Fitting 3 Forward Facing Carseats in a 4 Door Sedan...

Updated on March 21, 2010
T.F. asks from Rancho Cordova, CA
12 answers

I am wondering if anyone is able to fit 3 forward facing carseats in the backseat of a 4 door sedan? I have a 2006 Toyota Camry and will need to transport 3 toodlers soon- all FORWARD FACING. Any advice on the "skinniest" car seats or how this will be possible is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

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M.S.

answers from Denver on

The Radian car seats can fit 3 car seats in a sedan !!! I have the xt sl Radian and then the booster and there is plenty of room for another if I needed. My sister has a Jetta and 3 fit perfect !!!

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T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm an automotive journalist (& a mom) and I can tell you that it can actually be done in a lot of sedans with the right seat. The narrowest seat I've heard of is the Sunshine Radian (although incidentally, it's narrower overall, but has more interior space---where the child actually sits--than much larger seats including the Britax Boulevard). I know people who have put 2 Radian 80s plus a rear-facing infant seat (which is wider) in a Toyota Prius & a Chevy Malibu, so 3 Radians should fit in a lot of cars, including your Camry. I have a Radian 80 & have been very pleased with it.

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S.J.

answers from San Francisco on

We have 2 Radians right now. We can fit the two and an adult in our car. What's best, is my husband works in an ER and says they are among the safest seats they see. You do have to be really careful to get the straps flat, they tend to twist.

S.

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D.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Hello T., As the experianced mother of 5 and now carrying several grandchildren around in a simular car at once---All I can say is GOOD LUCK!
I would never have made it as a young mother.=heck my husband went out and surprised me with a full size van after takeing the kids just once in a toyota station wagon and heard " Dad he's breathing my air" once to often because they were to close together for their comfort. If it helps my daughter in law tells me that the carseats get less bulky as the children get older.
For the cost of the carseats it should be mandatory that someelse installs them. Good Luck

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D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

My comment is more to how the latch system in the car is constructed for the placement of the car seats. My previous car was a 2008 Ford Taurus. It was a big car with a really nice, generous back seat. 2 car seats forward facing, and that was about all you were going to get in it because of how the latches were positioned. In speaking with some dealers recently, that was actually a safety feature to protect the passengers in the event of airbag deployment.

My husband had a 2008 Chevy Impala at the time-though the backseat was smaller for adults, the car seats fit better because of where the latches were placed.

You might want to investigate the latches in your Camry and see what the dimensions are before spending a lot of extra money on car seats. My sister had 3 in a 1998 Saturn sedan for a few years and made it happen.

Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

B.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Radian seats are the narrowest. If you don't have Radian seats, consider putting the smallest children rear facing again. Convertible car seats rear face to at least 33lbs, and as long as there is less than one inch of shell above the childs head, they can rear face, and should rear face. Having one rear facing seat will free up alot of space for the other two against the seat.

Find a CPST at www.safekids.org to help you.

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K.W.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi Tammy, I have Britax Marathons and have fit three in my 4-dr 1998 Accord. Put the middle one in first then the outside seats. These seats aren't "skinny", so it will be snug, but it works. Good luck! - KLW

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

BTDT... Mazda Protege. Graco seats. Lots of scraped hands.

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S.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I have a 2003 Camry and have a Britex (to 40 lbs) and 2 Evenflos (one to 50 lbs, one to 80 lbs). It works! The only drawback is that my daughter (who is now nearly 7) can't use the shoulder strap feature. She can't fit her hand in between the seats in order to do the seatbelt. So, we just have the seat belted in, and she uses the 5-point harness --- safer anyway!
P.S. It was a lot less expensive than buying a new car!

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A.J.

answers from Sacramento on

The Radians are the skinniest!! I have 2 of them rear facing at this and am pleased..but think the will function way better forward facing!!!

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J.K.

answers from San Francisco on

I fit 3 carseats in my 2003 Camry. 2 forward facing Britax Marathons for my 5 year old and 2.5 year old with a Radian in the middle for my 7 year old. I can't even believe they all still fit! Good Luck

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