2 infant seats and a booster in a sedan?

[Nanette56]

So I have a 7 year old (50lbs and 4'2" tall) and am expecting twins next month. For some reason I thought I'd easily be able to fit the two car seats (they are Chicco Key Fits) and the booster seat (Eddie Bauer Auto Booster) across the back seat of my Sedan. It ALMOST works. The two Chicco's fit great, but the booster is just a bit too wide (only because of the arms). I am keeping the Chicco Key Fits, as I JUST finished putting together the Contours Options tandem stroller, and it only fits a certain number of car seats (none of which are particularly narrow). And I'm just too far along right now to deal with the hassle of re-boxing, returning etc. I can barely walk!

I'm thinking of ordering the Sunshine Radian 80SL to see if it fits, but am unsure of whether it is any more narrow than the Eddie Bauer? I think the manufacturers are measuring at different points or something, because the width measurement of the Eddie Bauer says 10inches, and the Radian says 17? The EB doesn't look as narrow as the Radian though? WDYT?

I wish we could afford a minivan or larger car, but there's just no way we could manage it right now.

I haven't found a store that carries it to try it out. The lady at BRU said I could order it online and see if it fits, and if not then return it to the store, but I'd like to have a better idea before I have to do all that. Anyone have experience with two infant seats and the radian in the back of a Sedan?

Thank you!!!

[an_aurora]

Yes the Radian should fit.  It's only 11" or so across the bottom, and the widest point is the shoulder area, which is 17".  

You could also try the Nautilus, or a slimmer booster like the Turbo booster.

[leighi123]

The nautilus is wide, so I wouldnt bother with that.  And for a 7yr old, I'd try and find a booster that will work instead of a harnessed seat which will be outgrown quickly.  

The parkway is very narrow if you can find one.  

Or go to toys r' us and see what booster you can fit in there, try out what they have. 

Also have you tried different placements for the infant seats?  Maybe both side by side with the booster outboard, or the infant seats on either side and the booster in the middle (if you have a lap/shoulder in the center)

[DahliaRW]

At 7 he's probably going to be close to outgrowing the radian (it's not a booster, I hope you realize that).

If he'll be in the middle and since he is older, you could try a harmony literider.  It's backless, but decently narrow as well.

[Nanette56]

Thanks for the tips ladies! Re-arranging might work, but the middle seat does not have LATCH, and it just feels safer to me to have the infant seats attached with LATCH, KWIM?

Wal-mart has the Harmony Literider- which seems to be about 2 inches more narrow than the Eddie Bauer, so it may work (I wish each manufacturer measured everything the same way, so I could compare online, but you really don't know until you put it in your car). AND since it's only $13.50, it's worth a shot. If not, then I'll look at the Britax Parkway and see if it fits. Thank you thank you thank you for all the suggestions!

[an_aurora]

Ah, the Harmony would be the way to go, IMO.  It is very narrow.  

LATCH is not safer than the seatbelt; it's just meant to be easier.  With the Keyfit, the seatbelt install is SUPER super super easy and quick, and LATCH is actually a bit more complicated (still very easy, but not quite as simple).

[Nanette56]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions mamas! I went and got the Harmony Literider and it fit perfectly! DS can even get his little hand in there to buckle his seatbelt. And he likes sitting in the middle, so it works out. I will eventually have to get a minivan as soon as I can afford it, there's no way around it, because the poor little guy has to crawl in through the front to get in and out, which kinda stinks. But he's as agile as any "almost 7 year old" as he likes to call himself, so he can do it for a little while longer Anyway, thanks again for the help!!!