Car Seat/Baby Carrier/Tiny Human Conveyance Device

[ktech]

[August]
So, long story short... the lovely Mrs. and I are expecting a tiny human soon (February to be specific), and I bought a BRZ almost exactly a year ago. Needless to say, I had no intention of giving up either baby. But then she mentioned car seats.

I had seen things on the intertubes suggesting that car seats should fit in the twins, and there are those nifty [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isofix"]Isofix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] icons in the back seat, further suggesting that car seats should fit... but we went to the store and looked at car seats (in this case specifically the Graco Click Connect 30) and boy, are they huge!

Fortunately, the nice folks at the store said I could buy it and return it no problem, so I did just that, and I tested it in the car. On a nice, hot day. Of course. At any rate, after some fumbling and cursing, I was able to get it to fit, and there's even some leg room for the front seat passenger!

I've attached pictures for the curious - so in conclusion: yes, the twins can baby!

Note: I initially installed the seat base backwards - they're a bit confusing, so save yourself some trouble and make sure you're installing it the right way around the first time! Also, I initially tried installing it with the base sitting on the rear lip of the seat, instead of down in the bucket - that was the wrong way, the base should be sitting in the bottom of the bucket. As you may note on the last photo, you'll want to pad the bottom of the bucket somewhat (with towels or something, probably) to adjust the angle for a newborn, but that's a relatively trivial issue to fix, and you'll only need to do that for a few months.

Feel free to ask any questions you may come up with; I have returned the seat, but I'll have one (and be doing some real world testing with it) come February!

[ashtray]

You won't want the passenger seat touching the baby seat. You also want the baby seat base flat on the back seat, not lifted up on the front edge*. (Looking twice, it seems there's a curved base underneath that is touching the seat?) Every bump you hit will shake the car seat badly. Imagine removing the front bolts of your driver's seat - see how violent a small pot hole becomes.

A rear facing seat is tricky in the back of the Twins - you have to give up usage of the front seat in most cases. Note - this is an infant seat. Once they reach about 1 or so, they start to outgrow those and need a convertible seat that is rear facing and can be switched to front facing. Those are twice the size of the infant seats. They won't fit. At some point by age 3 or so, you can turn them around facing forwards, and the car seat WILL fit in the back again. But age 0-1, it's going to be tight. Age 1-3 is pretty much a no-go. Age 3+ is fine.

There's always the WRX as a more roomy family car, though resale on the Twin will bury you.

There's a couple threads here about baby seats and fitting two kids in the back.

[ktech]

Yes, the base itself is in full contact with the seat - the situation you described is how I initially set it up, then realized exactly what you are describing.

That's good to know about the 1-3 seats; I was not aware of that! And yes, I considered the WRX but you're 100% correct - the resale would kill me, slowly and painfully.

I'm fortunate right now that I don't have to fit two, so we'll see what may happen...

[ashtray]

Originally Posted by ktech

Yes, the base itself is in full contact with the seat - the situation you described is how I initially set it up, then realized exactly what you are describing.

That's good to know about the 1-3 seats; I was not aware of that! And yes, I considered the WRX but you're 100% correct - the resale would kill me, slowly and painfully.

I'm fortunate right now that I don't have to fit two, so we'll see what may happen...

I'm in a similar situation - I have the BRZ and my old WRX wagon, which was working out well. Now the WRX I've owned for nearly 12 years is starting to show its age and replacement will be required at some point - as is child #2 at some point on the horizon. Can't float two car payments, and selling my WRX won't get me anywhere on a replacement car (considering new WRX), and trade in on BRZ would kill me.

[AznBRZer]

Originally Posted by ashtray

You won't want the passenger seat touching the baby seat. You also want the baby seat base flat on the back seat, not lifted up on the front edge*. (Looking twice, it seems there's a curved base underneath that is touching the seat?) Every bump you hit will shake the car seat badly. Imagine removing the front bolts of your driver's seat - see how violent a small pot hole becomes.

A rear facing seat is tricky in the back of the Twins - you have to give up usage of the front seat in most cases. Note - this is an infant seat. Once they reach about 1 or so, they start to outgrow those and need a convertible seat that is rear facing and can be switched to front facing. Those are twice the size of the infant seats. They won't fit. At some point by age 3 or so, you can turn them around facing forwards, and the car seat WILL fit in the back again. But age 0-1, it's going to be tight. Age 1-3 is pretty much a no-go. Age 3+ is fine.

There's always the WRX as a more roomy family car, though resale on the Twin will bury you.

There's a couple threads here about baby seats and fitting two kids in the back.

A lot of baby seats have leveling mechanisms in the base to give proper seat orientation and pool noodles are used in cases where there isn't a mechanism by fire departments. Personally, I have a Graco 30 and obviously, mommy is in the back seat behind me. Luckily, I have short legs and sit close to the steering wheel...heh. I also feel more comfortable with having one of us in the back seat with the baby in any car regardless of how secure the base is.

Anywho, I tried the Recaro ProRide convertable and it fits just as "well" as the Graco seat in terms of space. If my legs were any longer and mommy was any taller, I'd have to give up the BRZ.

@ktech The trick to getting the seat in is to not put the handle in the full carry position and lock it in a position that is right around the edge of the head rest to give you more clearance, otherwise, you'll constantly be getting stuck in on the headliner. Makes life A LOT easier.

[ktech]

Right on, much appreciated! I'll look for that Recaro seat when the time comes...

[Grer1976]

Pretty much interesting

[Eski]

+1 recaro seats. its a tight fit back there lol still manageable tho