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2 child car seats

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by virtuous, Jan 17, 2005.

  1. virtuous

    virtuous New Member

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    How does one safely put two child seats in the Prius w/ side airbags? The LATCH system has a place for a child seat in the center of the back seat. We are planning on a kiddie #2, so the older child will move towards the door while the new infant goes in the middle (rear facing).

    Question: Has anyone done this? Should the side airbag on that side have to be turned off to avoid endangering the child? Can it be turned off?

    Thanks,
    concerned dad (who doesn't want to get rid of his Prius for a car that can accomodate 2 small children)
     
    #1 virtuous, Jan 17, 2005
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I've got 3 seats across the back. While it is ideal to have just the center position with a small child as long as the child isn't leaning on the door when the bag deploys they should be OK.

    [​IMG]
     
    #2 efusco, Jan 17, 2005
  3. virtuous

    virtuous New Member

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    Thanks for your reply and the photo.
    Are you able to use the LATCH system with the two seats on the ends, or only in the center? I suppose you could anchor the two ourboard seats the old-fashioned way, with a seat belt.

    Allan
     
    #3 virtuous, Jan 18, 2005
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    There are a total of 4 LATCH anchors and all 3 seats attach properly to the LATCH system. Center seats usually do not have LATCH anchors, but use the outside seat anchors instead.
     
    #4 efusco, Jan 18, 2005
  5. KTPhil

    KTPhil Active Member

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    Man, with two car seats and two DVD players, I hope you ordered the soundproof taxi/limo glass option.

    Or at least the stereo upgrade.
    ;-)
     
    #5 KTPhil, Jan 18, 2005
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    3 seats
    1DVD
    2 monitors
    3 kids

    need a soundproof divider b/w the front and rear seats! :mrgreen:
     
    #6 efusco, Jan 18, 2005
  7. flareak

    flareak Fleet Captain

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    What kind of monitors are those and where'd you get them? and also.. where do you get the power from?
     
    #7 flareak, Jan 18, 2005
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Good old Wal-mart. $178. The DVD player (~ 1" thick/flat, fits on the 'hump' b/w the driver & passenger foot wells...a little velcro makes it stick nicely to the carpet) plugs into the powerpoint on the lower dash by the hump. the two monitors are 6.2" wide screen proportions and are powered from the DVD player. The monitors are pretty nice and the screens can actually tilt independently from the base part of the monitor. Not a bad little set up really for the price.

    Here's the Link to the player at Wal-mart
     
    #8 efusco, Jan 18, 2005
  9. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    How'd you get it for $178? Your link shows $278
     
    #9 DanMan32, Jan 19, 2005
  10. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    sorry, think it was $278
     
    #10 efusco, Jan 19, 2005
  11. alpaca

    alpaca New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jan 17 2005, 10:00 AM) [snapback]64089[/snapback]</div>

    What brand/model car seats do you have that you can fit 3 across the back?
    Anyone have suggestions on a pair of narrow car seats so an adult can still fit in the center?

    thanks
     
    #11 alpaca, Aug 26, 2006
  12. msmit002

    msmit002 Junior Member

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    Well, I can tell you it won't be 3 Britax Marathons! :lol:

    We just put my little monkey's seat in the center of the back seat and my husband and I stood back and laughed when we realized that no body else will be able to sit back there next to him and still plug in a seatbelt. :unsure: Woops!

    Besides, I don't know anyone that can afford 3 of those carseats at $270 a pop anyway...
     
    #12 msmit002, Aug 26, 2006
  13. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    We've had a number of different brands/models of car seats over the past 3 years as the kids have grown in size and numbers. Mostly we've used Graco seats of various styles. It's always been a tight fit...but they fit.

    Currently we've got booster seats on either side for the boys (who just turned 7) and a 5 point harness type seat in the center for the 2 year old. Of interest, we have the exact same set up in the Highlander Hybrid. They fit nearly the same with just a slightly tighter fit where the boys have a hard time buckling the booster seats in themselves in the Prius where they can buckle themselves into the HiHy fairly adroitly.
     
    #13 efusco, Aug 27, 2006
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