Toyota Prius and the Three-Across Car Seat Dilemma

Those of you who follow me on Facebook know that I had a bit of a panic attack last week over fitting three car seats in the back of my Prius.  Here's the story:

Upon finding out I was pregnant, Matt and I agreed to keep the Prius.  We'll get something bigger (AKA - Minivan) when we move back to the States in a couple of years. I have driven a bigger vehicle in Europe (Toyota 4-Runner) and hated it.  I know, I know.  Hate is a strong word.  But, really, I'm not fit to be driving a big vehicle in Europe.  Tight parking spots, narrow roads, crazy drivers - enough said.

So, I decided to get the Combi Coccoro.  It's designed for fuel efficient cars.  You can get three of these across the back seat of a Prius.  I've seen pictures of this car seat with two Sunshine Radian car seats in the back of a Prius (Lila's Britax Marathon is way too big).  However, Olivia will be closer to seven by the time the baby is born and already in a booster. I don't need two Radians.  Especially at $229 a pop. When I explained my dilemma to friends, they were very quick to point out that I can't take the Coccoro out of the car like I can an infant car seat designed with a handle and base.   How, everyone gasped, could I dare take a sleeping baby out of his car seat?  I replied that since I will be wearing him in a wrap, sling, Ergo, etc., that I will just plop him in there.  No, no.  That will not work.  My life will be hell.  The baby will freak out. I will not be able to calm him.  Huge mistake.  So, I freak. And, freak some more.  Matt nearly jumped off a cliff, frustrated that I was backing out of my original plan and now lost as to what to do.  Did we need to get that minivan now? 

Radian

So, I went to a friend's house to see if her infant car seat (removable) would fit in my car with two boosters. Not even close.  I then start to question if the Coccoro will fit in my car with two boosters. Or one booster and a car seat.  It really didn't seem that much smaller than an Graco Snug Ride, Chicco Keyfit or Maxi Cosi.

A friend in Wiesbaden, about an hour away, came to the rescue.  She has a Coccoro.  She offered to test it out in my car as none of them are sold around here.  It fits perfectly with two boosters.  I even have room to buckle Liv's booster seat easily.  The Radian, more narrow than a booster, will easily fit.  While the Radian is expensive and the baby's car seat and Radian combined will cost just over $400, I can hand down the Radian to "The Boy" when he's about two.  Lila will not mind being in a 5-point harness for another two years. She's extremely small for a 4.5-year-old anyway. She'll have plenty of room to grow in the Radian.

As far as taking a sleeping a sleeping baby out of the car - I'll deal with it.  It will be fine.  I know it will - especially if it's all he ever knows.  I think the safety and warmth of being up close to mama will put him right back to sleep.  Or it won't and, well, time will pass by and, like what happened with my two girls, he'll be a off to kindergarten in flash.  It's a good thing, in this situation, I'm not a first time mom.  I know how fast this all goes by.  It really is temporary.  Soon enough I'll be wallowing in self pity because I have no more babies left...