3 across in a 97 Toyota 4 Runner/mazda3

Hi there,
We are expecting our third next month and I'm trying to figure out this carseat thing. I currently have my 4 1/2 yr old ff in a radian65 (34 lbs), in the middle seat, and my 2 1/2 year old RF in a britax marathon, driver side.
Firstly, is it worth trying to keep my youngest RF (she'll be 2 years 9 months, is 25 lbs), or will it be a super pain to get her and her sister into their seats if I have an infant bucket seat on the other side?

My third seat is a Safeseat, which will fit ONLY if I do not use the base. Do you think a snugride (or other infant carseat) would fit with the base? Or would it make a difference if I take out the Britax and get another Radian?

My husband has a 2005 Mazda 3, currently with a radian 65 and a britax marathon. If we installed the 2 radians into his car, is there anyway a bucket seat would fit, without a base, for occasional car trips?

My last question (thank you for bearing with me!) - my 4 year old occasionally asks to sit RF'ing. She is over 4, but under the 40 lbs weight limit. Are there still benefits, or any detriments, to turning her rf'ing again?

thanks for reading!
nicole

Hi,

Your 4yo would be perfectly safe RF as long as she still fits the limits of the seat. The benefits of RF exist for all of us, but the benefit diminishes for older kids as the body develops and becomes stronger and more able to absorb the forces experienced FF. So if she wants to ride the same way as her siblings and is under the weight limit and still has at least 1" of shell over her head, go for it.

There are definitely infant seats narrower than the SafeSeat though I can't guarantee they will work. I don't have personal experience with them but the Chicco KeyFit and the Baby Trend Flex-Loc are both pretty narrow.

The Britax and Radian puzzle well together, especially when facing the same direction, so doing another Radian instead may not help. Since it sounds like you have 2 Radians, you could try it but I am guessing it won't make a big difference. RF the 4yo in the Radian may make the Britax/Radian puzzle to be a bit tighter. Putting the Britax in the center may or may not help, as well. Not sure how the SS shell/handle lines up with the shell of the Radian and Britax so one may puzzle better than the other.

I would probably turn the 4yo RF to get a better puzzle and see if that helps get the infant seat in there.

Are you open to doing a convertible for the baby instead of the infant seat? That might be an option as well.

Thanks for your help. I could skip the infant carrier but I'm going to try to find a smaller carrier seat to see if it will fit. I can get them to fit as long as I don't use the SS base, which is a pain, but might just have to do!