Petite Carseat

Does anyone know why carseats and boosters are so dang wide? I have to get two carseats and a booster in my friend's car so she can take us to the airport and I don't know if they will fit (my 2 and one of her kids). This seems utterly ridiculous to me. She drives a roomy-enough station wagon.

Not that I'm going to buy a new booster for this but geesh.

Any ideas for narrower car or booster seats?

[planet]

Nellie, I have NO idea why they are monstrous, but yes, they are! We can't fit three in our car. I figured it was the fault of 'the beast' that my mom bought us for ds#2, the 'Eddie Bauer 3 in 1' that goes from newborn to booster. I thought it was the coolest thing when we got it, but have come to sigh heavily over the size (and difficulty taking apart for cleaning, tangling straps). Yet one more reason we have to stop at two kids. Hey, maybe it is the brainchild of ZPG?

Does your booster have the back on it? I can take the back off of mine, which seems to help when shoving several in. One Step Ahead has a "portable" car seat that is v. tiny and folds up and apparently meets all federal requirements.

Is this your birthday cake baking adventure?

Yes this is the birthday cake baking adventure. Benedryl shooters, anyone?

I'll have to check out that folding booster. I do have the back off the booster seat. My Volvo wagon was built-in booster seats (the middle cushion pops up to booster height) so I usually don't use the booster.

I think that if I had to cram in three car seats I could. It gets tricky when I have to buckle a booster each time kids get in and out. I usually can do a car seat (for Anna), the built-in for Bryn, and a booster in the middle for her friend with wiggling to middle booster then pushing it back in place.

I don't know if I can do two carseats and one booster. But I've got to make it work to get a ride to the airport!

Hey, maybe it is the brainchild of ZPG?

Oh, good idea! I was thinking it was the work of the minivan/SUV carmakers. For Pete's sake, I have a station wagon and can't get three kids in the back!

Just because I was curious.....our carseat is 17" at it's widest and Anna's cute jean-clad tushie takes up about 8 wiggly inches when seated. What is with the 9 extra inches?

I can see the wider base adding stability but if we can put people on the moon, can't we make a slightly narrower and still safe carseat?

[SueC]

I shoved two boosters and a carseat into a Scion once (which is not very big). It sort of involved buckling the kids in, telling them to keep their hands away from the door area, and then slamming the door really hard. Not pretty, but it worked.

Oh man Tara, we have a Britax and I thought that thing was a beast. I'd hate to see how big the Century is. :thud:

Just because I was curious.....our carseat is 17" at it's widest and Anna's cute jean-clad tushie takes up about 8 wiggly inches when seated. What is with the 9 extra inches?

You crack me up!

I think the carseat manufacturers think if you have more than 2 kids you are buying a minivan or suv

[Cumberland]

I have one of the travel carseats. It is kind of a pain to install, but we use it if we are traveling somewhere we wont be in a car much. Like at my sister's wedding in Mexico, the only time we got in a car was from the airport to the house and back, so I didnt want to lug that gigantic carseat around.

This is the one we have
http://www.babyage.com/products/22-909j ... =goog11732

I got it to work. Buckling the booster in is a bit of a challenge but it will work tomorrow.

Me: What do we do if we have three kids?

DH: Easy. One always gets left at home.

Of course.

We can fit 3 carseats (1 infant and 2 5-point harness) in DH's Mazda protege5. I'm finding it difficult to fit 2 highback boosters and 1 5-point into my minivan's backseat. The problem is that the carseats are smushed together and it's difficult to buckle in the car seatbelts. I have to figure out the carseat situation, though, because my 5th child is due in Oct and I need to get everyone in my minivan. Our only other option is to buy a larger minivan that would fit all 5 carseats. I refuse to own a Suburban or the likes. They are too darn big. I can't stand parking next to them. I can never see past them to get out of my parking space.

I got it to work. Buckling the booster in is a bit of a challenge but it will work tomorrow.

Me: What do we do if we have three kids?

DH: Easy. One always gets left at home.

Of course.

or one gets strapped to the roof.