Forward-facing carseat behind driver? (I'm 6' tall)

[LawDawg]

Fellas,

We're about to have our second kid, and I'm going to have to put a second car seat behind mine. Right now we have a Chicco KeyFit 30 as an infant seat that my 18 mo. daughter is all but grown out of. That will be baby boy's seat. So now I have to put a child seat behind mine. I know they should be rear-facing until 2 y/o, but it think it would be more unsafe for me to driving my kids around with my knees jammed up in my steering wheel. I'm 6' and have pretty long legs (I'd be an awesome chick).

Anyhow, I need to find a seat for my daughter that will give me the most room, but still be solid and safe for her. It sounds like jumping to a safe front-facing would be best for my situation.

What have people used that will give me some decent room? Also, what seat back protectors are you using (from kicking feet, not under the carseat), given the S4's lack of headrest on the front seats?

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

[rcz22]

Hey - So I've been back and forth with this - our 2nd child was just born, and I tried to move my sons forward facing car seat behind me. I'm only 5'5, and his legs still felt crunched or like you mention I was uncomfortably close to the steering wheel. We have the RECARO Roadster car seat (couldn't be happier with this brand) - and for now it'll stay on the passenger side with that seat pretty much as forward as possible. We'll use my wife's jeep when I/we to take both kids out.

[doug97gxe]

tough situation .. my son has the Chicco Zipfit 30 he is 22 months and 36 inches so he is 6 inches past due but i'm waiting as well till he is 2 to switch him around. its gonna be tricky for you because if you're like me your front seat is almost touching the front of the rear seat. You would have to put the front facing seat on the passenger side, currently my zipfit is in the middle. You will have to go to Babies R'US and try a couple configurations hopefully something works for you

[AudBoost]

I have a 8 month old and 27 month old. When I have the kids in my car my 27 month old still sits behind the passenger seat and my 8 month old sits in the middle of the back seat. I have no issues with seating position. Granted I am only 5'10" but I can freely move my seat around. To pull this off comfortably you'll need two slim fit car seats that are meant to sit 3 wide in a third row seat of an SUV. They are not quite as bulky and are meant to be positioned side by side. I have pulled this off with two regular car seats but it is a bit of squeeze. Take a look at the Diono Radian line of car seats: R100, R120 and RXT. If you go this route just be sure to read in the install instructions as the seats are not as simple as two latches systems most car seats have.

[esimp2k]

I have a 8 month old and 27 month old. When I have the kids in my car my 27 month old still sits behind the passenger seat and my 8 month old sits in the middle of the back seat. I have no issues with seating position. Granted I am only 5'10" but I can freely move my seat around. To pull this off comfortably you'll need two slim fit car seats that are meant to sit 3 wide in a third row seat of an SUV. They are not quite as bulky and are meant to be positioned side by side. I have pulled this off with two regular car seats but it is a bit of squeeze. Take a look at the Diono Radian line of car seats: R100, R120 and RXT. If you go this route just be sure to read in the install instructions as the seats are not as simple as two latches systems most car seats have.

+1. I had the radian seats when they were the sunshine brand. Very well made and heavy duty but narrow. I still had to move my seat up though even front facing and I am 6ft. It worked though. Now that the kids are in true booster seats I have a little more room though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[adamkb26]

The radian won't fit behind a seat. It's really tall and leans back. I just went through this looking at tons of seats and I test fit about every one that looked small. The best fit was the peg perego primo viaggio. It fits behind the passenger seat with decent room for the front passenger. I don't think you'll get one behind the driver and be comfortable at 6' tall, but you could try. The Peg was expensive at $400 and coupons couldn't apply but it's the best fit I could find for the S4.

[Ordie]

I have a Recaro Performance Sport and i have no problem with him seating behind me. I am 5'11" though and I though of seat a bit straight up though but even then, he has enough room.

[chilort]

I'm 6'2" and there's no way my daughter's Recaro will fit behind me. She's going to the next style seat very soon (she's 5 years old and 42" tall -- she's tall too). I'm hoping her next seat will fit behind me as my wife keeps talking about having a 2nd; I'm not ready to get an A6 yet.

[infinkc]

If forward facing, you can't use a convertible one behind the driver seat. You need one that is forward only. I have the recaro pro ride and they fit fine,

[gab5]

Fellas,
Also, what seat back protectors are you using (from kicking feet, not under the carseat), given the S4's lack of headrest on the front seats?


Also curious to know how people are keeping little shoe prints off the seatbacks. I have tried sliding a hoodie onto the seat as other threads have mentioned (works for a little while but wiggles out of position after a few trips).

We use the minivan now whenever we want to go anywhere as a family, so I am sorry I can't comment on which car-seat gives the most room. I will say we have tried a couple different Graco rear and forward facing seats for the toddlers which I have squeezed into the back of the S4 in the past but only for quick or short trips. Neither car seat seemed like a long term viable option. I only keep a small form factor booster seat for my 6yo in the S4.

[mmm def]

I bought an old ls400 for kid hauling duties and keep the brats out of my s4. Hehe

[VeeDubbinJetta]

I'm 6' and I have a 3 year old that sits behind me in a graco mysize 65. He's a pretty tall kid and fits just fine. He's feet touch the seat but his knees don't.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161216/e9c678e8e7f080310a4c32e5a309b137.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161216/30a534558973630617d0b4c147a31d31.jpg

[doug97gxe]

Also curious to know how people are keeping little shoe prints off the seatbacks. I have tried sliding a hoodie onto the seat as other threads have mentioned (works for a little while but wiggles out of position after a few trips).

We use the minivan now whenever we want to go anywhere as a family, so I am sorry I can't comment on which car-seat gives the most room. I will say we have tried a couple different Graco rear and forward facing seats for the toddlers which I have squeezed into the back of the S4 in the past but only for quick or short trips. Neither car seat seemed like a long term viable option. I only keep a small form factor booster seat for my 6yo in the S4.

You can buy something that goes over the front seat to protect the back


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[esimp2k]

The radian won't fit behind a seat. It's really tall and leans back. I just went through this looking at tons of seats and I test fit about every one that looked small. The best fit was the peg perego primo viaggio. It fits behind the passenger seat with decent room for the front passenger. I don't think you'll get one behind the driver and be comfortable at 6' tall, but you could try. The Peg was expensive at $400 and coupons couldn't apply but it's the best fit I could find for the S4.

We are saying to put the radian in the middle backwards and the other radian goes behind a seat forwards. I've done it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[adamkb26]

We are saying to put the radian in the middle backwards and the other radian goes behind a seat forwards. I've done it.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I misread the post thought it was rear facing. Yeah the radian would probably be great behind the driver from what I saw.

[LawDawg]

I'm 6' and I have a 3 year old that sits behind me in a graco mysize 65. He's a pretty tall kid and fits just fine. He's feet touch the seat but his knees don't.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161216/e9c678e8e7f080310a4c32e5a309b137.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161216/30a534558973630617d0b4c147a31d31.jpg

There's a Coug in our midst...

[LawDawg]

tough situation .. my son has the Chicco Zipfit 30 he is 22 months and 36 inches so he is 6 inches past due but i'm waiting as well till he is 2 to switch him around. its gonna be tricky for you because if you're like me your front seat is almost touching the front of the rear seat. You would have to put the front facing seat on the passenger side, currently my zipfit is in the middle. You will have to go to Babies R'US and try a couple configurations hopefully something works for youYup, my seatback is pretty close to the back seat edge, a few inches. I'm thinking about graduating the daughter to a front-facing behind me, and installing a seatback protector to keep her feet from mucking up the back of the driver's seat. There is no way in hell that our Chicco KeyFit 30 infant seat can fit behind the driver.

[doug97gxe]

Yup, my seatback is pretty close to the back seat edge, a few inches. I'm thinking about graduating the daughter to a front-facing behind me, and installing a seatback protector to keep her feet from mucking up the back of the driver's seat. There is no way in hell that our Chicco KeyFit 30 infant seat can fit behind the driver.

nope.. mine is in the center and its already wedged between both front seats

[esimp2k]

Yeah I misread the post thought it was rear facing. Yeah the radian would probably be great behind the driver from what I saw.

You read it right. It goes either way. But you can put one rear facing in the middle and one front facing behind the driver for example. It's not the greatest but I preferred doing that over losing the rear facing safety when they are younger.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dragoncub]

Holy shit! I am appalled by some of the comments in this thread, I'm speechless. It mystifies and baffles me that some of you would risk the safety of your fragile child, and in some cases to make yourselves more comfortable. I almost wish I hadn't open this thread, wow I mean just, wow. Some people take things for granted until god forbid you were to get into an accident in which your child was injured. Would you be able to forgive yourself??
Seat have height limits for a reason, the one poster stated their child is 6 inches above the seat limit!! I mean seriously!!! Seriously??? Do some people not understand that you have a delicate little human in your car??
Also there have been countless studies done that the safest seating position for any child is rear facing. I advise you to do some research if you wish, you'll find many sources. I've provided a few links below.
If keeping your child rearing facing longer, makes you a little uncomfortable, I suggest you try to make it work. Remember you body is able to take much greater forces and you are less likely to be seriously injured then your child. I plan to keep my son rear facing a long as possible. And for what it's worth, I'm 6' 1" and my son's infant car seat fits perfectly find behind my seat. He grew out of it at 9 months and we got him a convertible car sear, the Clek Fllo, which is a small form factor and allows extended rear facing. I haven't had a chance to try it in my car but it fits fine in my wife car. Remember people with compact cars are using rear facing seats as well and our cars are bigger. Guys I urge you to try and make it work.

www.rearfacingtoddlers.com/why-rear-facing-is-safer.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sssIsceKd6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRzU3S7h8yQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZFVPv3Rpk

(BTW, I apologize if any of you think I am telling you how to parent, I know each parent has their own beliefs, but child safety should be near and dear to all parent's hearts.)

[LawDawg]

Shut the fuck up. If you have the presence of mind to apologize at the end of your diatribe, then you already know you're being an asshole.

I've already made the call to move my daughter to a forward facing seat that she is height/weight ready for. Second, if your missive is about safety, it's reasonable to consider the effectiveness of a driver with they knees tucked up and how that effects their ability to hit the brakes.

Go find a mom's group to rant and bitch on. Meanwhile, we're going to keep helping each other fit our kids safely in our small S4s.

[LawDawg]

I bet you're the type to talk politics and religion at dinner parties too, huh?

[ZGskibum]

I'm 6'4". With 2 kids, toddler can't go behind my seat because there's just not enough legroom for her. Her car seat (forward facing...I didn't even know rear-facing toddler seats were a thing) is behind passenger seat, and the footprints wipe right off with Armor All. The infant seat base behind my seat (Graco) JUST fits with my seat in normal driving position. I have my second preset forward to where it needs to be for the seat itself to sit properly in the base when I have both kids in the car. It's not comfortable--I feel kind of like I should be doing a Chris Farley "fat man in a little coat" song--but it's safe and works for the short jaunts I do with both kids in the car. I definitely avoid driving both kids in my car, we use the wife's station wagon for double duty whenever possible, but it works when it needs to.


Sent from my iPad using Audizine (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=87676)

[Dragoncub]

Shut the fuck up. If you have the presence of mind to apologize at the end of your diatribe, then you already know you're being an asshole.

I've already made the call to move my daughter to a forward facing seat that she is height/weight ready for. Second, if your missive is about safety, it's reasonable to consider the effectiveness of a driver with they knees tucked up and how that effects their ability to hit the brakes.

Go find a mom's group to rant and bitch on. Meanwhile, we're going to keep helping each other fit our kids safely in our small S4s.
Haha, your a funny guy. First your contracting your self. You stated in your first post that you know you should be keeping your daughter rear facing until at least 2 years old (latest research recommend a higher age btw), then all of a sudden it's ok for her to be forward facing. Just because a child meets the minumum height/weight requirements doesn't mean you should switch. With that logic i could have switched my son at 7 months to forward facing. Would I? Hell no. As for your knees, who says you must place a child seat behind the drivers seat?? There are two other positions in the back seat you know. As others have suggested you can place one seat behind the passenger seat and the other in the middle position, it's doable even at our heights.
And what does being a responsible parent have to do with a being in a mother's group? Are you implying that father's can be irresponsible with their children?

Oh and I don't get into politics much. [emoji6]

[LawDawg]

And do you know why they use an age guideline? Is it because chronological time helps one survive a crash? No, it's because it's simply more likely that one has reached height/weight milestones by 2 as opposed to 1 or 1.5.

In any event, I want to applaud your bravely...condescendingly lecturing a group of dads as if they don't love their kids dearly and know they are precious, all from the distance and anonymity of your keyboard. Either you're super fun IRL too, or you get your butt kicked a lot.

The moms group comment was in reference to the fact that each one seems to have at least one self-righteous, opinionated nag. You're the first one I've seen pop up in a group of dads. So I would appreciate it, as the OP who raised the question in the first place, if you would go somewhere else for the remainder of this thread, so we can get back to a constructive conversation without the unsolicited, condescending finger-wagging.

[doug97gxe]

Holy shit! I am appalled by some of the comments in this thread, I'm speechless. It mystifies and baffles me that some of you would risk the safety of your fragile child, and in some cases to make yourselves more comfortable. I almost wish I hadn't open this thread, wow I mean just, wow. Some people take things for granted until god forbid you were to get into an accident in which your child was injured. Would you be able to forgive yourself??
Seat have height limits for a reason, the one poster stated their child is 6 inches above the seat limit!! I mean seriously!!! Seriously??? Do some people not understand that you have a delicate little human in your car??
Also there have been countless studies done that the safest seating position for any child is rear facing. I advise you to do some research if you wish, you'll find many sources. I've provided a few links below.
If keeping your child rearing facing longer, makes you a little uncomfortable, I suggest you try to make it work. Remember you body is able to take much greater forces and you are less likely to be seriously injured then your child. I plan to keep my son rear facing a long as possible. And for what it's worth, I'm 6' 1" and my son's infant car seat fits perfectly find behind my seat. He grew out of it at 9 months and we got him a convertible car sear, the Clek Fllo, which is a small form factor and allows extended rear facing. I haven't had a chance to try it in my car but it fits fine in my wife car. Remember people with compact cars are using rear facing seats as well and our cars are bigger. Guys I urge you to try and make it work.

www.rearfacingtoddlers.com/why-rear-facing-is-safer.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sssIsceKd6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRzU3S7h8yQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZFVPv3Rpk

(BTW, I apologize if any of you think I am telling you how to parent, I know each parent has their own beliefs, but child safety should be near and dear to all parent's hearts.)

i'm confused.. you have a problem with my child facing rear being 6 inches over the limit because he isn't at the age to face front then you say that the safest position is to face rear... and then say i should keep my son facing rear as long as possible .. do you even read what you posted?

[chilort]

Holy shit! I am appalled by some of the comments in this thread, I'm speechless. It mystifies and baffles me that some of you would risk the safety of your fragile child, and in some cases to make yourselves more comfortable. I almost wish I hadn't open this thread, wow I mean just, wow. Some people take things for granted until god forbid you were to get into an accident in which your child was injured. Would you be able to forgive yourself??
Seat have height limits for a reason, the one poster stated their child is 6 inches above the seat limit!! I mean seriously!!! Seriously??? Do some people not understand that you have a delicate little human in your car??
Also there have been countless studies done that the safest seating position for any child is rear facing. I advise you to do some research if you wish, you'll find many sources. I've provided a few links below.
If keeping your child rearing facing longer, makes you a little uncomfortable, I suggest you try to make it work. Remember you body is able to take much greater forces and you are less likely to be seriously injured then your child. I plan to keep my son rear facing a long as possible. And for what it's worth, I'm 6' 1" and my son's infant car seat fits perfectly find behind my seat. He grew out of it at 9 months and we got him a convertible car sear, the Clek Fllo, which is a small form factor and allows extended rear facing. I haven't had a chance to try it in my car but it fits fine in my wife car. Remember people with compact cars are using rear facing seats as well and our cars are bigger. Guys I urge you to try and make it work.

www.rearfacingtoddlers.com/why-rear-facing-is-safer.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sssIsceKd6U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRzU3S7h8yQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZFVPv3Rpk

(BTW, I apologize if any of you think I am telling you how to parent, I know each parent has their own beliefs, but child safety should be near and dear to all parent's hearts.)

I can't believe you would put your child in a car at all. People die in car accidents. Sad.

[doug97gxe]

Anyone has the front seat protectors that work with sport seats since the headrest doesn't retract?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LawDawg]

Anyone has the front seat protectors that work with sport seats since the headrest doesn't retract?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yeah, I'm looking for this info too. There was a suggestion in another thread that I read a while ago, but stupidly did not bookmark.

[doug97gxe]

Yeah, I'm looking for this info too. There was a suggestion in another thread that I read a while ago, but stupidly did not bookmark.

found one http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/630099-Achievement-unlocked-protection-from-the-toddler?p=10362305&viewfull=1#post10362305 .. i just bought 2 on amazon


back of seat protector:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZVV0P2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

bottom seat protector that saved my center seat's leather:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NFRV0Y/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Moved the child seat over to the right since he's getting too big for the middle and he's kicking the center console. Added a back-of-the-seat kick-protector and WeatherTech floor mats. Happy to report the seat protector worked and there are no marks on the center seat's leather!

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7583/15938186317_55fb4f953c_k.jpg
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8602/16123198352_764794aa34_k.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7540/15936638340_e752010c97_k.jpg

Not sure I'll keep the mats in the front, but I'll try them out for now.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7511/15938183897_979e9f2086_k.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7573/15938184407_3e8ba9e0a4_k.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7506/16123200592_55f4c84b3a_k.jpg

[esimp2k]

Well this thread went south in a hurry!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk