I am trying to find an infant car seat that will fit easily in our small sedan, and still leave us with leg room. Is it an impossible task? When I babysat my niece, we had to move the passenger seat all the way forward to accommodate her car seat (Graco brand). I'm not that tall (5'6), but that is not a comfortable everyday option. Also, we would like to ideally get an infant seat that goes up to 30/35 lbs, to prolong having to get an even bigger convertible seat as long as possible.
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We had a Graco SnugRide 35 Click Connect in the back of a Nissan Versa hatchback. I'm 5'5" and the seat was behind the passenger seat. It wasn't uncomfortable. I was closer to the dash than I like, but it wasn't a problem. You could try a baseless install to gain a little space.
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I'm not much help but I wouldn't worry too much about the weight limit if you find a seat that meets your other qualifications. My 2.5yo (fairly average sized) daughter weighs just over 30lbs and is obviously WAY too big for an infant seat.
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We tried the graco, the maxi cosi and chicco key fit in our mazda 3 hatch back. only the chicco left enough room to sit somewhat comfortably in the front passenger seat. If you can try them in your car is your best bet just to make sure.
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We use an Uppababy Mesa. SUPER easy install, so great. I am 5'8" and I find that it gives me enough leg room in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and our Prius for a regular trip, but it wasn't super comfy for a 7 hour drive - but mostly because you want to recline.
The Mesa goes up to 35 pounds and 32 inches.
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We have a Chicco Keyfit in our Chrysler Sebring, and it's fine behind me (5'5") and tight but workable behind DH (5'10"). Is there a Buy Buy Baby near you? Trying them in our car was really helpful!
ETA: we bought a Clek Foonf for her convertible, and it takes up less space front to back than any infant seat we tried.
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@avivoca: thanks. We actually tried out the versa a couple years ago when we were thinking of buying a new vehicle, and it had a way more spacious backseat than our car
@MrsF: oh good point- I hadn't really considered that the baby will grow out lengthwise before weight...
@Banana330: thanks. Can you just try them out in a store parking lot, or do you have to buy each of them?
@gingerbebe: just looked that one up- it looks great. However, I'm in Canada and it isn't available here yet. Apparently they're supposed to be introducing it soon, but not sure when that will be.
@rattles: thanks. No, unfortunately no Buy Buy Baby
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@Willow: buy buy baby lets you try them out in the parking lot. Not sure about babies r us but they might.
We had more space with the infant seat in the middle- the longest part could go between the seats that way. Many cars don't have latch in the center position but we didn't have latch at all so that didn't matter to us.
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We had a maxi cost mico because that's the only one that could fit in our Mini Cooper. DD was tall though so she grew out of it at 8 months!
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I'd try a center install. We had a Graco Snugride in the center of our 2-door Golf and we had plenty of room in all directions.
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@Willow: I'm in Canada and babies r us took one out to the parking lot and let us try some in our car.
We have a Mazda 3 hatchback and a britax bsafe behind the passenger seat, it works for us because I am short (5'2"). I'm also unsure of what we will do for our convertible car seat since we have such a small car.
Please keep in mind to do your own research a little because the sales woman did give us incorrect information that would have swayed my purchase. They are not experts.
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We have a Cybex Aton 2 behind the passenger seat of our subcompact hatchback (Honda Fit). The seat has to be fully upright, but it can got back to its furthest back position (or you can recline a bit starting two clicks from the furthest back position).
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@Willow: The Cybex Aton series are the most compact seats both in side to side width and from front to back. I just did a ton of research on this. In fact they are about 4" shorter than other seats! The Britax B-safe is marketed as the most compact seat, but when compared to the Cybex it is bigger in length. Here are some pics of the Cybex Aton 2 (black left in pics) next to the Maxi-Cosi Mico AP (black right, this is also a smaller seat) and then next to a Britax B Safe (tan right). I'll also post a video that shows how much smaller it is. We ended up going with the Aton Q. It is pricey, but literally the only seat that would fit 3 across in my car behind the driver and I am crazy excited about this seat!!!
ETA: these seats go fo 35 lb and 30". My kiddos tend to be on the shorter side and my first would have been able to use this until 1 and my second would still have 2" in it at 18 mo. It's also a lighter weight seat (Aton 2. The Q is a pound heavier than the 2).
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@Willow: excuse my ugly feet please
Here's the video. This kinda really sold me and then once I tried it out next to the other seats and what we already have I have completely sold!
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