infant seat for compact car??

[blackbird2]

Hello!

I'm looking for some leads on small infant seats - if such a thing exists.  Here are the details:  I have a Saab 9-3, a 6'2 DH, and a 2.5yr old who is currently in a forward-facing Britax Marathon (definitely NOT a small seat).

Are there any seats that I might fit behind the driver's seat?  Or are we dreaming.  The other option is to move DS into the next level seat, one of the booster + 5-point harness (he does meet the requirements), and put an infant seat behind the passenger side.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated!

TIA!

[blackbird2]

In case anyone else tries to get some where by comparing the product dimensions listed for various car seats, I can tell you now it's useless.  Different websites list completely different dimensions for the same exact seat.  We're talking 2-4 inch differences in the measurements.  Aaaaahhh!

[an_aurora]

Can you put your Ds behind the driver?  

Infant seats take up quite a bit of room (some more so than others of course) since they have to be at the 45* angle.  Once they get a bit older and can go more upright, a convertible will save you some room.

Do you require an infant seat, or are you open to using a convertible and babywearing?  The Combi Coccoro is tiny and fits itty bitties well, but it will be outgrown rear-facing before most others, but at that point you could put baby rear-facing in your son's seat and move your son to a FF-only combo seat that transitions to a booster.

[blackbird2]

At this point DS doesn't fit behind the driver well - his legs and feet are too cramped.

I have no intention of using the infant seat outside of the car, so yes, I'm open to convertibles.  The Marathon technically could be used as an infant seat, it just doesn't seem very supportive to me, especially before the babe has good head control.  I would need to find a convertible that fits an infant well.

That said, thanks for the lead on the Combi Coccoro!  It looks like a good option.  If only I could find one used on craig's list . . . .  ;) 

(the price isn't bad, it's just so easy to find hand-me-down infant seats)

Thanks!

[MariesMama]

The Marathon doesn't fit newborns very well at all.  The lowest harness slots are way too high for most, if not all newborn babies.

I would avoid BabyTrend and Evenflo infant seats, as the handles must be down while driving.  That takes up a lot of space, and the Evenflo actually requires an additional 1.5" between the handle and your front seat. 

Other convertibles that work well from birth are the First Years True Fit and Graco Myride. 

Whether you go with a convertible or infant seat, buying a seat from someone you don't know is not recommended.  You don't know if the seat has been in an accident or if it's safe for your child.

[mama2soren]

Whether you go with a convertible or infant seat, buying a seat from someone you don't know is not recommended.  You don't know if the seat has been in an accident or if it's safe for your child.

  I'm all for hand-me-down baby stuff.  We had great friends pass down bags of clothes, a mini swing, bouncy seat, co-sleeper, toys, you name it!  But, a car seat is one of those things that really must be bought new.  If a used car seat has been damaged (accident, dropped, checked as baggage in an airplane and tossed around, straps washed, etc.) it could very well not protect your child's life in an accident.  

If you have a little time to search around online, you can likely find the Coccoro for $150-160.  Babies often outgrow the seat RF at 2-2.5, at which time you could pass down the Marathon to RF longer, if you choose.  So, for a solid 24 months of use (and a comfortable fit in your tiny car!) it'd be worth the $13/month or so it would average to know that your child is undoubtedly safe.

My baby didn't fit properly in the Marathon until he was about 5 months adjusted age.  Other shorter-torsoed babies don't fit well until they are much older.  A friend's baby still didn't fit at a year!  The straps must be at or below the baby's shoulders when RF.  The 5 pound weight limit on the Marathon is quite deceiving.  I wonder if there's ever been a 5 pound baby who had a 10 inch torso?!  If you look closely in the manual, it does say that another seat might be necessary before the child can safely ride in the Marathon, because of the strap height issue.  Plus, at a 45* newborn angle, the Marathon takes up quite a bit of front-to-back room.

For your DS, it sounds like you need a FF car seat that's not as high up on a base like the Marathon.  The Evenflo Maestro ($80), Graco Nautilus ($150), and the Britax Frontier ($250) are all good seats to look into.  They don't have tall bases, so kids sit lower.  The Maestro is probably the most compact, followed by the Nautilus.  The Frontier is a pretty big seat, so make sure to try before you buy.  Babies R Us generally carries all three of these models in their stores, so you can take them all out to test in your car.  All three have nice tall harnesses to keep kids harnessed until at least 5-6+, and they all make good boosters.  The Maestro booster doesn't adjust higher, like the other two do, so a dedicated booster would be in your future years down the line.