Question 3 Across in a 2014 Ford Escape

Good Morning!

I am expecting a baby at the end of April and am currently trying to figure out how to arrange car seats three across in the back of a 2014 Ford Escape.

My four year old son (43 inches/ 43 lbs) is currently forward facing in a Graco Headwise 65.

My two year old daughter (36 inches/ 26 lbs) is currenty rear facing in a Graco Contender 65.

I have a Graco SnugRide Click Connect 35 infant carrier that I can use for the new baby.

However, I don't think these seats will all fit in the back of my car. I'm guessing as I haven't actually tried putting the infant seat in with the other seats.

So, I am prepared to replace seats as necessary. Any advice as to what seats I should replace and what I should replace them with?

Notes:

I actually want to get rid of the Headwise anyway. We checked it on a recent flight and I'm worried it got a bit beat up.

I realize my daughter is a bit on the young side for forward facing, but I feel I may need to forward face her soon because the Escape just doesn't have enough room back to front. Currently her seat is behind the front passenger seat. It is difficult for that passenger since the seat has to be pushed so far forward.

I'd start by trying one seat more narrow than the Headwise. The Graco Wayz/Tranzitions, Harmony Defender, or maybe Cosco Finale are options. (Can you give us his seated torso height- sit cross legged against the wall and mark the top of his shoulder, then measure from there to the ground? That would help us let you know how long he'll have in each seat.)

The seats you have aren't excessively wide. I'd try playing around with different configurations. Make sure you're using seatbelt, not lower anchors, to get the most room.

If you still need a narrower seat in the mix I'd consider a narrower rear-facing only bucket or a narrow convertible that fits newborns well. But just gaining a few inches by replacing the forward-facing convertible may help a lot.

Thanks for the reply!
I like the look of the Graco Wayz, so that would be awesome if that would work. I measured him last night and his seated torso height is about 17 inches (he was being a little wiggly so it was hard to get a perfect measurement). I've been asking this question in multiple locations so that I can get as many ideas as possible. On another board, I was told that really only Diano Radians might work. I'm not opposed to that, but it would be nice if I had some other options as well!

No, you definitely have a lot more options. Buying a Radian for a forward facing child is a waste of functionality and money- and he's nearly outgrown it anyway.

The Cosco Finale is not an option with that torso height but either the Wayz or Defender should last him a year or two more.

Thank you! Do you know which (between the Wayz and Defender) is more narrow? Or are they about the same?

The Wayz is probably slightly narrower where you would need it. They are narrow in different places.