Infant car seat in a small car?

Question

I'd like to hear from people who have used a car seat in a 2 door car. I love my car to commute to and from work and it gets great gas mileage and it's paid for so I don't want to get rid of it. I was wondering if anyone had opinions on if they liked a infant carseat or a convertible carseat better. Also, maybe the brand of it? I know the convertible would have to be rear facing until they reach a certain weight. Any suggestions would be great!

And I don't want to hear from people who say, get a 4 door car. We have one but I'd still going to commute in my coupe and I need a carseat to go in it. I'm willing to have 2 carseats so that isn't a problem.

Answer 1

I have had a 2 door Honda Civic since my son was born, not by choice but b/c I can't afford anything else. Yes, 4 doors is better, but, yes, 2 doors is perfectly doable. I've done it. It's not that hard, people. If you use an infant carrier, it is pretty easy to pop in and out. But I did have trouble squeezing it through the opening behind the front seat sometimes. In my opinion, it was almost easier once we had a convertible car seat and I just carried the baby to the car and put him in. But beware, not ALL convertibles are capable of fitting a newborn or tiny baby. Some of them don' thave straps that go low enough. A great inexpensive on is the Cosco Scenera. It makes a great rear facing seat b/c it goes to 35lbs rear facing. Very important as babies should stay rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! The advice of turning baby forward at 1year/20lbs is outdated and risks baby's life. The AAP says to keep children rear facing to the limits of a rear facing convertible car seat, preferably for at least the first 2 years of life. A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.
The Scenera makes a great rear facing seat, though its outgrown pretty quickly forward facing. The Triumph Advance is another great seat for newborns, the straps go really low AND really high, meaning it last a very long time. Some of the other great convertible seats out there aren't great for newborns.

As for which infant carrier, brand doesn' tmatter too much, they're all very similar. Just make absolutely sure its a 5 point harness and not a 3 point. And read the manual fully! Some carriers require the handle to be down while in car, some require it to be up. The longest lasting infant seat is a Graco SafeSeat1 - it goes to a whopping 30lbs! Graco says it lasts 99% of babies to at least their first birthday. However, this means the seat is bigger than other carriers, don't plan on a tall passenger in front of it. I had a Safety1st carrier in my back seat, didn't leave a lot of room for a front passenger, but it was doable. Once the baby has good head strength, you can make the seat a little less reclined and youll have more room. Newborns require a 45 degree angle of recline, but older babies can have between 30-45 degrees, to be more upright. See my other answers for more convertible car seats.

Answer 2

well, I dont know about a two door, but I would think that if you put the base in the middle seat, depending on the car, that it would allow for a little more room at the longest point of the carseat where the head part comes out a little. Also that way you wont usually have to move your seat up or anything and I found that the two seats would hold mine in more securely because sometimes with a base that the seat clips into, they tip a little. Hope it helps! Try the seat in with no baby in it and see if it works. I think the convertibles seated backwards are a little dangerous just because they are sitting upright mostly and if an accident were to happen, they are not as secure as an infant carrier. Plus, the carrier is good for a small baby so that you do not have to get them in and out of their seat. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Honestly after having to buy the convertable carseat at 5 months with both boys because they outgrew the infant seats financially for me I find it makes more sense to have the convertable carseat then get a booster seat once they are 40 lbs or close to it. The infant seats do work better for people who like to take the carseat out to carry into stores and such but I didn't do that, I always carried my boys in my arms instead so the convertable worked best for me. With a 2 door car though either one will be hard to put in and get the baby in there. My cousin use to have a car that she would open the trunk and put the baby in that way. You can try out carseats and take them back if they don't work for your car. I have had to do it before.

Answer 4

We had a two door car the whole time... I'd say that the infant seat w/ the base is the easiest... all you have to do is pop it in and out!!

By the time baby outgrows it, he/she will be much bigger, and it will be easier to put the child in it... I would sometimes sit my baby in the seat next to the carseat, then climb in myself, then put her into her convertible.

If money is an issue, skip the infant seat and go w/ the convertible... it really is not that much harder to get in the car to get baby buckled properly... the carrier w/ the base is easier, but not by that much :)

Answer 5

I don't have a 2 door car, but when I did have a smaller car. I really liked my Baby Trend Infant Carrier With Flex Lock. This seat is a nice car seat. I would only recommend the Baby Trend one if you have the Latch system. If you don't have the Latch system, or just do not like the Baby Trend one. Take a look at the Graco Snugrides. I do not think that this seat is as easy to use as the Baby Trend Flex Lock, but the base can be used without the Latch system. I haven't owned the Graco one myself, but have heard a lot of good things about it. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

a convertable seat in a 2 door is awful, you pretty much have to climb in back to get the baby in and out. If its a 2 door hatchback you can always get the baby out over the back seat, but its still a pain. Use an infant seat for now, but its gonna be really tough if the baby outgrows the carrier before he can face forward.

Answer 7

I don't really know a good car seat for a small car. I have a mustang and it's ridiculously hard to get my daughter's car seat in there! But whatever you do, don't get an Evenflo. That's what I have and it's pretty huge for a small car! If you do find a car seat that fits in a small car, let me know!

Answer 8

I had a two door car when our son was an infant. I had the rear facing convertable then. I liked it and it was safe. We (thank goodness) never had any accidents. I think (not positive though) rear facing until 40 lbs..but check on that.

Answer 9

get the infant carseat that has the base left in there like most of them are now but seriously...they help make it easier to get baby in and out without having to unbuckle and all that while leaning in. I think that is the easiest way to go lean in grab unhook and pull it out. not lean in reach for buckle un hook un do the top thing pick up baby while trying to remain standing dont hit your head get baby out blah blah blah you get the picture it is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy easier! and farther down the road your baby will be able to support their own head and it is easier to get out the bigger car seat. GOOD LUCK!