Question Three across in a Prius v?

U

Unregistered

Guest
Hello everyone!

Wondering if you can help solve a dilemma for my family. Here's the scoop: we are very seriously considering buying a Prius v. I need to know, however, whether I can safely fit the following three humans in the back seat:

1. 4 year old boy approx 45 pounds
2. 4 year old boy about 40 pounds soaking wet
3. 22-month old girl about 28 pounds.

We have a 2010 Prius and tried my sister's three Sunshine Kids Radians and they don't really fit well. We can technically jam them in there but the two on the sides have to face in at a slight angle, which seems unsafe.

We have a good budget to work with and we don't want to compromise the kids' safety but we also want to do what we can for the planet..

Thanks so much for the help.
 
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U

Unregistered

Guest
Hi again,

Actually we only tried all three forward facing. Do you think we'd have better luck with one rear facing? I didn't realize until I started reading more afterward we tried them that we should try to keep her rear facing after she turns two anyway!

Here's a slightly off topic follow up question. Am I jeopardizing the kids' safety by placing them so close to the doors? In other words, am I a horrible person by choosing the smaller car rather than the SUV or minivan?

Thanks so much for the input and advice!
 

aept

New member
How did you have the radians in the prius? FF, RF, FF?
I find I prefer RF, FF, RF. Skinny 4 yo could RF in a R120 or RXT?

I can make either install work in our 2011 Prius though (with effort and with angle adjusters for RF radians) and if the seats are just leaning inward a bit at the head area that's due to the contour of the vehicle seats and not a safety concern as long as all seats are independently tight. I know it isn't visually appealing but I figure the more their heads are towards the center of the vehicle, the better. Just my opinion.

I know another person posted recently about problems installing many types/brands of RF convertibles in a Prius V due to a protruding plastic hinge-type thing in the back seat that was preventing a tight installation. If I can find that thread and link to it I will. I'm on the iPhone app now and now sure if I can do that.
I believe they eventually found something that worked, just wanted to warn you about that possible incompatibility. I don't think that person had to fit 3-across either.

Sent from my iPhone using Car-Seat.Org
 

aept

New member
"Help with RF'ing install in Prius V" is the name of that thread I mentioned above. The thread was started by "Anifan" on 5-26-12.
Sorry I still can't link you to it, but if you'd like to search for it, there's the info!

Sent from my iPhone using Car-Seat.Org
 

boneheaderss

New member
Hello everyone!

Wondering if you can help solve a dilemma for my family. Here's the scoop: we are very seriously considering buying a Prius v. I need to know, however, whether I can safely fit the following three humans in the back seat:

1. 4 year old boy approx 45 pounds
2. 4 year old boy about 40 pounds soaking wet
3. 22-month old girl about 28 pounds.

We have a 2010 Prius and tried my sister's three Sunshine Kids Radians and they don't really fit well. We can technically jam them in there but the two on the sides have to face in at a slight angle, which seems unsafe.

We have a good budget to work with and we don't want to compromise the kids' safety but we also want to do what we can for the planet..

Thanks so much for the help.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids ride rear facing until at least 2 years old and have hit the maximum rear facing weight or height limit on their convertible car seat. We want to see kids rear facing to the limits of their convertible car seat, whether the child is 3, 4, or even 5 years old before they outgrow it in the rear facing position! Here are some pictures of older rear facing kids: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvyIv9QVRBE"]Rear facing is safer - YouTube[/ame]

and here is another website about rear facing: http://www.thecarseatlady.com/car_seats/rear-facing_seats.html

The weight limit on the lower anchors is usually 40 lbs in many vehicles, which means you would have to use the seat belt to install the car seats. Also, installing with the seat belt may give you an inch or so more room as the lower anchors may be closer to the center seating position. Also, you cannot borrow the lower anchors from the side seating positions to install the car seats.

The Diono Radian tends to install very reclined when rear facing. Diono (use to be known as Sunshine kids) created an angle adjuster to make the Radian more upright. Here is how to use it: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcPh2ORw9LY"]Diono Angle Adjuster Installation - YouTube[/ame]
 

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