Car Seats

Car Seats

What is the best car with usable 3rd row seating that allows 2 car seats to remain latched in second row?

I do not want to unlatch the children car seats every trip to allow the persons in the third row to get out of the car. Are minivans the only options or are there other cars that I can select? Please provide your thoughts based on your experience.

I understand your ideas but i think a car like this might be hard to come by. Especially a decent car with reliability and good MPG. The Toyota Highlander has a third row seat but is tiny, ive gotten into the third row of this car from the trunk. The best bet would be a wagon if you had to get exactly what you wanted. I know Volvo offers there wagons with an option for a thirdrow seat that is rear facing in the trunk. This would be ideal and you would not have to move any babyseats. I think that BMW and Audi might also have options like this in there wagons.

HTH

What car seats are good besides the Britax?

I need to get a forward facing car seat but can't afford a new Britax. What other car seats have good safety ratings and are affordable?

If your child is less than 2 years old & 30 lbs, you should consider keeping him/her rearfacing, (http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx)

Here are some seats that are less expensive than Britax seats:

Evenflo Triumph Advance - rear-faces to 35 lbs; forward-faces to 50; high harness height; will last most kids until they are ready for a booster

Fisher Price Safe Voyage Deluxe (discontinued, so harder to find) - rear-faces to 33 lbs; forward-faces to 55; made by Britax

Safeguard Go (not FAA approved) - forward-facing only 22-60 lbs; converts to backless booster 40-100 lbs; REQUIRES A TOP TETHER ANCHOR

The First Years/Compass True Fit - rear-faces to 35 lbs; FF to 65 lbs; has side impact protection; nice high top slots; will last until child is ready for booster

Graco Nautilus (my personal fave besides Britax) - forward facing only; harnesses 20-65 lbs; has side impact protection & high harness slots; converts to a belt-positioning booster 30-100 lbs; converts to a no-back booster 40-100 lbs

Safety 1st Apex 65 - harnesses 22-65 lbs; converts to belt-positioning booster 40-100 lbs; REQUIRES HIGH SEATBACK OR ADJUSTABLE HEADREST behind the seat

Sunshine Kids Radian 65 - rear-faces to 33 (or 35); forward-faces to 65 (also available in 80 pound version)

I suggest steering clear of forward facing seats with a 40 pound harness limit. They all have low top slots and will likely be outgrown by height before weight, which means you will be forced to a) move your child into a booster before he/she is mature enough/old enough to sit in one or b) purchase a new seat.

Most 3-in-1 seats marketed as "the last seat you'll ever buy" aren't really the last seat you'll ever buy (with the exception of the Graco Nautilus). The Dorel version (Safety 1st, Eddie Bauer, Cosco) has incredibly low top slots, and then converts to a not-so-great booster!

Front facing or Rear facing? Car seat safety TRUE STORY crash test videos