New here & so upset

[Mommy_Jenx3]

We recently had our 3rd child & dh took my car (2008 Nissan Altima) to the state police to have a tech try to get all 3 seats in. They wrestled with them for over an hour, tried every way possible & he said it can't be done:( I'm so upset just thinking of having to put my 6 year old in the front seat. Ugh. I'm going to feel so bad every time I buckle him in now.

.:Jennifer:.

[MomToEliEm]

Don't give up hope just yet. There are some great techs here who have experience getting seats to fit in tight area.

Can you tell us the current carseats you have and the age/weight/height of the kids in them? You may not be able to get 3 across with your current seats, but we might be able to recommend some other seat choices which may work for you so that everyone can sit in the back.

Here is a post talking about successful 3-across configurations:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=33226
Maybe while browsing through it, you may get some ideas of what configurations might work for you.

[mommaon112903]

If you can let us know what seats you have and the ages/heights of your children I am sure someone here can help you figure something out.

It may take one or two new seats however, so be prepared ;)

Congrats on the new baby!

[Mommy0608]

I'm so sorry. :-( Hopefully we can help you!

What car seats do you have, and how old are your children? Would you be open to the possibility of purchasing one or more new car seats? There ARE seats available that can help you achieve fitting all three children safely in the back seat. :)

Edited to add: Sorry, we must all have been responding at the same time. For right now, if you must put one child in the front seat, the oldest child in a forward-facing harnessed seat would be safest, with the vehicle seat pushed back as far as possible.

[Mommy_Jenx3]

Thanks for the replies:) I can't think of their current heights at the moment. I'll do that once they get home. (One of my sons is at my parents for a few days & my oldest is at school right now) My oldest is 6 1/2 & weighs 40 lbs...he's in a Radian. My middle son is 3, weighs 28 lbs & we had him in a Decathlon, but I bought another Radian thinking we would fit them with that since it's skinny. And baby (a little over a week old) is in a Graco convertible.

ETA: The guy told dh newer cars are harder to get certain seats in. (3 across)

.:Jennifer:.

[Maedze]

I know for a fact you can get three across in a Nissan Altima. You may have to buy new seats, though.


What seats are your current children in, and what are their ages, heights and weights?

[Babywearing Meghan]

Thanks for the replies:) I can't think of their current heights at the moment. I'll do that once they get home. (One of my sons is at my parents for a few days & my oldest is at school right now) My oldest is 6 1/2 & weighs 40 lbs...he's in a Radian. My middle son is 3, weighs 28 lbs & we had him in a Decathlon, but I bought another Radian thinking we would fit them with that since it's skinny. And baby (a little over a week old) is in a Graco convertible.

ETA: The guy told dh newer cars are harder to get certain seats in. (3 across)

.:Jennifer:.
I have had three radians across my passat, also I have had two radians and a baby trend.. and I can barely squeeze the two radians and a scenera.. you could so make it work... sceneras are cheap seats too. put the radians on the out side, and the scenera in the center rfing for the baby.. It works.. I will install mine in my passat this weekend and post pics, it is tight but managable.

[Gypsy]

You can absolutely get them in!

Put the baby in a Radian RFing center.
Put the 3YO in the Decathlon RFing passengers outboard.
Put your 6YO in the Radian drivers outboard.

[Maedze]

Switch out the Graco convertible for either an infant seat or a third Radian.

Put that seat in the center and the Radians outboard. There's absolutely no reason that shouldn't work. If you're still stuck, check out the link with lists of CPSTs from this website to find one near your area.

[keri1292]

Was the officer trying to install them with LATCH? Often a three across works best with seatbelt installs. :)

[Mommy_Jenx3]

Oops. I meant to say baby is in a Graco infant seat. Sorry about that. I'd like to keep her in an infant seat if possible since it's easier to get it in & out.

Dh said they tried seatbelts. I'm just so confused. I really thought the 3 we have would fit. Silly as it sounds, I'm ready to cry. Darn hormones from just having a baby...lol.

.:Jennifer:.

[bobandjess99]

Yep, I agree...worst case scenario, you need another radian to make it work...But even with 2, I'm thinking you can make it work...if you have to buy another radian, then you have to....or else,the Avenue is an $80 convertible seat you can get for the baby that is narrow....
One thing to keepin mind is NOT to even try to install any of the seats with LATCH. You get more room and can "inch" the outboard seats further out, closer to the doors, by using the seat belts for all 3 installs..that might be the extra room you need to eek out enough to get 3 across. I know in my car, with the 2 outbhoard seats installed with LATCH (which centers them in the seating area) I have exactyl 11 inches in between the seats...certainly NOT going to get another seat in there,LOL!!!! But if I install with seatbelts and pull each seat out, away from the center, closer to the doors, I can eek out eough width in the middle to get a narrow seat in there!!!

[Maedze]

Oops. I meant to say baby is in a Graco infant seat. Sorry about that. I'd like to keep her in an infant seat if possible since it's easier to get it in & out.

Dh said they tried seatbelts. I'm just so confused. I really thought the 3 we have would fit. Silly as it sounds, I'm ready to cry. Darn hormones from just having a baby...lol.

.:Jennifer:.



I think it's VERY unlikely that two Radians and an infant seat would not fit 3 across in that car. Very VERY VERY unlikely!

You may just need a tech who's slightly more competent or at least familiar with Radians.

[*Spoiledinmyhouseofblue*]

I have a small backseat in my van(short base kia sedona) and have fit many 3-across. You just have to have the right seats. It takes blood, sweat and tears(lol, I just did last night, scatched my hand up doing it), but it was possible.

I have also fit 3-across in my sister's nissan sentra(that is a tiny backseat).

I have also fit 3-across when I had a 2-door cavalier.

I agree with the others seatbelt installs only.

[keri1292]

At the VERY, VERY least, your 6yo may need a booster. How close is your 6yo to outgrowing the Radian? Plus, at least you know there are some booster combos that will work.

Here's a post by a tech with a few three across combos for you...
http://car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=595959&postcount=6

I just can't imagine the combo you have already not working. Have you tried to install them on your own? You can share pics here and we can give you some tips.

[chickabiddy]

You may just need a tech who's slightly more competent or at least familiar with Radians.

Yes. Post your state and maybe someone can help!

[houseofboys]

Yes, we rented an '08 Altima and got three across with much wider seats (Nautilus, Comfortsport & Turbobooster). Hopefully you can find someone else local to help you.

[Mommy_Jenx3]

At the VERY, VERY least, your 6yo may need a booster. How close is your 6yo to outgrowing the Radian?

Here's a post by a tech with a few three across combos for you...
http://car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=595959&postcount=6


He still has 1 more shoulder slot to go on his Radian. I live in Michigan. I went here: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/Index.cfm & it brought up 2 places. I'm still waiting on a call from the other place to get an appt. I'm hoping they call before dh goes back to work on Monday....or else my oldest will have to be in the front until they do.

[Mommy0608]

There are some techs on here who live in Michigan. :whistle:

I don't have a lot of experience with Radians myself, but if none of the other techs in your area have experience with them I would be happy to help you (if we're close enough). I have installed a Radian successfully RF in my Civic and also in a Grand Caravan.

PM me with your city, and I can help you find someone. :)

[Babywearing Meghan]

yes that WILL work.. put the infant seat in the center, and two radians on the outsides, ditch the decathlon for now. maybe you can use that for the baby once he outgrows the infant seat

[TerisBoys]

There are some techs on here who live in Michigan. :whistle:

I don't have a lot of experience with Radians myself, but if none of the other techs in your area have experience with them I would be happy to help you (if we're close enough). I have installed a Radian successfully RF in my Civic and also in a Grand Caravan.

PM me with your city, and I can help you find someone. :)

:yeahthat:

I'm in SW Michigan, and there are several techs around here. I'm not a tech, but I'm very familiar with trying to get 3-across a sedan (I had a Chevy Corsica when my youngest was born).
\\
Take a deep breath, and snuggle that baby - there's someone here that CAN help.

(I'm actually thinking Radian and Decathlon FF may work as well or better than 2 Radians since the Radian and big Britax seem to mesh well.)

[Babywearing Meghan]

We recently had our 3rd child & dh took my car (2008 Nissan Altima) to the state police to have a tech try to get all 3 seats in. They wrestled with them for over an hour, tried every way possible & he said it can't be done:( I'm so upset just thinking of having to put my 6 year old in the front seat. Ugh. I'm going to feel so bad every time I buckle him in now.

.:Jennifer:.
I have taken my seats to the police dept.. the car seat officer there is horrible... I cant even begin to tell you how many mistakes he made installing my seats, making fun of me for having my then 2.5 year old rear facing still and turning her seat around.. never reading manuals... insisting it was illegal to install seats with seat belts if you had a latch.. even though my oldest was too big by far for our latch system...he was horrid.. Try a tech from AAA I found the best tech through them.. I go to him all the time with car seat issues

[BW1426]

OP, I sent you a PM :)

[jubgulia]

We have had a RF Radian (outboard passenger), FF Radian (center), and Graco Safe Seat 1 (outboard driver) fit perfectly in our '06 Corolla. They mesh together so well in that configuration.