3 across - infant, toddler, 6 year old? Built-in carseat?

[JackThLion]

I've spent hours looking at all the different seats and reading through forums but am still having a really tough time figuring out the logistics of this and would LOVE any help that could be offered here

Our current situation:

1998 Dodge Neon.

18 month old (23lbs & lots of growing room height-wise) in RF Roundabout behind passenger seat, installed with the regular seatbelt because I never got around to seeing if this car had latch or not. I's a recent upgrade from my 1985 Buick that didn't even have shoulder belts...
6.5 y/o (47lbs) is in the center seat in a built-in 5-pt harness carseat. I'm sure this is a huge no-no, but it's not been used for any other kids before us (the car belonged to my sister) and it goes up to 50 or 55lbs I think. It seemed safer than the other option floating around my house right now, which is a no-back booster (I know, they're pointless).
Another baby coming in May.

Husband's car - 1992 Honda Accord wagon

18 month old rides in a RF Cosco Scenera (again, lots of room for growth height-wise)
6.5 y/o rides in a close-to-being-outgrown by height high-back booster. I can't remember the exact type off-hand but it's one like this. It wasn't a half-bad seat, kept him harnessed until he was over 5 because he's a fairly lightweight kid, but isn't going to last as a booster too much longer.

In the closet we have an infant bucket seat. It's a Combi something and will work for the first 6 months or so. At that point my toddler will be about 2.5.

So do I... buy a whole new convertible (or two?) for the new baby and keep the toddler in his RF seats until he outgrows them? Hand-down the convertibles that the current toddler is using when baby outgrows the infant seat and buy 2 bigger/FF combination seats for the toddler? I'm all for extended RFing, but if I'm having to buy a seat for a kid that's 2.5 years old, I don't want it to only last for a year or so and then have to buy ANOTHER harnessed FF seat/booster...

On top of it all the big kid probably needs a new booster, right? And how the heck do I fit them all in the back seat of my car? If the 6 year old could stay in the built-in carseat, it would make things so much easier as it takes up pretty much no room and would allow for bigger seats on each side. But that doesn't apply to the situation with the station wagon anyway, so we'll need something for there...

I'm so confused. There really aren't any places locally that carry the less common/higher-end seats, so I really can't try them out. Target does carry the Marathon but it's sooo expensive! We thought we were splurging last time with the one Roundabout...

Thoughts?

	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.

	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.

	Britax Marathon - Click for more info Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional.

	Combi - Click for more info Established in 1954, Combi quickly became Japan's premier supplier of Juvenile products. Their design philosophy is actually behind their name - COMBI is a contraction of the word "combination," which denotes "combination of parent and child." Combi has been supplying the US with innovative light weight strollers for 15 years. In 2003 they entered the US market with car seats built with the same design philosophy that has guided their company for years.

	LATCH LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. It is a system mandated by the Federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints without using the vehicle's seat belt system. New vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on and after September 1, 2002 will be equipped with the LATCH system. Cars, minivans, and light trucks will be required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear seating positions, and a top tether anchor (with the exception of convertibles). Child safety seats will have a lower set of attachments that fasten to the vehicle anchors. Most forward-facing child safety seats will also have a top strap (tether) that attaches to the top anchor in the vehicle.

[JackThLion]

Just coming back in to add this on to my original post...

Fisher Price Safe Voyage Booster Seat... Regardless of what happens with the two younger kids, does this look like a doable option for the bigger one? Either in my car or my husband's... It looks like it's the most narrow booster around but still has the side head protection?

	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.

[SusanMae]

That's a good booster. I'd say that one, or a new turbo booster. A high back turbo can be purchased for around $50.

There are rumors that Britax seats will be on sale during a week in Feb through online retailers.

Make sure your infant seat isn't expired.

You could pass your current covertibles on to new baby and get the toddler a Marathon and a Graco Nautilus when baby needs those convertibles.

Susan

	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.

	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 Marathon - Click for more info Increasing the time a child can safely stay in their convertible car seat is a big issue and Britax engineers have come through in a big way with the introduction of the Britax Marathon with LATCH. A LATCH Compatible Convertible Child Seat, the Britax Marathon can be used rear facing 5 to 33 pounds and forward facing from 20 to 65 pounds. Compare the numbers and you will see it is hard to find a seat with these weight limits that is safe and functional.

	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.

	Graco Turbo Booster - Click for more info The Graco TurboBooster Safe Seat (Step 3) is a sporty and detailed booster seat. The headrest is made of EPS foam for support and side-impact protection, which is now the standard for booster seats. The head support is height adjustable, and the seat can be converted into a backless booster for older kids. The adjustable armrests are a nice touch that add comfort and support for your growing child. We were a little surprised by how thin the padding was on the "Lazy Daisy" version of this seat (the Fairfax TurboBooster has padded armrests and additional GracoPedic memory foam in the seat).

	Graco Bravo Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat - Click for more info Graco, an industry leader in juvenile products, knows that your child's safety is of the utmost importance to you. Graco designs its products with your child's safety in mind, while at the same time ensuring that you get optimum value for your money. In both regards, the new Nautilus 3-in-1 MultiUse Car Seat fits the bill perfectly. The Graco Bravo Nautilus 3-in-1 car seat is designed for both versatility and safety, offering right-size comfort and protection as your child grows. Nautilus is a harness seat, a high-back booster and a backless booster. Because it adapts as your child grows, from age 1 to age 10, you can buy one Nautilus instead of a toddler seat, booster seat and backless booster. That's one seat instead of three--a fantastic investment that doesn't compromise on safety. Nautilus is the last car seat you'll ever need to buy! You get three products for the price of one!