Where should I install? Britax Decathlon and Companion

[serabi]

We own a '03 Honda Pilot. Our 13 month old who is about 16lbs is currently RF in a Britax Decathlon and will (obviously) be staying RF for a good long time. She's in the middle seat, middle bench using the seat belt (no LATCH in that seat) and the tether.

We're expecting a new baby end of January. Our infant seat is a Britax Companion. Obviously, the *safest* place would be the middle, and then move the Decathlon to one of the side seats, but I honestly don't see how I'm going to get a Decathlon and a Companion next to each other safely and still allow us to get the Companion in and out of its base.

Is there any chance I'll be able to get the Companion into the center seat? Are there any "tricks" to it that I should know? Or is this a situation where it'd probably be better to just put them both into the side seats?

Thanks!

 

[crunchierthanthou]

Not quite what you are asking, but you want the most protected child in the outboard position. That would actually be the Companion. Although, I don't know if that will change your logistics of trying to get them both installed.

 

[serabi]

Not quite what you are asking, but you want the most protected child in the outboard position. That would actually be the Companion. Although, I don't know if that will change your logistics of trying to get them both installed.

So not in the center?

Here's how my middle bench is right now:

xXx <-- with the big X being the Decathlon in the middle

I'm thinking that I'll either do:

XXx OR XxX when I go to install both seats, with the big X's being the two car seats.

So it's safer to actually put the infant on the outside - not in the center? Because if so I'd do XxX as my seat arrangement as that'd be easiest on me . Or am I completely misunderstanding?

 

[crunchierthanthou]

XxX is definitely most convenient and still absolutely safe.

I thought you were wanting to keep at least one child in the center. If so, the companion is actually the better choice for the outboard.