Carseat in back middle... now can't access seatbelts on sides?

SBear12

We're getting a new car (from my mom, who's getting a new one) and she currently has a Britax Marathon in the back center for DD. We have the same carseat, so we'll have the same set-up.

The issue: with the carseat in the middle, it's impossible to access the seatbelt buckles for the other seats in the back. The little seatbelt buckle "stalks" are sunken into the seat, not long and flexible, like they are in some cars (yes, I'm aware this is the worst description ever)... so the base of the Marathon covers them up. I can shift the seat enough to get one free (but barely, still really difficult to buckle), but not both.

Anyone else have this issue in their car? Is there any solution other than moving the carseat to one of the sides, rather than middle?

Rah

i know what you're talking about and to my knowledge there is nothing you can do aside from getting a seat with a smaller base to moving the car seat to the side. I suppose it's not a big deal until you have a back seat passenger. So if getting a new seat isn't an option I would just move the seat to the side when you have a back seat passenger. sorry.

Mustang Sally

I know what you're saying, and in fact, in our car's manual it specifically states that if you put the seat in the back middle you won't be able to use the seatbelt on one side.  We ARE able to use the other side though, are you sure you can't use at least one?  Our LATCH clips are ever so slightly off-center, which may be what allows us to use one side.