Infant twins + toddler and Subaru?!?!

[ajschaaf]

We have been "getting by" with 2 Graco snugrides (no base) rear facing for my twins with a Britax Roundabout forward facing in the middle. It's a tight squeeze but we can do it. Now that the babies are getting bigger, we're worried about a long-term solution. We (like many of you) want to avoid a minivan. Right now the babies are 14 lbs and 16 lbs so we're still ok in the infant car seat. But we're thinking ahead to when they need to be in a rear-facing (and eventually forward facing) convertible car seat. We've tried 3 roundabouts and it definitely doesn't work! We've also tried 2 roundabouts with a booster seat but also not an option as we can't get our hands in far enough to buckle the booster.

I've read a lot about the radian and hear good things. I know they have a unique shape and, from the other threads figure they are 14" at the base but 17" at the top. Does anyone know if I can fit 2 radians (on the sides) and the Roundabout in the middle? Right now we would need the radians to be rear-facing but eventually we would need all 3 to be forward facing. Will that work???

Thanks!
Adriane

PS - does anyone have the radian installed rear facing? I keep reading that in any vehicle other than a minivan, the front seat needs to be moved all the way forward to fit the rear facing radian since it is so tall.

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Britax - Click for more info Britax International has been producing reliable child safety products for over 30 years. Not only does Britax have decades of experience creating car seats and other children's safety equipment, Britax has a long standing reputation as an industry leader and innovator. Britax International is headquartered in the United Kingdom, but Britax car seats are designed and manufactured at facilities in Germany, Austria, and the United States. In the summer of 2002, Britax strengthened their commitment to creating the safest car seats with the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art crash testing facility in North Carolina. Britax car seats have a reputation around the world for being some of the safest, most reliable, and best designed child safety seats ever made.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Convertible Car Seats Convertible seats are for infants and toddlers. The seat can be used as a rear-facing seats for younger children, and switched to a forward-facing seat on the child's first birthday if the child weighs at least 20 pounds. However, experts recommend keeping the child in a rear-facing position until he or she outgrows the weight or height allowed by the safety seat.

	Infant Car Seats Infant-only rear-facing seats are for babies up to about 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the specific car seat. You will need a new seat when your child gets bigger. Infant-only seats have handles that allow you to move the seat from the car to the house or other locations. Some have a base that you can leave installed in the car, so you can just click the car seat into place each time you use it.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	Britax Roundabout - Click for more info With the introduction of the new LATCH laws, Britax has improved even further upon their famously popular Roundabout Convertible Car Seat. This car seat has been praised by just about every consumer safety organization and mom and dad out there - and for good reason. It is easy to install, compatible in just about every car, super comfortable for baby, stylish and most importantly safe! Ask around and you will see that everyone raves about this car seat.

	Graco - Click for more info Graco is one of the world's best known and most trusted juvenile products companies. They started the entire juvenile products industry with an invention called the Graco Swyngomatic. Since then they have invented products that have changed the way that parents travel with their children such as the travel system, which has made it so parents can lock an infant car seat into a stroller easily, without waking their sleeping baby. Their Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat is pretty much synonymous with the term “infant car seat” because of its safety and design features coupled with its affordability. Today Graco continues designing and developing top-quality products that inspire parents and keeps children safe. Check out the new Infant Safe Seat Step 1 and Toddler Safe Seat Step 2 for proof of Graco’s continued commitment to child safety.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.

[mommy2env]

I think your best bet is going to be the Radian. It will help you keep the twins rear facing longer, which is safest. Plus they can be tethered when rear facing, that is an added benefit. I believe their rear facing limit is 35lbs.

How old is your older child? If he still fits in the roundabout, he must still be small. I would try and keep him/her in a harnessed seat as long as possible. So maybe a Radian for all three? I know its going to cut a hole in your pocket, but your kids will be safer.

How about you buy two radians, have your older one sit in a radian. Then pass down the roundabout to one of the twins, and have the other twin in a radian. Then when you have more $$ you can buy a third radian.

I am a minivan mom, and they are not that bad. I love to be able to fit so many people. Give them a chance.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Britax Roundabout - Click for more info With the introduction of the new LATCH laws, Britax has improved even further upon their famously popular Roundabout Convertible Car Seat. This car seat has been praised by just about every consumer safety organization and mom and dad out there - and for good reason. It is easy to install, compatible in just about every car, super comfortable for baby, stylish and most importantly safe! Ask around and you will see that everyone raves about this car seat.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.

[ajschaaf]

Thanks for the response! I was so thrilled to find this website (both for the advice and to see that we're not alone in our chaos of 3 in carseats) .

To answer your question - our older one is 2.5 and weighs 31 pounds. I think that the Radians actually go up to 65 lbs (or 80 lbs) depending on the model and even the Roundabout goes to 40 lbs so he'll be ok for a long while.

Anyone else have any other advice/thoughts?

Adriane

PS - what kind of minivan do you have? We rented a Toyota Sienna when my parents came to visit and I loved that we could put our whole family (2 adults + 3 kids in car seats) AND my parents. Plus, there were 2 latches in the 3rd row which was GREAT for us!

	Britax Roundabout - Click for more info With the introduction of the new LATCH laws, Britax has improved even further upon their famously popular Roundabout Convertible Car Seat. This car seat has been praised by just about every consumer safety organization and mom and dad out there - and for good reason. It is easy to install, compatible in just about every car, super comfortable for baby, stylish and most importantly safe! Ask around and you will see that everyone raves about this car seat.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.

[mommy2env]

I meant the Radian has a rear facing weight limit of 35lbs. Forward facing it is either 65lbs or 80lbs.

Your son is too little to sit correctly in a booster everytime. I really hope you dont move him to a booster. He is much, much safer in a harnessed seat. My 7.5 yr old dd, is still harnessed in a Regent. She loves her big seat, and I love feeling she is safer.

I have a 2006 Toyota Sienna 8 passanger. I love, love, love my van. I feel so safe driving it too. You should give thought to getting a van in the future. Like I said, I only have 2 children, but I have lots of family. Plus I plan on having more kids in the future. So a van was a must.

Honestly, this forum has very little activity. If you want more responses at a quicker rate, you have to visit Car Seat.Org - Carseat, Vehicle & Child Passenger Safety Forums It is full of people willing to help. Try it, you will be surprised.

Good luck

	Forward Facing Car Seats A forward-facing car seat is one in which the child sits facing the front of the car. The seat should be installed in the back seat of your vehicle. Most forward-facing only seats are for children above 20 pounds.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Booster Seat A booster seat raises your child up so that the car's lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. The lap belt should fall across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the shoulder and chest. A booster seat is used for older children up to about 80 pounds. Some states have passed laws requiring booster seats for children up to age 8 or 80 pounds. Check your state's law.

	Britax Regent - Click for more info The Britax Regent is the safe way to carry your older and larger passengers, all the way up to 80 lbs. Known as the "king of all car seats," the Britax Regent will accomodate your little king or queen for far longer than traditional car seats or booster seats. The Regent features a large roto-molded shell, comfy extra-thick comfort foam, washable covers, Patented Versa-Tether™, flexible buckle LATCH system, patented HUGS™ system, and tangle-free polyester 5-point harness.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.

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[dimsumdaddy]

I'm sorta like the OP. I'm not against a van, it's just that I don't want to have to buy another car if I don't have to. I just bought a Radian 65 for my Subaru Impreza wagon for my rear facing daughter, but because I'm 6' tall and have the driver seat pushed all the way back, the rear face doesn't work because the Radian is SOOOO TALL. I missed that point in the research. =( This necessitates I put that chair behind the passenger side.

The radian is indeed narrow at the base of 13", but the side bolsters are 17". And yeah, the radians are HEAVY because of the steel inner frame; and thus SOLID. The material is plush suede and comfy padding.

But back on topic, the radians are clearly the most narrow seats possible. But the height is REALLY TALL which makes rear facing frustrating. My take is if you have a car big enough for rear facing radians, you have a big car.

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.

[Papooses]

Originally Posted by dimsumdaddy

My take is if you have a car big enough for rear facing radians, you have a big car.

Or you have short adults Seriously, though, the Radian is difficult to fit RF in oru Jeep Liberty, but it fits fine RF in the Prius.... I'm only 5'4" though

	Rear Facing Car Seats A rear-facing seat is one in which the infant faces the back of the car. Always install a rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car. This is the safest position for an infant. NEVER place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle with passenger airbags.

	Sunshine Kids Radian 80 or 65 - Click for more info If "the Sunshine Kid's Radian 80 convertible car seat is (probably) the only car seat you will ever need," the "probably" part of this statement comes into play when you directly compare the Radian 80 with the Britax Regent. While the Radian 80 has a very high weight capacity, the seat width is only 10" vs. the Regent's 14" seat. The Britax Regent may be a bit wider, but it is very bulky, is only forward facing, and does not fold like the Radian 80. Because the Radian 80 is so narrow, you can potentially put three of them side by side in the back seat. Three Regents side by side? Impossible.