Dad question...

Clek car seats, along with diono, also have slimmer designs compared to most brands. Check Albeebaby.com. They usually have great prices.

 

It's rare to find a vehicle that has LATCH points in the middle seat. I have seen lots of people use the it incorrectly securing the middle seat using the outboard hooks.

We have 3 kids and Tacoma is really not the best suited for full time use if you have kids in seats and are anywhere near 6 foot tall. Our kids are all in boosters now so that has helped but still, we hardly ever use the Tacoma if all 5 of us are going somewhere together.

 

Lol. You just answered your own question. You use the seatbelt.

Yea it’s strange there are no latches in center seats when I would think that would be the safest spot for a kid...

My 3rd gen is our go to family vehicle for now with 3 kids in the back. Booster seat in the middle.

Got rid of the wife’s Yukon and just waiting to pull the trigger on a 4Runner.

OP: don’t worry, booster seat is right around the corner for you. Makes life so much easier.

 

Haha yea. It was sort of a question I already knew the answer to, but I was using it as an opener to a larger discussion about this.

 

I've got the Graco 4Ever for my 1 year old. She's been in that since birth and it used to be in my 335i coupe, fit fine. Fits perfectly fine for me in the Tacoma as well. Might be a little tall now that she's sitting more upright, looking out the rear passenger window I have to raise my head a little bit but other than that there's plenty of room.

 

Haha that's almost exactly how my car seat sits for my son! He's 9 months now can't wait till he gets in a booster.

 

I've got a 2 year old in a Diono Radian RXT. It is by far the skinniest, it's a little expensive ($300 range) but it definitely takes up the least amount of room.

 

Don't be so quick to move the kid into a booster. I finally got my 8 year old into a backless booster in my car, but I only take her a short distance to school. In the wife's car, she's still in a carseat (used as a booster, as she's too tall for the harness).

https://www.babycenter.com/404_when-should-my-child-switch-from-a-car-seat-to-a-booster-sea_69823.bc

I also have 2 Diono Radians. They are slim and stout. Folds for easy storage as well.

 

You're not supposed. I have mine on both sides and only short, petite people can squeeze in between them.

 

There are latches. I use them. and I use the anchor point behind the seat. Have never used the seat belts.

 

She's not as tiny as she was then but she's still cute.

This seat serves also as a booster so she basically has this until she's too big for it.

 

My girl's hung up on a Tahoe next......why'd you decide to go from the Yukon to the 4Runner? That'd be ideal for me haha

 

There is no LATCH set for the middle seat in the 3rd gen.

 

Are these not latches?

 

Those are the LATCH points for the side seats. You aren't supposed to use them with the car seat in the middle. Double check the owner's manual. I think it mentions something about it.

 

That's right. They aren't designed to be used for the middle seat. The geometry/spacing between the LATCHES is not right and may not work properly in a crash. Also I believe you can get fined in the off chance you went through a check stop for these things.

 

First line of linked baby article says 4 years, 40lbs, or shoulders higher than the car seat can adjust.
We had all three before her 5th bday next month - I would rather have her in a bigger booster than stuck in a little carseat that doesn't fit.




And there are forums and forums of car seat fanatics out there - do your research and make a decision you are comfortable with..

 

And we went from a 4Runner to a Yukon! Missed the 4Runner so I bought a Taco!!! Still have, and really like the Yukon though (wife's ride now).

 

Which is what I did. 4 yo/40lb is the bare minimum required. And unless you're kid is a Manute Bol, height adjustment is typically not the limiting factor for most car seats for kids that young. Majority, if not all, experts agree to keep them in car seats as long as possible. Even if you're foregoing the harness and using the seatbelt. Again, depends on your own assessment of how your child is developing physically.