Emergency Car Seat Shuffle

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #1

I've gained two kids for the next week or two. I'm in Idaho right now picking them up (right outside Boise). Car seats are NOT fitting. Mine are in siggy below, theirs are an Graco HBB TBB for an 8 yo, and an Evenflo combination seat (sorry, don't know the name of it).

I tried the Evenflo in the middle back, Graco TBB barely fits next to it, buckling is going to be next to impossible. Olli doesn't fit on the other side. Monterey isn't going to fit if the Olli doesn't fit.

Um. I'm willing to accept ideas for a shuffle, but I'm thinking this is only going to be solved by a couple of Radians. Any other ideas?

Sorry to be abrupt, I had to leave yesterday to pick up the kids due to a family emergency. I need to leave by tonight and get back to Seattle. Thanks for the help.

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #2

And oh, 16 yo is NOT with me right now. So don't worry. I have enough seat belts for everyone lol.

 

BW1426

Well-known member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #3

Is the belt fit on your 11 yo ok without a booster? If so, I'd likely pull him out of the booster to make it work and put your 8yo in the olli. Take the Monterey out of the equation. If your 4 yo is under 40 lbs and would fit in the Avenue, I'd run and get one of those or a cargo or a chase.

 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician

• Jul 15, 2009

• #4

Random list of ideas to try.

Try the Safeguard middle 3rd row and see if that's any better.

Put the 11 & 13 yos 3rd row outboard so your not trying to get a booster next to a car seat.

Try taking the back off the Monterrey for the 8yo TB rider (check for screws in the TB) and use the HB TB for your 5yo. The flare of the Monterrey armrests may make buckling easier.

See if either of the 11 or 8yos pass the 5 step in the third row.

Is the Evenflo Combo low profile enough to puzzle in with a Safeguard in the 3rd row?

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #5

Going to go weigh the youngest one now. Neither one of mine are under 40. Belt fit is iffy on the 11 yo. He tends to slide around a lot w/o the booster.

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #6

13 yo has to sit up front. I've got 7 kids, and 8 seats. Safeguard does fit in the middle back, but I can't get a booster on either side of it.

Neither 8 yo passes the 5 step test.

Will try the Safeguard next to the Evenflo and report back.

safeinthecar said:

Random list of ideas to try.

Try the Safeguard middle 3rd row and see if that's any better.

Put the 11 & 13 yos 3rd row outboard so your not trying to get a booster next to a car seat.

Try taking the back off the Monterrey for the 8yo TB rider (check for screws in the TB) and use the HB TB for your 5yo. The flare of the Monterrey armrests may make buckling easier.

See if either of the 8yos pass the 5 step in the third row.

Is the Evenflo Combo low profile enough to puzzle in with a Safeguard in the 3rd row?

Click to expand...

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #7

Youngest weighs 34 lbs (the 3 yo that isn't mine).

 

BW1426

Well-known member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #8

sixmaybemore said:

Youngest weighs 34 lbs (the 3 yo that isn't mine).

Click to expand...

Is the Evenflo combo pretty narrow?

Will your 5yo sit well in a booster?

 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician

• Jul 15, 2009

• #9

sixmaybemore said:

13 yo has to sit up front. I've got 7 kids, and 8 seats. Safeguard does fit in the middle back, but I can't get a booster on either side of it.

Neither 8 yo passes the 5 step test.

Will try the Safeguard next to the Evenflo and report back.

Click to expand...

How about this

Driver /....................../harnessed seat
Booster /harnessed seat/booster
SBO kid/harnessed seat/SBO kid

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #10

No, 5 yo won't sit well in a booster. She needs a harnessed seat.

I've got the Evenflo combo back corner, Safeguard in the middle, giving 11 yo 5 step test again. Then Graco TBB, Safeguard, Monterey.

Lordy, this is making my head hurt.

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #11

Crap. Shoulder belt is hitting him on the neck. So that's a no go.

What's the width of the Cargo, or Nautilus compared to the Safeguard?

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #12

Driver /....................../harnessed seat

Click to expand...

I'd like to try working something else out, before opting for this.

I have a BRU and a Target at my disposal. Anything beyond that, I've no idea.

 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician

• Jul 15, 2009

• #13

sixmaybemore said:

Crap. Shoulder belt is hitting him on the neck. So that's a no go.

Click to expand...

Did you try both 3rd row seating positions? IIRC the two sides are not completely symmetrical.

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #14

BW1426 said:

Is the Evenflo combo pretty narrow?

Click to expand...

It reminds me of the Summit. The arms are getting in the way.

 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician

• Jul 15, 2009

• #15

sixmaybemore said:

I'd like to try working something else out, before opting for this.

I have a BRU and a Target at my disposal. Anything beyond that, I've no idea.

Click to expand...

You can get a Cosco Highrise/Ambassador at Target for <$20. It has a nice cut out for buckling.

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #16

Headed over to Target with a tape measure. My mom is taking the oldest two kids in her car while we figure this out.

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #17

Well, this particular Target had not much that would/could help us. I ended up with the Evenflo and a Safeguard side by side, and I did what was suggested, and tried 11 yo on the opposite side. So here's the configuration:

13.5 yo front seat, pushed all the way back, SBO

second row, driver side, Monterey
second row, middle, Safeguard,
second row, passenger side, Graco HBB

third row, passenger side, Evenflo
third row, middle, Safeguard
third row, driver side, SBO

I'm not particularly happy with it, especially since this puts a high maintenance 3 yo in the BACK. Eeek. Plus his seat isn't tethered.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #18

Sounds like you did the best you could. You do what you gotta do and it's temporary. Good for you for not just throwing them in and saying "Oh, it's close enough!" (You know some would. Admittedly, hopefully not most techs. )

 

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sixmaybemore

New member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #19

You do what you gotta do and it's temporary.

Click to expand...

That depends on your definition of temporary. I have no idea how long I'll have the kids.

So far, 3 yo being all the way in the back = a lot of tears for my 5 yo.

 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob

Staff member

• Jul 15, 2009

• #20

Well, even if it ends up being longer-term, you'll have time to work out a longer term solution. Or your 11 year old will grow.