These Tips Will Help You Fit Three Child Seats Into Your Car.
Just because your car has three seats for people in the back doesn’t mean that it can fit three children with the correct seat belts. I know I had a moment of panic when I was pregnant with my third child, when for a moment it seemed like it might not be possible to fit all of my children into my car.
Consumer Reports has some tips to help you determine if your car can fit three seats, and if so, which three seats should they be. Some things you should know about:
- The buckles and fasteners of the LATCH must not overlap. If they do, you won’t be able to attach two seats next to each other; the manufacturer expects you to place one seat in the middle or two on the sides.
- Try it before you buy. If you want to buy a new car, bring the car seats and see if they actually fit.
- Some child seats are narrower than others. Check out our list of highly rated seats that are narrow enough for you to have a better chance of accommodating.
- Consider securing some seats with seat belts instead of the LATCH system. This strategy can save space.
- Alternate rear-facing and forward-facing seats whenever possible. This helps to prevent the widest parts of each seat from falling into the same spot.
After all, my Toyota Rav4 could barely hold three kids if I put the oldest in the middle on a tiny booster. Follow the link below for more tips, and if you’re really stumped, consider consulting with a child safety expert – a car seat expert – in your area .
How to place three car seats across ” | Consumer reports