Three Car Seats In a Prius!

The BubbleBum boosters are awesome.

 

The Sunshine Kids/Diono Radian series is a relatively narrow convertible. It is also regarded as one of the models best suited to keep older kids rear-facing due to its height and weight limits. It does have some disadvantages, notably it is a little more difficult to install and use than average.

As long as you get a good return policy, it's worth a try. Consider installing the outboard seat with the seatbelt, instead of LATCH. That may give you a little extra room to install the two side-by-side. If you like, feel free to send me a message with your preferred configuration and I can try a Boulevard/Radian combo in our 2010 Prius to verify if it is possible.

If you do have one front-facing and one rear-facing child, you may consider putting the front-facing child in the center position. Advocates often suggest placing the least protected child in the most protected position. As you know, rear-facing is safer, especially in side impacts, so that is the basis for this suggestion.

You will lose some legroom up front on at least one side. The Boulevard is a little more compact, so the Radian might be a better choice in the center with the Boulevard front-facing or rear-facing on one side.

 

Hi-

I'm replying here instead of private message so others may benefit.

I hadn't put a rear-facing Radian into the center of a gen3 Prius in a while. I had forgotten the compatibility issue with the Prius seatbelts in the center. The center seatbelt is relatively wide with moderately long buckle stalks. The problem is that the Radian is relatively narrow and low, even with the recline block. So, by the time you have tightened the seatbelt as much as possible until you are stopped by the seatbelt buckle jamming at the belt path of the Radian, the installation is just barely acceptable in terms of side-to-side movement. It does barely work, but takes some effort.

My Boulevard 70 (the current version) fits next to it in the passenger seat, either front or rear-facing. The problem is that to fit them side by side, the Radian is shifted a bit toward the driver seat. Because it is so tall, you will need to move the driver seat forward. It was not enough leg room for me (I'm 5'10"). If the primary driver is much shorter, it might be fine. Since it sounds like your baby is older and can probably be seated more upright than a newborn, another option is to use the Diono angle adjuster ( Angle Adjuster | Diono.com ). This will allow you to install the Radian more upright, perhaps buying some leg room for the driver.

One more option is to install the Boulevard 70 in the center. It takes up considerably less fore/aft room because it is somewhat shorter than the Radian and inherently installs a bit more upright. For an older baby, that should not be an issue. There's also a good spot for a rear-facing tether around the passenger seat leg. You could then install the Radian forward facing behind the passenger, using the seatbelt instead of LATCH. The LATCH anchors don't give you enough room to shift the Radian toward the door enough to fit them side-by-side correctly. The seatbelt anchor is closer to the door and I got a very good fit with the seatbelt plus top tether anchor.

Of course, if you have the original Boulevard (65 pound rating), this might not apply, sorry!

Another thing to consider is that it's perfectly fine to have the baby rear-facing on the passenger seat. Rear-facing seats provide excellent protection in side impacts as well. Plus, the general rule of thumb is to put, "the least protected occupant in the most protected seating position". That would generally mean to put the front-facing child in the center seat, even though it seems a bit counter-intuitive to put the younger child outboard. That's because of the inherent safety of rear-facing seats.

My personal preference would be to consider a combination seat for your 3-year old and the rear-facing Britax Boulevard you have for your baby. Really, you could put either one in the center, whichever way it fits better. The combination seat will last your older child longer (the new Radians tend not to fit bigger kids as well in booster mode), even though you would not be able to turn them back rear-facing. It will also potentially save you some money. If you can get them to fit, of course. On the plus side, since you mentioned difficulty finding a Radian locally, a combo seat should be much easier to try in person.

 

Great info! Thank you!

What is the deal with whether car seats can touch the front seats in the 2008 and 2010 Prius? I have heard about issues with smart air bags, but have found no clarity.

 

I have a 2011. I know the discussion is on three sits, but just wanted to say i had two front facing marathons and they fit great. I got the parkway after the marathons, but it ha s been very difficult to buckle them in. The base / back of the seat is just over the buckle so I actually reach over each sit and push it back to buckle it in. I just ordered the Clek oobers today since those are latched in and I am hoping the base is just a tad narrower. What I will miss about the parkway is the crotch latch which makes it a 4 point harness.

 

The issue is only with the passenger side seat (where sensors for airbag deployment may be located) and only if clearly mentioned in the owner's manual. Otherwise, it is generally OK to have them touch, though it's probably not a good idea to have the front seat so far back that it is affecting how upright the child safety seat is or pushing it up off the vehicle seat.

I have a Clek Oobr and it is still difficult for kids to buckle in our 2010 Prius. The issue is more with how short the buckle stalks are. That tends to make them work a little better with carseats and can help with seatbelt fit, but it does have the drawback of being more difficult for a child in a booster to buckle, unfortunately.

For that reason, I often still use a 5-point harness carseat for my 6-year old, as he can much more easily get himself into it.

 

I am getting ready to purchase a PiP and just bought a Boulevard 70 for my 2 year old. I have a couple of questions.

From what I've read, the Boulevard fits just fine in the center area facing forward. Do you use the LATCH system to anchor it? Is there a hook behind the seat to help anchor it as well?

Also, does anyone use some sort of seat back protector? Just flipped the kid around and kicking the back seats is a whole new game for him. I would like to protect the new "baby" as long as possible.

Thank for any input!

 

Generally, Toyota does not allow the "borrowing" of lower anchors from the outboard positions for use in the center. Of course, every vehicle is different and the plug in version might have specific wording allowing this in the manual or some other change. If not, you would use the seatbelt for installation plus the top-tether anchor that is available for all three rear seating positions (as per Federal standard).

Usually, very thin seat protectors are fine, provided they do not affect the installation of the carseat. In rare cases, a seat protector could give a false impression of a secure installation. This would happen if you've not installed the carseat tight enough with LATCH or seatbelt and it is easily observed to slide around, especially on leather seats. The seat protectors tend to grip and might make it seem like it isn't moving, but it would still be loose enough in terms of installation that it could be an added risk in a crash. Anyway, just make sure with a strong tug that the seatbelt or LATCH system is securely holding the carseat and it shouldn't be an issue. Also:

Seat Protectors: Safe for Use or Vile, Evil Predators against Our Innocent Children?

 

Thanks CPS. Sorry if I was unclear on the seat protector. I don't mean one the carseat would rest upon, I mean one for the back of the front seats. He is kicking the back of the front seats and I want to protect that from the scuffing and mud. So the protector would be something to attach/drape over the front seat.

Thanks for the link though on the carseat-based seat protectors.

Man, I was looking forward to using LATCH. The car I am replacing is too old to have it and it is a PITA to put a carseat in without it.

 

Oh right-

Britax is now making one of those that mount for the back of the front seat to keep footprints off of it. Many other companies make them too. The only thing to avoid is to put hard/sharp objects in them. In a severe crash, the child's head is going to move forward and could hit the back of the front seat, especially if the carseat or harness isn't as tight as it should be.

Toyota is really backward with LATCH availability, especially compared to Honda. Toyota even decontented the new Sienna and took out various seating positions with anchors. Other brands often but in a fifth anchor or space the outboard anchors so that you can install a carseat in the middle with LATCH (though not necessarily at the same time as an adjacent carseat). In many vehicles, Toyota only seems to offer the absolute minimum required by the standard.

 

Thanks. I have 43 lb kid (kinder) and a 39 lb kid (first grader). I really want them to be able to buckle in/out on their own, and they were really good at with the marathons. Are you telling me basically it will always be hard given how short the buckle stalk is? I thought since the clek oober is latched in, the buckling in may become a little easier. Back to the drawing board to find the right seats.

What do you suggest? I borrowed my friends Graco (don't know which model) and that was just as hard.

 

That is my experience, yes. In some cars, the spacing between the buckle stalk is more of an issue because the stalk gets lost under a wider booster, but in the Prius, our issue seems to mostly be that it is too short.

We're reviewing a product that is supposed to help keep the buckle stalks in easier reach. Not sure if it would help much on cars with really short stalks like Prius or not. Who knows, maybe Toyota made some changes in the plug in?

 

Thanks. What a huge let down. This is literally an issue for me a few times per day. Not just a once in a while inconvenience. I can't imagine a 3 booster seat Prius. I thought it would be car seat issue, I didn't realize it is a Prius buckle issue

 

Well, you never know. Every kid is different, you might have better luck than me. I usually use the Safety 1st Go Hybrid and it works well in the Prius on the outside (not so well in the center) and doesn't take up much shoulder room at the top. It works as a 5-point harness using LATCH and tether for installation, then converts to a backless booster later. My almost-7 year old still has some room left in the 5-point harness.

 

I'll see how the Clek's work. If not, I'll try Safety 1st Go Hybrid.
Thank you.

 

We are looking at trading in our 2006 Sienna for a 2012 Prius II soon. We have three children (6.5Y, 4.5Y, 18M) and need to fit all three across. I would like to keep the baby behind the driver (we have a Radian65) but need to get something new for the older two as they are currently in Graco Nautilus seats. Any suggestions for boosters in the middle and right side? Thank you!

 

I just picked up a seat for my little man. It was a little pricey but it is good from newborn to 10years or 120 pounds. It is called the Diono Radian RXT. It is also one of the narrowest seats you can buy. For what it's worth it is also rated for use in an airplane, so it's also one of the safest.

 

I highly doubt you will be able to fit three seats (full/booster/booster) across the rear of a Prius. If nothing is wrong with your Sienna, I'd advise you to keep it a few years longer. We have a singleton and twins and had a Nissan Quest till the oldest was able to be belted in without a booster.

 

update: we have been using britax boulevard rear facing passenger side and the diono radian 120 rear facing in center, leaving driver side for passengers (me). i'm 6'3" and can comfortably hang out in the back with the two bunny rabbits. We love the radian, it is so easy to get our daughter in and out. still amazed at how versatile this car is. we tow a utility trailer sometimes, push the power button, and easily haul 1500 lbs.

 

I just found this thread and wanted to update it with two other options.

Here is the info/data:

51.6 " Prius seating width

Option #1
17" Radian
17" Radian
16" Graco backless booster
= 50"

OR

Option #2
17" Radian
13" BubbleBum
19.5" Britax
= 49.5"

We're currently using option #2. We can easily fit 3 kids in our Prius! Phew!