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Two door car with an infant/infant car seat?
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 2009-07-01 10:18 AM |
Extreme Veteran  335   Toledo, Ohio |  Subject: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat?I am expecting my first in August and am wondering if I am going to be able to manage the infant car seat and all using my 2 door Chevy Cavalier. The car already has 80K miles on it. My husband's car is a "3 door" which is a 2 door with an additional little half-door on one side. His car doesn't have a back middle seat though. |
 2009-07-01 10:28 AM in reply to: #2255656 |
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| 2009-07-01 10:29 AM in reply to: #2255656 |
Pro 4824  Houston | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? Congratulations! Do you have the carseat already? I'd give it a shot in the backseat. Go to a firehouse and have the carseat installed by a certified childseat tech. Sometimes it's not the fact that there are only 2 doors but that a rear facing carseat won't fit safely in a small backseat without hitting the front seats. I have 5 kids and I didn't use the 'bucket' as a child carrier. I always took my babies out and put them in a sling when running errands or going places. I would think that would be easier than taking the bucket out and putting it back all the time in a 2 door car. |
| 2009-07-01 10:31 AM in reply to: #2255656 |
Iron Donkey 38643  , Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? Wifey and I did for a short term, but it sucked. Getting a child in and out of the car seat and for access for other attendance needs is so much easier with a four-door or mini-van. I personally would not want to go back to a 2-door vehicle if I had to do that all over again.
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| 2009-07-01 10:39 AM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Veteran 738 | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? Pulling the child out of the back seat in or out of the childseat is difficult. You are in an awkward position. The split side door like an RX-8 would be better. 4 doors are supremely easier. You will want to make sure your car uses the "latch" system, which is safer when installed properly. Watch the fireman install the seat, you will likely need to do it on your own someday (switching the base from car to car, buying a new car, etc.) I purchased the Cicco Key Fit system and bought an extra base for my wife's car. If you are looking for an inexpensive 4 door car that is reliable...might I recommend a Hyundai Sonata. Terrible resale value, but you could buy a clean 2003-2005 for $4,000-$6,000 with a V6. Safe, reliable car for less than a comparable Honda/Toyota. |
| 2009-07-01 10:42 AM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Master 2477 Oceanside, California | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? The only reason why we have not gotten rid of the solara is that it is a convertible. I usually pop the top and pull them over the side. I got rid of the crew cab truck for my rockin' honda mini-van |
| 2009-07-01 10:54 AM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Extreme Veteran 335 Toledo, Ohio | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? Thanks for the help! I do have the car seat and could try it out now. Think I'll start looking around at 4 doors though! |
| 2009-07-01 12:28 PM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Extreme Veteran 861 Northbridge, Massachusetts | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? I echo the other comments on the awkwardness of getting them in and out of seats. When they are that young they are dead weight and do nothing to assist. My son was born at 10 lbs and it only got worse as he got older, particularly if you are using the carrier (added weight). I personally hated the sling since I tend to run on the warm side and the added heat from the baby just made me too uncomfortable. My sister permanently screwed up her back trying to manage the two door issue. |
| 2009-07-01 11:48 PM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Expert 1049 Burnaby, BC | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? I drove my not-so-little munchkin around in the back of a 2-dr chevy cavalier for a couple of years before we upgraded to a 4-dr. We put him in the center and loaded and unloaded from the passenger seat because it slides forward when you want to get in and out of the back. It was more awkward getting the stroller in and out of the trunk, it took the whole trunk and those things aren't light! |
| 2009-07-02 9:14 AM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Extreme Veteran 660 Texas | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? I swore I'd never give up my 2-door Accord, even after kids...that didn't last long though! We bought the whole "travel system" thing and apparently it was the largest one they make. I could not get the car seat in the car without putting the passenger front seat all the way up. Yeah, wasn't gonna work. Instead of exchanging the travel system for a more compact seat, I bought an SUV. LOL! It really depends on which carseat you get. We bought the Eddie Bauer one that was supposed to have a higher weight limit (so we could use it a little longer). But, I've noticed some of the other brand carseats don't look as big/bulky. |
| 2009-07-02 12:51 PM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Expert 711 | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? I drive a two-door hatchback (so I guess it's really a 3-door...) and have two little kids. My son sits front-facing and my daughter rides in a rear-facing infant seat. The only time it was a bit of a pain was when my son was rear facing in the Britax Marathon - but even then we figured it out after the first couple ins and outs. Really, it's no big deal. |
| 2009-07-02 4:41 PM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Extreme Veteran 335 Toledo, Ohio | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? Thanks again for all the comments. The carseat I have is a Graco Sungride32. The only way I can carry it to the backseat in the Cav is to put the passenger seat back all the way down and climb on and over the passenger seat. Might be an issue for my back, hard to say. I'd like to think my back is strong from T.I.T.S. but I'd hate to risk an injury! Edited by shiggy 2009-07-02 4:43 PM |
| 2009-07-02 4:49 PM in reply to: #2255656 |
| Pro 4824 Houston | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? Keep in mind they are now recommending children stay rear facing for 2 years. My youngest is 2 years 3+ months and is still rear facing so it will be an issue for a while, not just a few months. |
| 2009-07-02 6:25 PM in reply to: #2259219 |
| Extreme Veteran 861 Northbridge, Massachusetts | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? KeriKadi - 2009-07-02 2:49 PM Keep in mind they are now recommending children stay rear facing for 2 years. My youngest is 2 years 3+ months and is still rear facing so it will be an issue for a while, not just a few months. I would also like to add that car seat changes mandated by laws should be changed based on age rather than weight. If it says 20lbs or 2yrs by law, go with the 2 years. The safety standards are based on norms and if in doubt go with the age since the skeletal development and muscle control is really what should be determining the car seat change. My son has always been on the big side (currently 6 yrs, 4' 4" and 65 lbs) so we always looked for the car seat that would see him through but still meet the weight standards. While he meets the standard for the law to go without a booster seat, he is still in one for the belt positioning aspect. |
| 2009-07-02 11:44 PM in reply to: #2259207 |
| Expert 1049 Burnaby, BC | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? shiggy - 2009-07-02 2:41 PM Thanks again for all the comments. The carseat I have is a Graco Sungride32. The only way I can carry it to the backseat in the Cav is to put the passenger seat back all the way down and climb on and over the passenger seat. Might be an issue for my back, hard to say. I'd like to think my back is strong from T.I.T.S. but I'd hate to risk an injury! No, you probably won't be able to do that for long, especially if you have a big baby. Trying to hold 40+lbs while stretched out on a knee and arm will kill your back. Try to move them to directly behind the passenger seat then. Try loading a sack of flour or rice into that location in the car. My wife was too small to load our son into the back of our cavalier. I could do it, but our carrier fit with the passenger seat pushed forward so I could kind of crouch in the backseat next to him. Edited by daijoubu 2009-07-02 11:46 PM |
| 2009-07-03 8:34 PM in reply to: #2255656 |
| New user 15 | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? 97% of all car seats in the U.S. are installed incorrectly. This PSA brought to you by your local Firefighter / Paramedic.  |
| 2009-07-03 10:15 PM in reply to: #2255656 |
| On your right | Subject: RE: Two door car with an infant/infant car seat? I have a 2 door Accord and didn't find it that difficult with the infant seat, or the bigger seat after that. My little guy is 9mo, so still in a rear facing model. Having it in the middle does give you a little more room for the seat, and gives you a little more room to move your front seats back a bit. It's not the most convenient, but it's not that bad either. Our other car is a 4 door Accord, and that is much easier. However, having a car that's paid off is quite nice. |
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