Car seat recs for 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe

[hertweck]

Hi! We've recently purchased a '12 Santa Fe and I cannot get my daughters My Ride to install FF in the middle seat, so we are looking to purchase a new seat for her. She will be 3 next month and is 39 inches tall and about 32 pounds. What seats would you all recommend? The problem with the My Ride seems to be it's wide base, vs. the narrow middle seat and close set seat belt stalks. Thanks!

 

[DebiF]

We have the 2010 Santa Fe and while my daughter is 5, she's very close to your daugher's height/weight. We purchased the Nautilus. We haven't had a chance to try and install it yet, but my daughter is very excited about it and keeps sitting on the seat in our living room. It has the 5 pt. harness as well . It was on sale at Target for $125, not sure what it is now.

 

[hertweck]

Thanks! What are the height & weight limits on the Nautilus? I'm not very familiar with FF only seats.

 

[mscarder]

I have the 11 Santa Fe. I've installed a frontier85 similar size to the nautilus and a Radian in the center position. Your right though its a very awkward seat and not very carseat friendly. A few tricks that might help are twisting the seatbelt stalk and reclining the seatback 2-3 clicks before installing then once you've installed the carseat at tight as you can move the seatback upright. Those two things seem to work like a charm for me so far.
Also if that doesnt work you could try a locking clip or once you installed the seat unhook the seat belt let it retract a few more clips then rehook the seatbelt. It takes both me and my husband to install our snugride base there! Needless to say once a seat is installed there it rarely gets moved!

 

[DebiF]

here's a link to the specs. HTH and GL!! =)

http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=151103

 

[Jan06twinmom]

Have you tried installing the car seat outboard? Would you consider placing her in the outboard position if you can get a good install with her seat?

Melanie

 

[hertweck]

I have the 11 Santa Fe. I've installed a frontier85 similar size to the nautilus and a Radian in the center position. Your right though its a very awkward seat and not very carseat friendly. A few tricks that might help are twisting the seatbelt stalk and reclining the seatback 2-3 clicks before installing then once you've installed the carseat at tight as you can move the seatback upright. Those two things seem to work like a charm for me so far.
Also if that doesnt work you could try a locking clip or once you installed the seat unhook the seat belt let it retract a few more clips then rehook the seatbelt. It takes both me and my husband to install our snugride base there! Needless to say once a seat is installed there it rarely gets moved!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am so glad to hear it's not just me having a horrible time with this seat. It's good to know the frontier will install. I'm going today to try it and the Nautilus out.

 

[hertweck]

Have you tried installing the car seat outboard? Would you consider placing her in the outboard position if you can get a good install with her seat?

Melanie

We have it installed outboard right now and it works perfectly. The issue with leaving her there is we also have two teenage daughters, it a much more peaceful ride with the car seat between the two older ones. Otherwise I'd just leave it outboard because we do love the My Ride.