https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 21:25:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2225095 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:41:19 +0000 shellio 2225095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are in a similar position - LOs will be 1.5/3 when the 3rd comes along. I drive a Prius and plan to put the oldest in the middle FF in his car seat. Like @Rainbow Sprinkles: we have Diono Radians and they are awesome. I'm hopeful that the infant seat will fit in on the outside next to the FF Diono.... we'll see. I haven't done a ton of research yet because we also have a minivan and we will not usually need to put them all in the Prius. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2225061 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 12:10:48 +0000 mauxie 2225061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all! I will look into the harness-to-booster seats and other slim convertibles. Lots to research :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224316 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 21:28:50 +0000 MamaG 2224316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: Agreed, and that's the type of booster I would recommend in this case. A harnessed booster. Not a belt guiding booster. The kiddo isn't big enough to be out of a harness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224288 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 21:02:57 +0000 Kemma 2224288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to throw it out there that as far as I understand, there's very little (if any) difference between ff'ing in a convertible car seat and being harnessed in a combination / booster seat. I believe the safety comes from the five point harness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224223 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 19:23:04 +0000 Foodnerd81 2224223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Previous posts have good advice on seats. Just want to add that the least protected child (in this case, the one in a booster) should go in the middle seat, since that is the most protected position. </p> <p>I wouldn't want to put a child in a booster before 4, but I admit I have done NO research on it other than seeing that NJ law just changed so all kids under 4 should be in a convertible seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224213 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 19:17:07 +0000 avivoca 2224213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mauxie: Have you looked into a harness-to-booster seat? They tend to have higher limits for the harness, plus then you have your booster! I hear great things about the Harmony Defender. It is inexpensive (less than $100) and supposedly very slender. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224173 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 18:02:38 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2224173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were dealing with the same thing. We ended up needing to get 2 new car seats. We bought two diono radian rxts (they will last them for a very long time since they adjust to a booster) and they will go side by side a (one FF and one RF) and then the infant seat behind the passenger. It was the only way to make it work. The radians are amazing car seats! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224154 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 17:15:47 +0000 mauxie 2224154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: Oh yes I've heard about this fb group. thank you!! </p> <p>@MamaG: Hmm, she does fit the minimum requirements. Overall, I was going to keep her in a convertible but then came along LO3 haha. I guess I should check these out in person, if I can.</p> <p>@MamaCate: Thanks for the tip! I'm glad I have some options :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224146 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 17:06:39 +0000 MamaCate 2224146@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mauxie: I think being big enough for a booster depends on when they grow out of the convertible seat. My LO is 3.5 now and we were just talking about this. The AAP recommends they stay in the convertible as long as possible but different seats are rated to different heights/weights. She is currently 42 inches and 33 lbs. We have two different Britax seats, and one goes up to 46 inches, the other 48. So we figure within the next year she will be too tall for the convertible (just in time for baby brother to inherit it!).</p> <p>Here are the AAP recs:<br /> <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224142 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:58:15 +0000 MamaG 2224142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you can use a booster. Look at the high back booster with harness (something like Britax Frontier) to see if your oldest meets the requirements.</p> <p>eta: the frontier has a weight requirement of 25# and height of 30", which it sounds like she would meet.</p> <p>There are other seats in this classification that are cheaper. I'm not sure about the actual bulk of how much car space it would consume. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224129 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:43:04 +0000 brownie 2224129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my friend successfully fit a britax frontier, combi coccoro, and boulevard in her passat. So it can be done. The keyfit and coccoro are the slimmest for an infant. Dionos are also very thin for convertibles.</p> <p>You should join the car seats for littles Facebook group. You can give all the details (seats you have, ages and weight for the kids) and they can help you with a car seat setup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224111 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:15:38 +0000 mauxie 2224111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelingnanny: Ahh, I see. Yes I'm thinking my eldest will need to go in the middle since she can make her way into her seat the best and I can just buckle her in. I guess overall that still just leaves me having to buy 2 slimmer convertible seats.. hopefully the Graco bucket will still fit well.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224110 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:12:12 +0000 travelingnanny 2224110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3.5 is still too little to be in a booster. I think around 5 or so is when people switch to a booster. Could one of the convertable car seats get moved to the middle? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-help#post-2224093 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 16:03:27 +0000 mauxie 2224093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm expecting my 3rd LO and am not sure what to do with the car seat situation for our sedan (actually more like a wagon, it's a "Sportback").</p> <p>Right now, I have my 2.5 year old daughter FFing in a Britax Boulevard on the side, and 1.5 year old son RFing in a Boulevard on the other side. The middle is empty but definitely NOT big enough to fit an infant bucket seat. </p> <p>Does this mean I need to buy 2 more slim convertible seats? </p> <p>When can LO1 move up to a booster? She'll be 3.5 years old by the time I need this setup. She's on the tall/skinny side and currently 28 lbs. So that would mean, booster, convertible, and infant bucket?? </p> <p>Is there a "better" way in terms of the order (who goes in the middle)? </p> <p>We do have a minivan so this setup is for the occasional times in which I have to pick up all 3 kids from daycare. </p>