The babysitter is getting the 3 mo old younger sibling of another child she watches in a few weeks (but will have her this Thursday). In anticipation of the added child, I went to re-install our seats tonight and I'm completely flummoxed! Here are the stats:
3 mo old RF in Keyfit
1 yo RF in EFTA or Evenflo Triumph - it looks slightly different than our EFTA's
2 yo - 29 lbs normally RF in classic MA
4 yo - 35-37 lbs FF in SecureKid 300
The car has 2nd and 3rd row seating (2 positions in 3rd row). She needs to put 2 kids in the 3rd row - ideally my boys (2 & 4 yo). I can get the MA RF, but only in the position where the 3rd seat will be removed from the second row. This makes it difficult, at best for my 4 yo to climb between the MA and the second row seats.
So I've conceded that since Peanut is 2 yo, and the sitter doesn't drive far (usually just to school and back, or maybe the library in town), I'll let him sit FF in her car. This is kinda killing me.
So then I try to install Stachio's SecureKid 300 in the 3rd row. I can get the belt tight enough so that the seat moves less than 1/2 and inch side to side at the belt path. But because of where the seatbelt is anchored (4-5 in forward of where the seat back and seat meet) I can move the car seat forward about 3 in. It doesn't matter how tight I get the seat belt - the car seat will move forward. There are no LATCH anchors in these positions.
After trying to install the SecureKid 300, I tried the EFTA. I got a better install with this seat, but the side of the carseat where the seatbelt is anchored forward can move at least 2 inches.
The MA does not move forward if installed FF or RF.
Is this just a matter of vehicles and carseats not playing nice? I get the feeling that the relatively high belt path through the Evenflo's combined with the forward anchor position of the seatbelt is what is leading to the problem.
Anyone have any BTDT experience? I wish I could take a picture, but I was trying to install at the sitters house and didn't have my camera with me.
I'm able to get these seats securely installed in the 2nd row, but I only have 2 positions there, and we have to have the keyfit in one of those positions.
For now my solution is:
3 mo -2nd row driverside outboard RF in Keyfit (independently tight LATCH install)
1 yo - 2nd row center location, RF independently tight seatbelt install
2 yo - FF 3rd row driverside outboard
4 yo - 3rd row TravelSafer vest
Any thought on how to get the SecureKid back in the car. The vest will work for now, but as winter approaches I don't see it being a great option as we are in WI and the weather gets COLD.
Can someone also confirm that you can't wear winter coats under the TravelSafer Vest? I'm 99.9% sure of that, but want to confirm. If the vest is the best option what is the solution for winter weather?
NO budget for new seats. I do have 2 other SafeKid300's another MA and another EFTA BUT I need to be able to accommodate 2 yo RF in 2 addn'l vehicles and 4 yo in 2 addn'l vehicles.
I hope this all makes sense! And thanks for hanging in there if you've read this entire thing.
3 mo old RF in Keyfit
1 yo RF in EFTA or Evenflo Triumph - it looks slightly different than our EFTA's
2 yo - 29 lbs normally RF in classic MA
4 yo - 35-37 lbs FF in SecureKid 300
The car has 2nd and 3rd row seating (2 positions in 3rd row). She needs to put 2 kids in the 3rd row - ideally my boys (2 & 4 yo). I can get the MA RF, but only in the position where the 3rd seat will be removed from the second row. This makes it difficult, at best for my 4 yo to climb between the MA and the second row seats.
So I've conceded that since Peanut is 2 yo, and the sitter doesn't drive far (usually just to school and back, or maybe the library in town), I'll let him sit FF in her car. This is kinda killing me.
So then I try to install Stachio's SecureKid 300 in the 3rd row. I can get the belt tight enough so that the seat moves less than 1/2 and inch side to side at the belt path. But because of where the seatbelt is anchored (4-5 in forward of where the seat back and seat meet) I can move the car seat forward about 3 in. It doesn't matter how tight I get the seat belt - the car seat will move forward. There are no LATCH anchors in these positions.
After trying to install the SecureKid 300, I tried the EFTA. I got a better install with this seat, but the side of the carseat where the seatbelt is anchored forward can move at least 2 inches.
The MA does not move forward if installed FF or RF.
Is this just a matter of vehicles and carseats not playing nice? I get the feeling that the relatively high belt path through the Evenflo's combined with the forward anchor position of the seatbelt is what is leading to the problem.
Anyone have any BTDT experience? I wish I could take a picture, but I was trying to install at the sitters house and didn't have my camera with me.
I'm able to get these seats securely installed in the 2nd row, but I only have 2 positions there, and we have to have the keyfit in one of those positions.
For now my solution is:
3 mo -2nd row driverside outboard RF in Keyfit (independently tight LATCH install)
1 yo - 2nd row center location, RF independently tight seatbelt install
2 yo - FF 3rd row driverside outboard
4 yo - 3rd row TravelSafer vest
Any thought on how to get the SecureKid back in the car. The vest will work for now, but as winter approaches I don't see it being a great option as we are in WI and the weather gets COLD.
Can someone also confirm that you can't wear winter coats under the TravelSafer Vest? I'm 99.9% sure of that, but want to confirm. If the vest is the best option what is the solution for winter weather?
NO budget for new seats. I do have 2 other SafeKid300's another MA and another EFTA BUT I need to be able to accommodate 2 yo RF in 2 addn'l vehicles and 4 yo in 2 addn'l vehicles.
I hope this all makes sense! And thanks for hanging in there if you've read this entire thing.