>TRIPLETS!!!! – Tips on fitting 3 infant seats across the back seat (or 2 side by side for twins)
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Will the Driver Have Enough Room to Drive – Why the Carrier Handle Position Matters
Another issue with infant seats is that not only do they take up room in the back seat – but by virtue of the fact that they lay semi-reclined, they take up leg room for the person sitting in front of the car seat (i.e. the driver or front passenger). When installing an infant seat behind the driver, it is not enough to make sure the car seat is installed securely in the back seat – but also that the driver has enough room to drive safely and ideally comfortably. Many infant seats require the carry handle to be placed either in the “store” position (at the top of the carrier) – which often makes the car seat take up an additional several inches of space front to back. Finding an infant carrier that allows the handle to be placed in the “carry” position while in the car will allow the person sitting in front of the car seat the most room. Please see this blog post with tip sheet for further info on the carry handle position – including a chart of the permissible handle positions for current and recently discontinued infant seats.
For example, the Britax Chaperone is a fantastic seat for preemies – but because it is almost 1.5 inches wider (external dimensions) than the Chicco Key Fit and takes up more room in the car front to back (meaning the driver has less room to drive) it may not work well for families with multiples depending on the vehicle.
Infant Car Seats for Babies LESS THAN 5 Pounds
10% of all babies in the US leave the hospital weighing less than 5 pounds. With multiples, there’s an increased chance of taking home a baby weighing <5 lbs. Did you know that most infant seats are certified for babies 5 pounds and up. Therefore, finding a car seat that not only fits properly in your vehicle – but is also certified for the baby’s weight – is of the utmost importance. Please see our tip sheet on preemies & small newborns for info on the starting weight for all the infant seats currently sold in the US, along with other pertinent info.