Need best configuration for triplets and 4 adults for Odyssey

[Unregistered]

We have triplets currently in the Chicco Keyfit 30 (Love the Chicco!!). However, one of them is now within an inch of the top so it is time to move on to something else. Here's the problem... Triplets (almost 14 months), Mom, Dad, and 2 adult-sized teenagers in a 2000 Honda Odyssey. Currently, 2 carseats side-by-side on 3rd row, along with adult, carseat in middle bucket behind driver, adult in other bucket and 2 adults in the front. (Very full van!)

Now that we know about new regs saying safer RF until at least 2 yr, we feel guilty if we turn FF. BUT, what car seats are going to fit in the van RF and allow to put the babies in without standing on our heads? We have borrowed an Alpha Omega Elite that we have tried to fit RF, but the front seats have to be pushed so far forward, it is very uncomfortable. (and that car seat seems shorter than the Radian and Nautilus that we've been looking at)

I don't really want to buy something that will just fit RF for now, but have to spend more again for a better FF. I would like to buy something that will last us through to booster time.

Suggestions???

Thanks IA,
Lisa
Trips- 4/08
A- 26 lbs 31"
B- 23 lbs 30 1/2"
C- 20 lbs 30"
AND...
15 yr - 6'
17 yr - 5'10"

[vonfirmath]

If you can get a good install, I'd buy 3 Radians. Tall shell, 35 pound rear-facing, 65 pound (or 80 if you buy the Radian 80) forward-facing.

It may or may not get your kids to booster. Depends on the kids and their maturity when they outgrow the seat. But with them being triplets, hopefully they are somewhat small for their size so their is a bigger chance of it.

Radians are very narrow and thus will be easy to fit into your van even 3 across (Assuming you can install the seat, they are known for being finicky to install)

[autumnlily]

Radians are narrow and great both RF and FF - I love them FF (our older DD)!

Another option is a "compact convertible": Cosco Scenera, Maxi Cosi Priori, Safety Avenue/Uptown, Roundabout, Coccoro (but you will have to recline your seats a bit and this may reduce leg room for adult passengers... but it is a TINY seat (my 3.5yo still fits RF and FF) and I'm certain there are other seats - these are the ones I've been checking out.

Your triplets were born the same month as my twins - my twins are about the size as your "c" and a compact convertible should get them to 2 years RF (probably longer) and then to 3 or 4 forward facing.

[Louisa+3]

I would definitely go with the radians you should be able to put them 3 across in the back row, giving your teenagers their own seats. And the radians should last them a good long time. i have one of my twins rf in the third row and load him through the trunk, i am sure it looks funny to people walking by, but it is so much easier! At 14 months you can also have them as little as 30˚ reclined as apposed to the 45˚ required for a newborn, so that may help out with front to back room.
HTH

[vonfirmath]

autumnlily: The problem is that none of those seats will do what the original poster asked, get her kids to booster age.

The Radian has a chance at it if her kids are small. Because it has the tall shell.

original poster, the recommendations are that children remain rear-facing to the limits of their seats, so you really need a seat still that will both rear face and forward face. Within that constraint, there is no seat we can guarantee will get them to booster age. It just depends on how they grow and whether they are mature enough for a booster when they are outgrowing the seat.

[cookie123]

I know you said you wanted a seat that would last until booster age, but throwing out another option: get 3 Avenues - about $85 each. They would likely rear face to about 3ish, then ff to 4 for most kids. They aren't quite as tall as the ETA and are narrower. Then plan to follow that up with the Nautilus - about $160 each. The Nautilus can also be used as a booster down the road. However, after the Avenues are outgrown, who knows what great seats will be available?

[ctbcleveland]

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=18235

Attached is the thread on successful Radian installs. You can search for your particular model (which year) to see if and in what seating positions the Radian will work.

Couple comments.

The Radian is known to be an easier seat to install with LATCH than with a seatbelt. The problem is that Honda has the lowest LATCH limit out there, so if you buy one, you will eventually be dealing with a seatbelt install.

While one of the PP mentioned the ability to install the seat more upright, the Radian has minimal flexibility to make it more upright. People have mentioned that the new foot will give you a few degrees less recline, it will still have a steeper recline than many seats.

We have the seat installed in a 2008 Ody with LATCH in one of the captain's chairs. Ours is not a new model and the recline is steep. A 6 ft adult would not be comfortable in the seat in front.

Do you have the extra seat for the second row (to make it an 8 seater?) If so, I'd think about using that for one of of the two remaining infant seats and putting the teenagers next to it.

I'd probably not opt for the higher weight Radian. Most kids outgrow the seat by height before they could take advantage of the 80 lb weight limit.

While it seems logical to buy three of the same seats, you might be better off getting different seats for the three kids and accepting they will last you more or less time.

[Andie]

Everyone has given great advice, and I also think the Radian would work well in your case.


BUT, what car seats are going to fit in the van RF and allow to put the babies in without standing on our heads?


Could you put the triplets in through the back hatch of the van?

[Unregistered]

Hi,
We have two Radian XT's forward facing, next to a Britax Companion infant seat, all in the back of a Malibu. The Radians are too tall to go rear facing without squeezing the passenger in front.
The new Combi Coccorro is small and fits three to a seat, rear or front, and it's up to 40 pounds.
I think the safest thing is to keep the child rear-facing, too. I wish we could figure that out! At least with the Radian they can be in a harness until 80 lbs. That is way safer than any booster. Any luck?
bnsnyde@bgsu.edu
Beth

[mslisasmiles]

Thank you for the advice. I had the Cosco Alpha Omega Elite (that I already had for a nephew) installed RF in the passenger middle captain seat. The other Keyfit30's are on either side in the back. But, this doesn't allow enough room really for someone to sit in the front seat. (if this doesn't fit, I don't see how the Radian will fit???) The installers said I probably need to just put all 3 FF in the back to make enough room for the 14 month triplets and 4 adults. I'm still not happy. There is no middle seat in the middle row. Honda says can't be retrofitted- only 2 seat-belts- true 7 seater van. Can't load babies through back- large triplet stroller blocks access.

[An Aurora]

Have you tried taking the base off the Alpha Omega, and installing it more upright? You really shouldn't have a problem fitting it in RF with those two adjustments.

[safeinthecar]

The best solution I can think of is to put two of the babies outboard in the third row (if radians fit that would leave the most room for the adult) with the smallest adult in the middle and the third baby in a Captain's chair. That leaves easy access to both 3rd row kids, and the ability to flip one chair.

[An Aurora]

That would mean that the smallest adult in the middle would be in a lap belt :(

[safeinthecar]

That would mean that the smallest adult in the middle would be in a lap belt :(

I'm pretty sure a 2000 Oddy has a lap/shoulder belt in the center of the third row.

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-honda-odyssey-12.htm

[An Aurora]

I'm pretty sure a 2000 Oddy has a lap/shoulder belt in the center of the third row.

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-honda-odyssey-12.htm

Oh good! :thumbsup: Don't mind me then :D

ETA: this picture (http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2000-honda-odyssey-4.htm?photo=310453&perspective=interior#toptab) of the interior shows a lap belt in the 3rd row, center. :(

[mslisasmiles]

Middle 3rd row seat is only lap belt. But the "smallest" of our family (other than babies) is just barely under 200 lbs. Don't even know that the belt is needed- sometimes we feel the jaws of life are needed to pry us out from between seats! (jk-we always wear our belts) I think I'll go back out and play with the seats some more.

[mslisasmiles]

ok... went out and played with seats some more. How recline does the AOE need to be? If I can minimize the recline, that will provide more space. Also, when I pulled on the seat (pulled- not yanked) the whole seat came towards me. If you were looking at it from the back seat it is tilted at least to 10'oclock! Should it have done that? I can't get it to go back down. I guess I'll have to reinstall which totally defeats the purpose of having taken it to the CPS today.

[bobandjess99]

Thank you for the advice. I had the Cosco Alpha Omega Elite (that I already had for a nephew) installed RF in the passenger middle captain seat. The other Keyfit30's are on either side in the back. But, this doesn't allow enough room really for someone to sit in the front seat. (if this doesn't fit, I don't see how the Radian will fit???) The installers said I probably need to just put all 3 FF in the back to make enough room for the 14 month triplets and 4 adults. I'm still not happy. There is no middle seat in the middle row. Honda says can't be retrofitted- only 2 seat-belts- true 7 seater van. Can't load babies through back- large triplet stroller blocks access.

I'm not understanding here. My dh's car is a geo metro. Are you familiar with it? I can install our AOE seat RFing and still fit a passenger in front of it, and the entire car could fit into the cargo area of your van. (okay..maybe not wquite..but close!)
You do know that for 1 year old kids, you can install it up to 30 degrees upright, and not the full 45 required for newborns, right? That makes the seat take up a lot less room front-to-back.

I second getting a smaller convertible and following it up with a high-weight-harness combination booster later. The avenue followed by a nautilus would let your kids rearface until about 3, and the FF until age 6ish harnessed, and then be boostered.

I just read your update....the seatbvelt is probably pulling up on the seat and causing it to tilt to the side. What you will need to do is instead of locking the retractor, you will need to keep the belt unlocked and use a locking clip to install, to prevent tipping.

[An Aurora]

The AOE can be installed as upright as 30* (45* is full newborn recline). The tipping is from the locking retractor, which can be solved by using a locking clip :)

I think in your situation I would get 2 Sceneras, or 2 Uptowns/Avenues, for the other 2 babies and use those RF'ing until they are outgrown. Then get I'd get each triplet a Graco Nautilus to last them through booster age. I think that would be the most cost-efficient way, and the Sceneras are pretty narrow.

[mslisasmiles]

I will try the 30* on the AOE. Next question: Is it required to have the vehicle seat in front of the RF car seats? Most of the time I only carry 2-3 people so we leave the vehicle captain seat out of the van so that I have more room to load/change diapers, etc.
(I'm sorry so many questions!)

[An Aurora]

Nope, not required :)

[mslisasmiles]

BTW- Yes, there is a center seat belt- it comes up from the roof of the vehicle. Duh, on me!?!?!