of great interest to our community.

It's possible this sort of law exists locally, but I think that would be ripe for lawsuits given that it could put children at greater risk. The 12/20 recommendation has been obsolete for many years as a guideline. It is now considered to be only an absolute minimum age and weight for turning a child front-facing.

[bensmom]

Just wanted to clarify this. While it generally is permissible to forward face your child once they reach one year and 20 pounds, it is not required. The research shows that keeping children rear-facing beyond this "milestone" is MUCH safer for children, which is why most parents on this board will rearface their children significantly beyond this one year mark.

State laws are drafted and passed by legislators, not child safety experts, and therefore, are not always up to date on "best practice."

[Jeanum]

I'm also unaware of state laws specifying to turn a child forward facing at those milestones. Most of the convertible carseats on the market today have forward facing minimums of 1 year old and 22 lbs., and some also additionally specify a height minimum for forward facing. However, these minimums are really rock bottom bare minimums dating back to when convertible seats could only rear face up to 20 or 22 lbs. tops, and do not fully take into account the "laws" that truly applies safety-wise. :o

What truly matters are the laws of physics and crash dynamics, which make rear facing as long as possible, up to a convertible carseat's maximum rear facing capacity, the optimal way to travel to provide superior crash protection for the head/neck/spinal column. Details of the safety benefits of extended rear facing, including crash test videos, are provided at http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx It's necessary to turn a child forward facing when the convertible carseat's rear facing weight limit is reached (usually 30-35 lbs. depending on the specific convertible seat model's rear facing weight limit), or when the rear facing height guideline stating there must be at least 1 inch of carseat shell above the top of the child's head is reached, whichever comes first, and not at age 1 and 20/22 lbs.

[Pixels]

If your dealership has no idea what you're talking about when you request a top tether anchor installation, give them Service Bulletin number 99-09-40-004. There may be a newer version, but it should at least get them moving in the right direction. They should provide the parts and installation of the first anchor for free. Additional ones you may have to pay for. The parts kit comes with directions, so if you have a drill and a torque wrench, you should be able to do it yourself.

Another option that I don't see mentioned is the Avenue/Uptown. I'm really bad with prices, but I think it's $65-80. It's the Scenera's bigger cousin. It has EPS foam, higher top slots and a taller shell. 35 pound RFing limit, 40 pound FFing, and it's tall enough to get most kids to 40 pounds, yet sits low enough on the vehicle seat that it doesn't block your view as much as some seats that sit on a base. It puzzles very well with Sceneras.