A little backstory. We are moving halfway across the country. It isn't prudent for us to keep our big car that we currently haul the kids in, so we are selling it. The car we are keeping is a 2 door Honda Civic. DD already rides forward, but DS is still backward. If we put his seat in the Civic backward there is no room for anyone in the front passenger seat. Since it will be our only car to drive to Texas (from N. Cal) and for the first while that we are there, we need to be able to all fit in the car. Should I just turn him around? FWIW he weighs 30 lbs...
Re: WWYD? Car Seat Related.
This
Financially we can't keep the bigger car. I hate to get rid of it but keeping it isn't an option.
I would totally do this, but not sure if it would fit crammed next to DD's. Worth a shot though.
Even though it seems crazy to buy a new seat, you could always pick up a slimmer, inexpensive seat that might fit better. We're going to get a Cosco Scenara for travel and grandparents. It's pretty narrow and $30-$40 at Walmart.
I would turn him around also.
We just turned DS around a few weeks ago in preparation for getting the infant carrier in the back of the car again. We can't fit two car seats RF in our car and still have room for both of us in the front seat. And it didn't make any financial sense to either buy a new car and/or new car seat when DS would have just been FF in 4 months anyway.
We are about to have a similar issue with baby #2 coming. I don't think I can fit two convertible seats rear-facing in my tiny car. The passenger seat is already pulled forward a lot, but the driver's seat doesn't have that option since, you know, you have to drive in it. I'm debating a smaller seat that might work better or fit in the middle or turning him around. My kiddo is so tiny, I'd really like to leave him rear-facing though. In your case, I don't think I would turn him around for a long drive on the highway though...scary. I guess I would try the middle seat if I were you before deciding to turn him.
Bummer. Well then my next thought would be to get two Radian's. We have 3 of the 80SL's 3 to a row in our 3rd row. They are the slimmest seats out there. Also they are a 5pt until 80 lbs...you can also RF in them until 40 lbs too. You would be able to use the seats for a long time and they would fit very well in the car.
Thanks for the advice. You all have given me a lot to think about. I really appreciate it.