How do you fit 3 carseats in a car? (2023)

Can you fit three car seats in?

Vehicle models that work best with three car seats in the rear seat are: Minivans; full-size and midsize SUVs; and full-size cars. Vehicles where it's a tight squeeze to fit three car seats: Compact SUVs; compact and midsize sedans; pickup trucks, and CRVs.

You can put the two rear-facing seats behind the driver's seat and passenger's seat. You could then position the forward-facing seat in the opposite direction in the middle. This setup could also be convenient because the child in the forward-facing seat could buckle him or herself into the seat without assistance.

Measure the back width and depth of your car seat so that you are certain of the space you have for your three car seats before purchasing. Some car seats are slimmer than others, and selecting compact designed car seats will make fitting three seats into the back of your car easier.

I found three forward-facing child seats fitted really nicely across the second-row seats. The ISOFix are in the two outer seats and are easy to connect to and the seat base is really deep and wide so it is easy to install three seats.

If one of the car seats you're installing is a rear-facing car seat and the other is a forward-facing car seat, you should place the forward-facing car seat in the middle and the rear-facing one behind the passenger seat.

If you're placing only one car seat in the back seat, install it in the center of the seat — if a good fit is possible. Placing the car seat in the center minimizes the risk of injury during a crash.

In some cars, because the overlap is so severe, a three across setup isn't possible at all. It's not just the width of the car seat that factors into which seats will work together — sometimes the car seat's height matters as well.

If you have more than one car seat in the back, you'll want the ability to install, lock, and remove the seats easily. Cars and SUVs that can fit three car seats in one row provide plenty of versatility to handle bulky car seats. Plus, you may have a better line of sight when the kiddos are seated in one row.

That's very rare in a sedan. Coupled with the Charger's 56 inches of rear hip room, it makes it possible to install three car seats quickly and easily. In short, the Charger is a kid-friendly car, wrapped up in a very parent-friendly package.

Volkswagen Touran

The Touran passed our test with flying colours, easily accommodating all three child seats in the second row.

How do you fit 3 kids in a small car?

HOW TO FIT 3 CARSEAT in a CAR or CROSSOVER - SAFE, EASY

Install in the Backseat

The car seat should always be installed in the back seat. That is the safest spot for your baby. If you can, put the car seat in the center seat. If not, it is fine behind either the driver or passenger side.

Tips and Tricks for Installing 3 Across with your SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car ...

Does it fit three car seats? No. Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2022 Toyota Camry.

Don't Force Them To Fit. Car seats can touch each other and they can touch the door, however you shouldn't be forcing them in. If you need to force the door shut, or if shutting the door causes all the car seats to shake or move then they're too big for the space.

The safest place for your car seat is the rear middle seat due to its maximum distance from passenger-side air bags and any potential impact.

Fitting 3 Normal Car Seats in a Subcompact Hatchback - Honda Fit

LATCH: Which Is Safer? The safest installation method is the one that offers the most secure installation (the seat moves as little as possible, always less than one inch in any direction). If you want to install the car seat in a rear center position, that usually requires using the seat belt.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat, ideally in the center. The rear center seat is also recommended as the best place for kids' car seats.

Car Seat Location and Installation | MyChart Bedside - YouTube

Which car is best for three car seats?

If you can't fit two seats right next to each other, you will have to use the two outside seats. There isn't really a preferred side for the infant as far as crash safety is concerned. There is virtually no difference between driver's side and passenger side in crash statistics.

The good news is that you can definitely fit infant seats, convertible seats, combination seats, and booster seats in the Ford Focus, and even fit 3 of them across without too much trouble.

BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats

They are not within plastic guides but I found them nice and easy to connect to when installing the child seats. I managed to fit three child seats into the 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid really nicely! One rear-facing and two forward-facing, or three forward-facing fitted too.

How many child seats fit in the Kia Sportage? The Kia Sportage can fit three child seats in the back! It has ISOFix points in the two outer rear seats, they are not within plastic guides and are easy to connect to.

Car-seat friendly

If you're traveling with kids, you'll love that the 2021 Nissan Rogue can accommodate three car seats across the back row. The 2021 Rogue has five LATCH anchors in the back seat, so two car seats can be secured using the LATCH anchors side-by-side.

The Corolla is quite spacious. You can get two rear-facing child seats in the back row and the front seats are still able to go far enough for a 184cm driver.

Although most MPVs and some SUVs come with seven seats, not all are able to accommodate more than two child car seats in the second and third rows. And while you might be able to use the front passenger seat in some cars, that's not practical if a parent has to sit in the back, squashed between two child seats.

For ease of access and keeping an eye on a baby, the most common spot for a baby's car seat is the rear passenger side. But the study showed that children under age 3 seated in the center of the back seat had nearly half the risk of injury in motor vehicle crashes than children seated in either of the other positions.

Many car seat manufacturers recommend that a baby should not be in a car seat for longer than 2 hours, within a 24 hour time period. This is because when a baby is in a semi-upright position for a prolonged period of time it can result in: 1.

Can you fit 3 carseats in a Ford Escape?

In the back of the 2022 Ford Escape, there are ISOFix points in the two outer seats and top tether anchorages on the back of all three rear seats. The Ford Escape can easily accommodate one or two Infasecure child seats and I found I could just fit three Infasecure child seats across the back seats too.

Two child-safety seats fit comfortably in the Malibu's backseat, and the sedan's extra Latch anchor makes its backseat even more flexible for parents in terms of where they can install car seats with the Latch system.

The front seats are adjusted for a 6-foot driver and a shorter passenger. The three child seats are installed in the second row. The booster seat sits behind the driver's seat, and the infant and convertible seats are installed behind the front passenger seat.

Family car review: 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander seven seater ... - YouTube

Once you've securely and properly installed the car seat in your vehicle, simply make sure that there is a safe distance of at least 10 inches (the average length of an adult's forearm) between the front airbag and the driver or passenger.

In the back of the 2022 Ford Escape, there are ISOFix points in the two outer seats and top tether anchorages on the back of all three rear seats. The Ford Escape can easily accommodate one or two Infasecure child seats and I found I could just fit three Infasecure child seats across the back seats too.

The center and passenger seats are quite narrow – and fitting 2 car seats side by side on these two seats is impossible with most combinations. The head restraints for all 3 seats are adjustable and removable.

Best 3-across all-in-one car seat

The 4Ever transforms from a rear-facing convertible car seat babies can use from birth to a booster that'll hold kids until they're ready to use seatbelts alone. It's a real bargain and easy to use to boot.

Tips and Tricks for Installing 3 Across with your SlimFit3™ LX 3-in-1 Car ...

Can you fit 3 carseats in a 2012 Ford Escape?

The basic idea is that there are a number of seats you can make work in 3 across configurations in the latest Escape as long as you're willing to work for it a bit. You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended car seats here.

Child Tether LATCH System Help Guide | Ford How-To | Ford - YouTube

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BabyDrive Indepth - Car Seats

They are not within plastic guides but I found them nice and easy to connect to when installing the child seats. I managed to fit three child seats into the 2021 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid really nicely! One rear-facing and two forward-facing, or three forward-facing fitted too.

Fitting 3 Normal Car Seats in a Subcompact Hatchback - Honda Fit

For this Car Seat Check, we tested a 2021 CR-V Hybrid in the top Touring trim. While the SUV earned high grades for its ample legroom and we praised it for having an extra lower anchor, we also had an issue with the ceiling placement of a top tether anchor as well as a car seat strap. Does it fit three car seats? No.

In some cars, because the overlap is so severe, a three across setup isn't possible at all. It's not just the width of the car seat that factors into which seats will work together — sometimes the car seat's height matters as well.

Does it fit three car seats? No. Take a look at how the Latch system and each car seat scored below in our Car Seat Check of the 2022 Toyota Camry.

Can You Fit 3 Car Seats in a Nissan Rogue? Yes, it can. With the 2019 model, there are three child seats in the second row. Behind the driver's seat is the booster seat, and the baby and convertible seat are located behind the front passenger seat.