How safe is it to cram three seats in

n0tsomuch · Mar 15, 2010

When does squeezing 3 car seats together become unsafe? I'm attempting to cram 2 radians and a snug ride (maybe and hopefully) in a Mazda Protege.

featherhead · Mar 15, 2010

If they cannot be independently installed, it is not safe. Install the middle seat, make sure it is tight. Then install each of the outboard seats. Take out the middle seat, and check to see if the two outboard seats are still tight (less than 1 inch of movement at the belt path). If all are tight, install the center seat again, and you're good to go:thumbsup:

Pixels · Mar 15, 2010

If you can't get one of the doors closed, it's not safe.

If the installs are not all independent, it's not safe.

To check to see if the installs are independent, install the center seat first, and get it tight enough (less than an inch of movement at the belt path). Install the two outboard seats, then take out the center seat and see if the outboard seats were tight enough by themselves, or if they were relying on the center seat to be "tight." If the outboard seats were tight enough, you just need to get the center seat back in as tight as it was. If the outboard seats weren't tight enough, they weren't independent installs.

n0tsomuch · Mar 15, 2010

What if the seats touch? I would assume that would not be safe. Thanks.

Pixels · Mar 15, 2010

Seats can touch, cram, overlap, press on each other. As long as you can uninstall any of the seats and whatever is left is still tight, so that they are independent.

BookMama · Mar 15, 2010

Yes, as the others said, it's not a concern as long as you can install each seat correctly and independently. I have three seats in my Focus and Escort - crammed, touching, overlapping, you name it

- and have no qualms about it whatsoever, since I'm confident that they're installed correctly and independently. :thumbsup:

n0tsomuch · Mar 15, 2010

People, this is good. No new van or car? I can still keep my compact car??? Yay! Good. I'll try the two radians and a snug ride. Happiness! Thanks.

Maedze · Mar 15, 2010

n0tsomuch said:
People, this is good. No new van or car? I can still keep my compact car??? Yay! Good. I'll try the two radians and a snug ride. Happiness! Thanks.

What is the make/model/year of the car, and what are the ages and sizes of the kids involved?

3-across in a compact car is possible, and it is safe, but it's not something the average parent can just 'wing'. At the very least, you're going to need tips. I would strongly suggest meeting up with a c-s.org technician to help you out, too

wendytthomas · Mar 15, 2010

Maedze said:
What is the make/model/year of the car, and what are the ages and sizes of the kids involved?

It's a Protege, in the first post.

Wendy

KaysKidz · Mar 15, 2010

My seats touch, overlap etc in DH's Grand Prix. All independent. Sometimes its a matter of figuring out which seats puzzle well with others too.

Babywearing Meghan · Mar 15, 2010

n0tsomuch said:
What if the seats touch? I would assume that would not be safe. Thanks.

Well I hope thats safe cause they all touch in my passat!

How safe is it to cram three seats in

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