Infant Seat & Marathon

U

Unregistered

Guest
My 2.5 year old (42 pounds) is FF in a Marathon in my 2006 Impala. My husband took our Graco Snugride out to my car yesterday to make sure that it would fit in with the Marathon and it doesn't look like it's going to fit side by side (infant in the middle) due to width and when we put it behind the passenger seat, the seat has to be moved all the way forward with the back completely straight and the infant seat still touches the back of the passenger seat. Is this safe or should we look into a different infant seat? If so, what infant seat do you recommend...we looked at the Baby Trend seats yesterday and they look to be narrower but I've never seen one installed.
 
ADS

skaterbabs

Well-known member
It's OK for the infant seat to touch the front seat. Installing it without the base will give you a little more front-to-back room as well.

As for the front seat being upright, that's actally safer for yor passenger.
 

Mama Jo

New member
The only infant seats that are specifically NOT allowed to touch the front seat are the Evenflo infant seats. Unless your vehicle manual states that a child restraint cannot touch the seat in front of it (particularly due to airbag sensors) it's ok.

Which model SnugRide is it? The 22 lb or the 32 lb? I had a Graco SafeSeat (30 lb.) installed with the base behind the passenger seat of my 2004 Malibu, with a few inches to spare between the infant seat and the seat in front of it, so you should be able to make it work.
 

mommycat

Well-known member
Another thing you could check out if you have not done so already - look in your manual to see if you can leave the handle up on the SnugRide. I am pretty sure any new ones allow the handle to be up in the car, giving you that much more room.

I have seen people here mention 3-across in an Impala...
http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=738829&postcount=2

Someone with a very similar issue - an '03 Impala and 2 RF seats, a SnugRide and a Boulevard. She managed to get the two seats in side by side with the SR in the center:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=69221&highlight=impala+snugride

I am also wondering if it is the SR32 and not the 22lb one, as that would mean it would be bigger and possibly harder to fit. (Here's someone who was not able to get a Safe Seat (previous version of SR32) next to a FF Marathon: http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=163740&postcount=10 but then later says they got a 3 across in it with the Safe Seat, a MA and a Regent... http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=269190&postcount=4)

Also, when you tried to put the seats side by side, were you installing using LATCH or seatbelts? Using seatbelts allows you to have more flexibility about where the seat sits in the car, allowing you to move it over sideways a bit to make more room for the seat beside it.
 

Mama Jo

New member
Is the SR32 the same size as the SS? Because I could get my SS behind the passenger seat of the malibu (which is a little smaller than the impala) and was still able to flip the handle back if I wanted to. (Though I never did.) And my front seat passenger was not uncomfortable.

Hmm... I've never tried to get the SS next to the BV. Maybe I'll try that out tonight...
 

Mama Jo

New member
I am also wondering if it is the SR32 and not the 22lb one, as that would mean it would be bigger and possibly harder to fit. (Here's someone who was not able to get a Safe Seat (previous version of SR32) next to a FF Marathon: http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=163740&postcount=10 but then later says they got a 3 across in it with the Safe Seat, a MA and a Regent... http://www.car-seat.org/showpost.php?p=269190&postcount=4)

I wonder if in that 3 across, they had the SS in the base, but not necessarily able to pop it in and out...? Although it would probably be tough to determine if they were all independently tight without being able to take the seat out and put it back in...

I seem to remember trying to get my SS next to something (maybe it was the BV) where I could get it to fit if I put it in first and left it in the base. But then I couldn't get it out. Which made it difficult to determine if the seat installed next to it was independently tight.
 

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Forum statistics

Threads
219,656
Messages
2,196,898
Members
13,530
Latest member
onehitko860

You must read your carseat and vehicle owner’s manual and understand any relevant state laws. These are the rules you must follow to restrain your children safely. All opinions at Car-Seat.Org are those of the individual author for informational purposes only, and do not necessarily reflect any policy or position of Carseat Media LLC. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis. If you are unsure about information provided to you, please visit a local certified technician. Before posting or using our website you must read and agree to our TERMS.

Graco is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Britax is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org! Nuna Baby is a Proud Sponsor of Car-Seat.Org!

Please  Support Car-Seat.Org  with your purchases of infant, convertible, combination and boosters seats from our premier sponsors above.
Shop travel systems, strollers and baby gear from Britax, Chicco, Clek, Combi, Evenflo, First Years, Graco, Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, Safety 1st, Diono & more! ©2001-2022 Carseat Media LLC

Top