3 Across in a 99 Chevy Malibu

McMartin5 · Jul 17, 2008

I just found out this morning (big surprise) that I"m expecting baby number 3. This means I'll need to have three carseats in the back of my car. I checked the 3 across thread, but didn't see much for my car.

I'll have a 2 1/2 yr old (probably close to 30lbs by then) and 16 months old (who will be rear faced) and a newborn. I'm thinking about possibly getting a Nautilis for the 2 1/2 yr old. She could technically still be rfing by then, but I wonder if I can actually fit 3 rearfacing. My car seats slope inward, if that makes sense.

Ideally, I'd like to get a Nautilis, Radian 65, or either a Safeseat or Chicco 30 (whichever has a smaller base). We will have to do some major saving to buy all new seats.

Anybody have any ideas or advice?

Stretchy Glue · Jul 17, 2008

Here's what I've had across the back of my mom's Malibu without problems:

Evenflo Chase/Graco Snugride/Evenflo Chase (booster mode)

It's a fairly wide seat across, so you should be able to come up with a combo, but it might require an open mind and lots of experiments.

McMartin5 · Jul 17, 2008

Thanks, what kind of car seat is the Chase? booster?

melniemi · Jul 17, 2008

The Chase harnesses to 40#s and then turns into a booster.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4366138

unityco · Jul 17, 2008

The Chase is an Evenflo combo seat (harnessed/booster - FF only.)

My parents have an '02 Malibu - I don't know if there were any design changes between their year and yours. In their backseat I've had a RF Alpha-Omega without its base, a FF Radian and a backless TurboBooster. Obviously, the booster info isn't useful to you, but it will give you some idea of what width of harnessed seats might fit.

I LOVE my parents' car for carseats. The installs have always been quick a easy - even with my Radian.

HTH!

BW1426 · Jul 17, 2008

I was thinking about this some more. I think 2 Radians and a Safe Seat 1 would be great if they will fit. The Radians will give you a TON of flexibility. And when the baby outgrows the safeseat you'll already have two narrow seats so you may have more options for what that third seat can be. If you get 2 seats from BRU, they'll give you a twin discount

Plus, they have an 8 year expiration date so you should be able to use them until the end, while with a 6 year expiration date, you may need to purchase another seat before the baby is ready for a booster.

featherhead · Jul 17, 2008

The Radian works great in any position in my '03 Malibu. I haven't tried any infant seats yet.

McMartin5 · Jul 17, 2008

Thank you all so much for your replies!!!! I like the idea of two radians and a safeseat. The will be costly, so good thing I have 8 months to save up. I'm glad to hear that Radians install well in a Malibu.

BudgieStew · Jul 17, 2008

I did find that the Radians are slightly more tricky when installed by seatbelt in a Malibu.
A tiny bit more work but very doable.
I think if I had pulled the recline bar out it would have been easier.

DH had a 97 last fall and we had a 2001(no LATCH) for a week or so this spring.

Here are a few pictures of the 97 that would hopefully give you an idea of how much room you would have beside one Radian or perhaps if all of my DH junk was not piled in the car it would be better.

featherhead · Jul 17, 2008

Oh, I guess I haven't done FF with the seatbelt. With LATCH it works beautifully, but a '99 wouldn't have LATCH. I'm guessing you may have to twist buckle stalks, and probably lower the FF recline. But it should be ok.

3 Across in a 99 Chevy Malibu

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