Car seats and small cars

bellie1223 · October 2015

I know there have been a few threads about car seats, but I didn't find the answers I was looking for. 36 weeks today, I've been trying to get last minute stuff done so I can actually relax and today I went to install the car seat in my Scion xA (I have the Britax B Safe infant car seat). So I get the latches attached and everything only to realize that with the actual car seat in the car there is like NO ROOM to move the seats back. Seriously, I would be driving with the steering wheel literally in my lap. Originally I was planning to have the car seat behind the driver's side, so I installed it there first, then tried the middle and behind the passenger seat as well, obviously with the same results. I'm so frustrated!! I will take it down to the fire station to have it inspected, and see if maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I just don't see how it's going to fit.

My husband, ever helpful, was like, "oh we'll just have to install it in my car," which is a 94 Explorer. Great! Solves the problem of not having enough room, except that his car sucks (!) to drive, is constantly breaking down, and for the hot weather, has no A/C. Like I want to always be stuck driving your unreliable car around with our newborn baby. AAARRRRRRGGGGH. I was having such a relaxing weekend and feeling really good about getting a lot of stuff done.

Sorry for the novel, my question (it's there) is if anyone else on the board drives a similar car and found a solution?? I'm kind of hoping I'm just dumb and not installing it right.

GoogleMD · October 2015

I'm not really sure how installing correctly vs incorrectly is going to impact the space it takes up. You have a small car, so I am guessing that is the issue not the installation.
If it is really going to be a problem, you will probably have to return the seat and get something else. Baby's R us and buy buy baby will let take the displays to your car to see if the seat/stroller will fit prior to purchasing it.

tmandato123 · October 2015

I'm in the same boat except I have a 2015 veloster. I have to put the car seat on the pass anger side due to the seat having to be 3 inches away from the glove box for it to fix. So long story shot, my car would all be good for a driver and a baby with one hard to get to seat in the back

rachswi · October 2015

My brother and his wife had the same issue. Both their cars are subcompact cars (and one only 2 doors!). They had to have the passenger seat pushed way up in their Chevy Aveo in order to get the car seat installed. They ended up getting an suv about 6 months after their baby was born and part of that was because of the lack of space. Unfortunately I don't think you have much choice. If you can return/trade in the car seat, you may want to go for a 4-in-1 car seat instead of an infant carrier since they take up less room

poupoule · October 2015

Oh I have exactly the same car ! Scion xA ! DH will install it in my car this week end, will let you know how it goes. I hope we can make it fit. I am pretty tall (6ft1) and I need extra room in the front for my legs

The other car already has the car seat (forester subaru) and will be the one we use the more.

MoRay05 · October 2015

We have the same issue and we have a jeep. The infant car seat has to go behind the drivers seat bc my DD's has to be on the passenger side for carpool. My DH can't move the seat all the way back and be comfortable. I really like my car but we might have to trade it for something bigger.

MargaretC5 · October 2015

I had a scion xa before I had DS and the car seat was one of the reasons we got rid of it. I also could not fit the jogging stroller in the back. It had 164,000 miles it so it was going to be time for a new car for me soon anyway.
We did not look into options for smaller car seats, because we were already on the fence about getting a new car, but babies r us will let you take the display car seats to your car and try them out.
DH had a Pontiac vibe and it was not quite as bad, but his passenger seat did not have a lot of room.
I never used to understand why people would have a baby then get an suv, but now I get it (DH got an suv a couple months ago).

kesmeredith · October 2015

Sounds like you'll have to trade in the car seat or the car. Car seats are so big and bulky these days and it seems back seats are getting smaller. I had a 2 door car and it was one of the first things I thought of when I got pregnant.. would have to get a bigger vehicle before baby. Just traded it in 2 weeks ago for a SUV.

Does everyone take their cars to the fire station to get inspected? I hadn't thought of this?

rebeccalynn27 · October 2015

I have no room with two car seats in now and I have a Jeep Liberty. DH and I are going to suck it up for as long as we can and then get a suburban. Between the kids and the dog we need the space. I agree with PP though. Go to the stores and test out the seats.

lulamagoo · October 2015

kesmeredith said:

Sounds like you'll have to trade in the car seat or the car. Car seats are so big and bulky these days and it seems back seats are getting smaller. I had a 2 door car and it was one of the first things I thought of when I got pregnant.. would have to get a bigger vehicle before baby. Just traded it in 2 weeks ago for a SUV. Does everyone take their cars to the fire station to get inspected? I hadn't thought of this?

Our hospital does this as well. You can make an appointment and it is complimentary.

thefithuntress · October 2015

kesmeredith said:
Sounds like you'll have to trade in the car seat or the car. Car seats are so big and bulky these days and it seems back seats are getting smaller. I had a 2 door car and it was one of the first things I thought of when I got pregnant.. would have to get a bigger vehicle before baby. Just traded it in 2 weeks ago for a SUV.

Does everyone take their cars to the fire station to get inspected? I hadn't thought of this?

I'd look it up, as only a handful of em do it where I live and they ask you to schedule an appointment. I found a lady who could come to my house and teach us infant cpr / car seat safety thanks to a Google search!

Rratledge · October 2015

I'm lurking from D15. When my son was born, we had two midsize cars and our infant seat barely fit in the middle seats. My husband is 6'3" so he usually needs his seat all the way back. When my son outgrew it the infant carrier, the convertible car seat was too big to fit rear-facing. We got an SUV then. Now that we're expecting again, we had to trade our other midsize car too because neither seat would fit behind my husband.

Cmagno · October 2015

I drive a Prius and have DD's convertible car seat, RFing in the middle seat. It's cozy with the seats moved forward but it totally works. It's one of the new graco models, you could try that? We still need to install the infant car seat and I'm scared we aren't going to have enough room. DH is going to try it out this weekend. I used to drive a Land Rover which had plenty of room but I'm convinced I can make 2 car seats work safely in my beloved little Prius! Good luck!

kmd91 · October 2015

We have a two door Jeep Wrangler and the car seat in it is such a struggle. Luckily we are able to make it fit, albeit not comfortably for whoever it's behind, but it'll be a pain and a half getting it in and out. So I can totally sympathize with the not so family friendly sized back seat!

semulcahy · October 2015

I have the same problem in my Cruze. My solution is to put the car seat behind the passenger seat, since I am the only driver of that car, and to put the car seat in my SO's car if the three of us have to go somewhere together. Maybe you could try something like that?

oliarnmom1517 · October 2015

rebeccalynn27 said:
I have no room with two car seats in now and I have a Jeep Liberty. DH and I are going to suck it up for as long as we can and then get a suburban. Between the kids and the dog we need the space. I agree with PP though. Go to the stores and test out the seats.

This gives me no hope with our liberty now.. The car seat fits perfectly fine in the back of my Mazda Tribute but we aren't taking that to the hospital.. but did you ever have any issue with just one car seat? I'm worried that my DH won't be comfortable driving with the car seat in our Jeep because of space issues..

navyblueladybug · October 2015

Lurking from D15... I had a 2012 VW Beetle. After having "family cars" in my youth, I wanted a fun car... Well, that car had the smallest back seat! No middle seat either, just 4 seats in the whole car. I could get a front facing car seat in the back, but an infant seat RF, no way. Not to mention our stroller didn't even fit in the trunk! My DH had a Tacoma with one of those really small, not real back seats (the flip down seats). Also only a 4 passenger vehicle. Well, we traded in both last week and got a Corolla and I'm so happy! Lots of room in the back seat and safer crash ratings than my Bug. Maybe try what PP's have said and go for the 4 in 1 seat first since they seem to take up less space.

bellie1223 · October 2015

semulcahy said:
I have the same problem in my Cruze. My solution is to put the car seat behind the passenger seat, since I am the only driver of that car, and to put the car seat in my SO's car if the three of us have to go somewhere together. Maybe you could try something like that?

Thanks for the responses everyone! I guess we'll have to do this and maybe get an extra base for his car for the time being so it's easier to switch back and forth. We have two dogs also, and there's absolutely no way we would be able to take them and the baby with us in my car. I guess we might have to look at trading up cars also, I hate to do it because I really love my scion!!! His car just is not reliable enough to count on, I definitely could see me and the babe getting stranded on the side of the road... not happening!

makeoutside7 · October 2015

I'm in the same boat as well owning a 2014 PriusC. It's like a mini version of the Prius...I guess I was not really thinking when I bought it! It took my husband 20 sweaty minutes to install our Expedition car seat base...and he works at a car dealership and has been certified to install car seats. He told me we are never moving it out of my car cuz it was so hard to install it. Took baby to the doctors and it was a super snug fit. Husband is buying a second car seat for his car...a 2014 Ford Focus...roomier. Thinking that I will be trading it in for something much roomier when we try for baby #2. Hopefully, you kept the receipt and can still exchange it. Good luck!

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