All posts by Mike

3 Across Installations: Which Car Seats Will Fit in a BMW X3?

The BMW X3 is a luxury crossover / SUV that competes with SUVs like the Mercedes M-Class and GLK-Class, Volvo XC60, Audi Q5, Lexus NX, and Acura RDX, as well as with its stablemate the BMW X5, among families interested in a stylish 5-passenger mid-sized SUV capable of safely transporting up to 3 children. You don’t often get the chance to drive a BMW, so when I got to borrow one for the weekend to try out some car seats in it, I couldn’t pass it up. On the outside it looks nice and sleek, and it’s certainly not lacking in amenities on the inside. But what I was really interested in was finding out which car seats can fit 3 across in a BMW X3. The bad news is that there aren’t very many due to some peculiarities in the X3’s seats. The good news is that there are some seats that will work. Let’s take a look!

Before diving into which seats work in the X3, however, it’s always a good idea to review how long we should be using these seats, and which kinds we should be using to begin with. I’m a big fan of extended rear-facing (ideally until 4!), followed by extended harnessing (ideally until 8!), and finally using a booster seat until children are big and mature enough to pass the 5 step test for seat belt use (which typically happens between 10 and 12). Your kids might think they aren’t cool by sitting rear-facing longer, using harnesses longer, or being boostered longer, but to me, nothing’s cooler than my kids being alive and uninjured due to following best practices in car seat safety.

After spending several hours installing and uninstalling car seats in a current and prior generation BMW X3, I’ve got a pretty good idea of which car seats will and won’t fit in one, and feel this is the most complete list of car seats compatible in 3 across configurations with the X3 on the Internet. If you find the list helpful when shopping for car seats, you can shop through my Amazon link below. I’ll add more seats as I test them over time.

You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. The Canadian car seat guide is here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

x3 - 2011 - publicdomain2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 BMW X3 (F25)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

This generation of the BMW X3 is 183 inches long and 74 inches wide, which you think would mean you’d have a bit more front-to-back room to play with as well as one more inch in 3 across width. However, the truth is that the X3 is a very difficult vehicle to achieve 3 across in. Ironically, it’s actually easier to 3 across in the previous generation than it is in the current generation.

The big issue with the X3 when it comes to 3 across installations is that the middle seat is very narrow. I often found that when I got a seat installed in the center position, I needed part of it to sit in the vehicle seat behind the driver, which essentially made 3 across installations impossible.

I was able to get the Foonf, Fllo, Radians, and Coccoro to fit in the middle while being slightly off center, and was able to squeeze additional seats beside them. Buckle access was very difficult, however.

Keep in mind as well that you cannot use LATCH to install a center seat on BMWs, as it is specifically forbidden in the vehicle manual.

x3 - 2007 - publicdomain2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 BMW X3 (E83)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Britax Frontier 90, Combi Coccoro, Diono Radian / RXT.

Clek Foonf (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

This initial generation of the BMW X3 is 180 inches long and 73 inches wide, which means front-to-back distance is going to be in short supply, but that you’ve got a decent chance with several 3 across installations in terms of side-to-side width. The Frontier-Coccoro-Radian installation works with seat belt installations for the front-facing Frontier and rear-facing Coccoro, as well as with a LATCH on the front-facing Radian. You’ll have more room if you use seat belts for all three seats, however.

Keep in mind as well that you cannot use LATCH to install a center seat on BMWs, as it is specifically forbidden in the vehicle manual.

—

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.

Phil and Teds Navigator Buggy Stroller Review

navigatorPhil and Teds is the parent company of three brands: Phil and Teds, Mountain Buggy, and Mokopuna. The main brand line focuses on creating exciting alternatives to the traditional parent child care gear. Mountain Buggy makes awesome all terrain products, including strollers, and Mokopuna designs ecologically friendly clothing for newborns and older children. Mountain Buggy, of course, makes the Duet, one of our favorite all terrain strollers on the market right now. However, the parent company Phil and Teds makes a number of impressive strollers too, which is why we were happy to borrow the Navigator for a week when offered one by a friend.

Although we typically favor side by side double strollers, there’s something about a well-designed tandem or inline stroller that gets us every time. The Phil and Teds Navigator is an example of a well thought out, sleek, stylish, and functional tandem double stroller that should be on every parents’ list if they don’t want the width and weight of the typical high end side by side double stroller. Furthermore, the Navigator is an all terrain stroller, which makes it more interesting for us since our favorite strollers tend to be this sort.

Here is a thorough and detailed review of the Phil and Teds Navigator. If you want the short version, here it is: It’s great, and you can buy the Phil and Teds Navigator with the second seat here. If you want the longer version, keep reading.

Buy the Phil and Teds Navigator on Sale at Amazon here.

Weight and Dimensions of the Phil and Teds Navigator

How much does the  Phil and Teds Navigator weigh?

The Navigator weighs 27.5 pounds as a single stroller and 31 pounds as a double stroller, which easily makes it one of the lightest double tandem strollers on the market. As a double stroller in general, its 31 pound weight is in the average range.

What’s the narrowest door you can fit a Phil and Teds Navigator through?

You can fit a Navigator through a door 24″ wide, as it is 23.22″ in width.  This is narrower than the width of any side by side double stroller currently on the market; the closest competitor is the Mountain Buggy Duet, which is 25″ in width. Most side by side double strollers are at least 30″ wide.

What are the length, width, and height of the  Phil and Teds Navigator?

The Navigator is 41.7″ long, 23.22″ wide, and 40.5″ tall when unfolded. When folded with the wheels on, it is 11.8″ long, 23.22″ wide, and 29.9″ tall. The wheels can be removed to reduce its size a bit more.


Using the Phil and Teds Navigator with Children

Can you use infant seat adapters with the Phil and Teds Navigator?

Yes! You can use a wide range of infant seats with the Navigator through the adapter system, including a bassinet by Phil and Teds. Per Phil and Ted, there are 26 riding options that make it possible to transport every combination of children from a pair of newborns to a pair of toddlers. You can even transport a pair of infant car seats in the Navigator, something quite rare in the double stroller world, as long as you have two seats that will fit the Navigator car seat adapters.

nav4-300x300What are the recommended height, weight, and age limits for children you can fit in the Phil and Teds Navigator?

When used as a single stroller, the Navigator has a 44 pound weight limit in the front seat. When used as a double stroller, the child in the rear seat can weigh up to 33 pounds, bringing total seat load limit to 77 pounds. If you have the rear child facing you via the parent facing double kit, the weight limit in the seat drops to 26 pounds, dropping the total maximum weight to 70 pounds.

This is significantly less than the weight limits of a number of comparable double tandem or double side by side strollers, such as the City Select, a double tandem stroller with a combined weight limit of 90 pounds, or the City Mini GT double, a double side by side stroller with a combined weight limit of 100 pounds. The recommended age range is from birth to 5 years. There aren’t recommended height limits.

What are the seats, sun canopies, and seat support like in the  Phil and Teds Navigator?

Seats, canopies, and seat support in the Navigator are delightful. The canopy is quite large and can be adjusted easily, although it is not quite as large as the canopy in the BOB SE Duallie. Five point harnesses are included in the seats for additional safety. The seat liner is removable for washing. You can also buy a separate stormy weather cover to keep kids dry in rain and snow.

Can you recline the seats in the Phil and Teds Navigator?

Yes, the seats in the Navigator may be reclined completely flat, which makes it a very infant-friendly stroller. There are 4 recline positions to choose from. If you’re looking for a flat recline for an infant and don’t want to use the default setup, you can buy the Carrycot sold by Phil and Teds; it’s just like having a miniature bassinet to take everywhere with you. If that seems like overkill, they sell a simpler version called the Cocoon that also works well, and is designed to be inserted into the stroller’s main seat directly when it’s fully reclined. To be honest, after trying both, we preferred the Cocoon.

Buy the Phil and Teds Navigator on Sale at Amazon here.

 

Moving, Using, and Storing the Phil and Teds Navigator

What is it like to push the Phil and Teds Navigator, and is the handlebar adjustable?

Pushing the Navigator is a rather fun experience. The Navigator steers true and feels light under the fingers. The handlebar is adjustable in 9 steps, which is a great feature for couples of different heights. Because of the tires (more on that below) and the overall design, the stroller feels comfortable on a wide variety of terrain, which inspires trust and confidence when using it. The front wheel can be locked to enable a jogging mode or it can be left in a swivel mode for walking. In my husband’s opinion, the Navigator can turn on a dime, and I’d have to agree. It’s actually pretty easy to complete at 360 degree turn with one hand.

What are the brakes, tires, suspension, and wheels like on the Phil and Teds Navigator?

The tires in the Navigator are 12″ in diameter and filled with air, and you can use them on just about any terrain, including in the city, on trails, on sidewalks, and on gravel. An auto-brake system is present on the Navigator, which is something you’re not going to find from just about any other manufacturer of double strollers on the market today. It’s essentially a safety release, similar to the kind you’d find on a lawn mower. If you let go of the red handlebar, the stroller automatically activates a brake in the front wheel and stops the stroller. It’s not something you want to rely on in the sense of just letting go of the handlebars and running off, but it’s great to know that it’s there in case you need it.

How easy is it to pack up, assemble, or disassemble the Phil and Teds Navigator?

The Navigator is designed to be easy to fold up, and can be compacted down to a size small enough to store in the trunk of a car. it can closed and locked with one hand as well, which makes it a lot easier to be a mom or a dad.

Keep in mind that the rear seat will need to be removed in order for the Navigator to be folded. When folded, the wheels can be removed to make the Navigator take up even less space. This is a good idea, since it’s a bit more bulky, even when contracted, than several other double strollers we’ve come across.

What are the cargo storage and weight limits of the Phil and Teds Navigator?

The storage compartment for the Navigator is quite impressive when used in the single stroller mode, but it is much smaller when the double stroller mode is activated. There are additional pockets built into the sun canopy, which is an ingenious way of squeezing a bit more cargo room in the Navigator.

Concluding thoughts on the Phil and Teds Navigator

Is the Phil and Teds Navigator worth it?

For a double tandem stroller, the Phil and Teds navigator has a lot to offer, whether in the multitude of configurations for transporting infants and toddlers or in the exceptionally narrow frame and all terrain flexibility. It’s an attractive and agile stroller that will certainly turn heads while keeping your little ones comfortable and safe. I’d recommend it heartily. You can buy the Phil and Teds Navigator with the second seat here in Black, Cherry, Graphite, and Midnight Blue.

—

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.

3 Across Installations: Which Car Seats Fit a Subaru Crosstrek / Impreza?

The Subaru Crosstrek, which is is basically a raised version of the Subaru Impreza, is a small car frequently chosen by families interested in good gas mileage, hatchback capabilities, all wheel drive, and modern safety features. It competes in the small hatchback market with vehicles like the Ford Focus, Mazda 3, and Toyota Prius, being larger than the Honda Fit and smaller than its stablemate the Subaru Outback. I’ve borrowed a Crosstrek and a few Imprezas this past year to see which car seats I can fit into them, and specifically which ones I can fit into them in 3 across configurations. The information below applies equally to the Crosstrek and the Impreza in every generation listed.

When it comes to car seat safety, I always recommend rear-facing as long as your car seats will allow you (ideally until 4!), and then harnessing as long as you can with forward-facing or combination seats (ideally until 6, 7, or 8!), and finishing strong by continuing to booster until your child is old and mature enough to pass the 5 step test for booster readiness (which typically happens between 10 and 12). Following these steps is a simple way to keep your child as safe as possible during the early years of car travel.

With that in mind, I set out to try all of the car seats at my disposal to see which 3 across installations would fit well in a Subaru Impreza / Crosstrek, and arranged my list below. The truth is that I had a lot of trouble finding combinations that would work, but was still able to ensure that the usual suspects worked. If you find the list helpful when shopping for car seats, you can shop through my Amazon link below. I’ll add more seats as I test them over time.

You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. The Canadian car seat guide is here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

2017, 2018 Subaru Crosstrek / Impreza (GK, GT, XV)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Chicco KeyFit 30, Diono Radian / RXT.

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The 5th generation of the Subaru Crosstrek / Impreza is 173.8 inches long in the hatchback version and 180.3 inches long in the sedan. The Impreza is a scant 68.5 inches wide while the Crosstrek is essentially identical at 68.9, which means it’s going to be even more difficult to achieve a 3 across installation in it than what you’d expect from a compact-sized car like the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. However, if you stick to seat belt installations and the narrowest car seats on the market, it’s definitely possible to puzzle some seats together.

If you’re using the Radians, you’ll definitely want to make use of the angle adjuster to get as much extra room between the car seat and the vehicle’s front seats as possible; this will give you extra leg room as a driver or front seat passenger.

2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Subaru Crosstrek / Impreza (GJ, GP)

crosstrek - 2012 - publicdomain

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Chicco KeyFit 30, Diono Radian / RXT.

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The 4th generation of the Subaru Crosstrek / Impreza is 174 inches long in the hatchback version and 180 inches long in the sedan. Both are 69 inches wide, which means it’s going to be about as difficult to achieve a 3 across installation in it as what you’d expect from a compact-sized car like the Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla. However, if you stick to seat belt installations and the narrowest car seats on the market, it’s definitely possible to puzzle some seats together.

If you’re using the Radians, you’ll definitely want to make use of the angle adjuster to get as much extra room between the car seat and the vehicle’s front seats as possible; this will give you extra leg room as a driver or front seat passenger.

2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Subaru Impreza (GE, GV, GH, GR)

impreza - 2010 - publicdomain

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Chicco KeyFit 30, Diono Radian / RXT.

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT, Graco Snugride 35, Diono Radian / RXT.

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The 3rd generation of the Subaru Impreza is 180 inches long in the sedan and 174 inches long in the hatchback. The width is consistent across the sedan and hatchback at just under 69 inches, which makes this generation of the Impreza functionally similar to the successive generation when it comes to 3 across width and front-to-back space. Once again, although this will make installations more of a challenge than you’d see in a number of other vehicles, if you stick to seat belt installations and use the narrowest car seats on the market, it’s definitely possible to puzzle some seats together.

If you’re using the Radians, you’ll definitely want to make use of the angle adjuster to get as much extra room between the car seat and the vehicle’s front seats as possible; this will give you extra leg room as a driver or front seat passenger.

2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Subaru Impreza (GD, GG)

impreza - 2004 - publicdomain

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Clek Oobr (x3).

Peg Perego Flex 120 (x3).

Maxi-Cosi RodiFix (x3).

Chicco KeyFit 30 (x3).

Diono Radian RXT (x3).

Diono Radian R120 (x3).

Diono Radian R100 (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The 2nd generation of the Subaru Impreza is 174 inches long in both the sedan and hatchback. The width, however, ranges from under 67 inches in the hatchback to just over 68 inches in the sedan, which makes this generation of the Impreza even more of a challenge than the successive generation when it comes to 3 across width and front-to-back space. However, although you’re definitely going to have your work cut out for you, if you stick to seat belt installations and use the narrowest car seats on the market, it’s definitely possible to puzzle a few seats together.

If you’re using the Radians, you’ll definitely want to make use of the angle adjuster to get as much extra room between the car seat and the vehicle’s front seats as possible; this will give you extra leg room as a driver or front seat passenger.

If you find my information on best practices in car and car seat safety helpful, you can do your shopping through this Amazon link. Canadians can shop here for Canadian purchases. Have a question or want to discuss best practices? Join us in the forums!

Baby Jogger City Select Tandem Double Stroller Review

cityselectBaby Jogger has a history of making a number of high quality side by side double strollers, including the City Mini GT Double, which is the best double walking stroller, and the Summit X3 Double, one of the best double joggers on the market.

However, as I’ve noted elsewhere on this blog, we’re typically used to using side by side double strollers instead of tandem, or sit and stand strollers. As a result, when we had the chance to pick up a Baby Jogger City Select, their tandem answer to the City Mini line, we couldn’t pass it up. Here are my thoughts on what I believe to be the most comprehensive review of the Baby Jogger City Select Stroller on the Internet.

Technically, the City Select is also a single stroller, and you can buy it as a single stroller here for a bit less than the cost of the double stroller configuration. However, since Mike and I usually review double strollers, our review focuses on its capabilities as a tandem walking stroller. It has a number of unique features centered in the range of car seat combinations you can set up, meaning you can effectively do some things with it that just aren’t possible with a side by side stroller.

The short version of my review is that this is a solid double stroller, and easily the best tandem double stroller I’ve ever used. You can buy the Baby Jogger City Select here. For the nitty gritty details on how the stroller stacks up to the competition, read on.

Weight and Dimensions of the 2015 Baby Jogger City Select

How much does the Baby Jogger City Select weigh?

The Baby Jogger City Select weighs around 28 pounds per my scale, although it weighs closer to 38 pounds when a second seat is added. As a result, keep in mind that you’re going to be dealing with significantly more weight if you’ve got a second dedicated infant seat attached to your City Select. That said, you’re not going to find any other stroller that packs some of the unique features of the City Select into a stroller for less weight.

What’s the narrowest door you can fit a Baby Jogger City Select through?

You can fit the City Select through doors as narrow as 26″ when it’s set up and ready to go, which is almost as good as what you get from the narrowest side by side stroller, the Mountain Buggy Duet. However, if you’re splitting hairs or regularly traveling into extremely narrow locations, the Mountain Buggy does have the edge by being an inch narrower in diameter.

That said, when testing it, we didn’t run into any doors that we couldn’t get through, despite spending several hours in the local malls and downtown shops in the Chicago suburbs. We did notice several couples struggling with their boat-like side by side strollers and having to park outside random stores while we entered without a second thought.

What are the length, width, and height of the Baby Jogger City Select?

The City Select is 43.5″ long, 25.75″ wide, and 38.5″ tall when unfolded, and 12.5″ long, 25.75″ wide, and 32.75″ tall when folded. It collapses into a decently small amount of space, but it’s definitely a larger amount of space necessary than that in a comparable side by side double walking stroller like the City Mini GT. The City Select has a tall, upright profile when being used. It feels more or less like a traditional single stroller when using it, except that it’s noticeably heavier and sturdier.

 

Using the Baby Jogger City Select with Children

Can you use two infant seat adapters with the Baby Jogger City Select?

cs2-300x300Yes! This is where the City Select shines; it simply allows configurations that aren’t possible with side by side strollers. You can set up a pair of infant seats in forward- or rear-facing combinations, or an individual car seat, or a car seat and a bassinet. The only combination that isn’t possible is that of a pair of bassinets. This is easily the most infant-friendly double stroller out there right now.

What are the recommended height, weight, and age limits for children you can fit in the Baby Jogger City Select?

The age limits vary depending on whether or not a bassinet is used. Without it, the lower age limit is 6 months, while if the bassinet add-on is included, it can be used from birth. The limit for each seat is 45 pounds, and the maximum height limit is 40.” Of course, it’s possible to move past these seat limits, but you do run the risk of instability in the stroller and increasing the stress you put on it.

Regarding the height limit, keep in mind that there is definitely an upper limit even if you skip the limit suggested by Baby Jogger. My 4 year old was unable to fit in it at 45.” In contrast, our 2 year old at 36″ was fine, and looked like she’d be able to fit for another 4 inches or so comfortably. Our baby was quite content and is probably the happiest person with the stroller.

Where can I find the user manual for the Baby Jogger City Select?

You can download the City Select user manual directly from Baby Jogger here. Unfortunately, it focuses rather exclusively on the stroller as used in a single stroller configuration, but a lot of the basic principles and explanations are the same.

Seating in the Baby Jogger City Select

What are the seats and seat support like in the Baby Jogger City Select?

cs3-300x300The seat support is excellent in the Baby Jogger City Select; there are multiple recline positions available in the main seat, and the footwell for the lower seat has multiple positions to make it easier for your kids to ride relaxed. The main seat easily passes the sleep test, and if you use a bassinet for the second seat, I can guarantee that your newborn will be a fan of it.

Can you recline the seats in the Baby Jogger City Select?

Yes, you can recline the main lower seat to a flat position. You can’t do that with the second seat, but that’s an inherent limitation in the tandem design rather than something unique to the City Select. If you’ve got a bassinet, of course, you naturally have a flat recline.

What are the sun canopies like in the Baby Jogger City Select?

The sun canopies are good, but they don’t extend nearly as well as do the ones on the City Mini GT, which was a disappointment. As a result, if you’ve got a baby you’re trying to keep away from the sun, you’re going to need to set something else up, especially if you’ve got the baby reclined nicely.

Buy the Baby Jogger City Select on Sale at Amazon here.

Moving and Using the Baby Jogger City Select

What is it like to push the Baby Jogger City Select? 

It’s solid. That’s the first word that comes to mind when using the City Select. You can tell Baby Jogger put time, thought, and quality materials into the design and construction of this stroller, and it shows every time we use it. It steers easily and fluidly, and has a sure-footed feel that’s probably related to how heavy it is. It’s not a jogging stroller, but with the size of the wheels, you can cross a number of kinds of terrain without issue, including grass, sidewalks, dirt, and packed sand.

The tandem configuration puts more weight on the front wheels than in the side by side stroller design, which means turns are going to be harder than they would be in, say, the City Mini GT Double, but it’s nothing you won’t be able to handle; you’ll just notice a difference if you’ve got a high end side by side double in your garage.

Is the handlebar on the Baby Jogger City Select adjustable?

Yes, the handlebar is adjustable and makes it easy for people of varying heights to push at a height they find comfortable. The adjustable handlebar is one of those features you don’t notice the need for until you find a stroller that has it, much like the adjustable steering wheel in some cars. However, once you start using it, you don’t want to use a stroller (or car) without it.

What are the brakes, tires, suspension, and wheels like on the Baby Jogger City Select?

The tires on the City Select are impressive; they’re 12 inches in diameter in the back and 8 inches in the front, which makes the ride a lot smoother than you’d expect from a walking stroller. The wheels, like the seats, are removable.

Storing and Transporting the Baby Jogger City Select 

How easy is it to pack up the Baby Jogger City Select?

This is probably my least favorite part of the City Select. The City Mini GT Double is an easy stroller to assemble, disassemble, and set up and pack up frequently. You essentially take it out, open it up, and then install the car seat or child and off you go. However, with the City Select, you’ve got to unfold it, attach your car seat attachment clip, and then get the car seat in there, all before getting the child in there.

If you’re interested in setting up the second seat, you’ll then need to put up a pair of arms, the seat itself, the attachment for the car seat, and finally the car seat. You then have to do this in reverse if you need to get the stroller back into your vehicle. It gets faster with time, but it would be nice if it could be simpler.

Cargo and Cleaning the Baby Jogger City Select

What are the storage and weight limits of the Baby Jogger City Select‘s compartments?

The suggested limit for the back seat pocket is 2 pounds while the basket limit is around 15 pounds. Baby Jogger warns that exceeding these limits could make the stroller unstable, which makes sense. It’s easier to get to the basket underneath than it is with the City Mini GT Double, but it’s still a bit of a challenge. That said, there’s a generous amount of space under there that makes it easy to fit a lot of things once you get them down there.

How do you clean the Baby Jogger City Select?

Cleaning is done simply with a wet cloth or rag. The materials used in the construction of the stroller are top notch and stain and fade resistant, although you’ll still want to exercise care when using the stroller.

Concluding thoughts on the Baby Jogger City Select

Is the Baby Jogger City Select worth it?

The Baby Jogger City Select is worth its sticker price and a bit more. It’s easily the best tandem double walking stroller out there and a strong contender to the high-end side by side double walking strollers it shares space with. It has some drawbacks, but if you’re looking for a near-unlimited ability to configure a pair of car seats while keeping a slim profile that can get into just about any door, it’s hard to find a better double stroller solution than the City Select. You can buy the Baby Jogger City Select here in Black, Amethyst, Onyx, Red, Silver, Teal, All Black, and Quartz.

—

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.

3 Across Installations: Which Car Seats Will Fit in a BMW X5?

The BMW X5 is one of the most popular European mid-sized luxury SUVs on the market, competing with SUVs (or crossovers) like the Mercedes M-Class, Acura MDX, Lexus RX, Volvo XC90, Volvo XC60, and its stablemate the BMW X3. While larger than the X3, it’s also small enough to fit in most garages and even comes with a 3rd row option in the most recent years. It’s frequently chosen as a family vehicle among parents interested in a blend of luxury, style, and safety. After having the chance to test out an X3 for 3 across car seat compatibility, I borrowed an X5 to see how it would do when it came to puzzling 3 car seats across. I had much more luck fitting seats safely here than I did with the X3, although it was still a bit more difficult than I’d expected.

Something to keep in mind with the X5 is that it’s one of the few 3-row SUVs left on the market that still doesn’t offer side airbag protection in the 3rd row. This is a downside when considering that row for children and adults alike. And in general, the 3rd row of the X5 is not a good place for car seats. You can fit some boosters and forward-facing seats there, but there are very few, if any, rear-facing seats that will fit there (I haven’t found one yet). When it comes to car seats, I’d consider the X5 a 2-row vehicle.

Before looking at the list of seats that did and didn’t work, remember that your kids are best off rear-facing as long as you can manage (ideally until 4!), followed by keeping them harnessed as long as you can (ideally until 8!), and finally using a booster seat until they can pass the 5 step test for seat belt use (which typically happens between 10 and 12). The goal is to keep them restrained appropriately as long as necessary to keep them as safe as possible. There’s no need to rush from one stage to the next.

After a long afternoon of testing, I came up with my list of the usual suspects, as well as a lot of seats I hadn’t expected to work. I’m pretty sure this is the most detailed list of 3 across car seats that will fit in the BMW X5 on the Internet. If you find my list helpful when shopping for car seats, you can shop through my Amazon link below. I’ll add more seats as I test them over time; I want as complete a list of compatibility as possible with each vehicle I test.

You can access the complete 3 across guide for every vehicle here and the complete list of recommended seats here. The Canadian car seat guide is here. 3 across car seat images are courtesy of Wikipedia.

x5 - publicdomain - 20142014, 2015, 2016 BMW X5 (F15)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Britax Parkway SGL, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Clek Foonf (x3).

Recaro Performance SPORT, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Boulevard G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Marathon G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Diono Radian / RXT, Ride Safer Travel Vest, Diono Radian / RXT.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Marathon G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Safety 1st Complete Air, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Boulevard G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Tips and Tricks:

This generation of the BMW X5 is 192 inches long and 76 inches wide, which you’d think would mean you’d have a good time fitting seats 3 across. However, to be honest, I was surprised at the sheer number of seats I was able to make work. This is because as with the previous generation, due to the narrowness of the center seat, the process is a bit more difficult than you’d expect.

The current generation X5 is the same width but an inch longer than the previous generation, making 3 across installations about as likely (or unlikely) as they were in the previous generation. Fortunately, it’s still possible with a large number of seats if you take your time. Seat belt use will be a necessity, especially since center LATCH borrowing is not permitted in the X5 or any BMW.

x5-2010-publicdomain2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 BMW X5 (E70)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Britax Parkway SGL, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Clek Foonf (x3).

Recaro Performance SPORT, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

 

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Boulevard G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Marathon G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Diono Radian / RXT, Ride Safer Travel Vest, Diono Radian / RXT.

Britax Marathon ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Marathon G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Marathon G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Safety 1st Complete Air, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Britax Boulevard ClickTight, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Boulevard G4.1, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Britax Boulevard G4, Diono Radian / RXT, Safety 1st Complete Air.

Tips and Tricks:

This generation of the BMW X5 is 191 inches long and 76 inches wide, which is a bit deceptive since it’s not quite as friendly on the inside when it comes to puzzling 3 car seats side by side as you’d expect from the width. The main issue is how narrow the back seat area is; it’s surprisingly slim!  That said, there are still a number of seats that will work; you’ll just need to work a bit harder at it.

One installation I tried over and over again that just wouldn’t work involved a Frontier 90 and the Radian RXTs; a Frontier also wouldn’t work with a Coccoro and a Radian RXT. You’ll need something narrower for a combination seat.

Keep in mind as well that you cannot use LATCH to install a center seat on BMWs, as it is specifically forbidden in the vehicle manual.

x5 - 2004 - publicdomain2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 BMW X5 (E53)

Guaranteed 3 across installations:

Clek Fllo (x3).

Britax Parkway SGL, Diono Radian / RXT, Combi Coccoro.

Graco Size4Me 65 (x3).

Clek Foonf (x3).

Combi Coccoro (x3).

Graco Contender (x3).

Diono Radian / RXT (x3).

Tips and Tricks:

The initial generation of the BMW X5 is 184 inches long and 74 inches wide, or 7 inches shorter and 2 inches narrower than the generation that would follow it. As a result, it’s going to be the most difficult of the 3 generations to use in terms of 3 across generations, especially when the center seat is considered. However, there are definitely seats that will work inside it, especially if you remember to use seat belts for all 3 seats.

—

If you find the information on car safety, recommended car seats, and car seat reviews on this car seat blog helpful, you can shop through this Amazon link for any purchases, car seat-related or not. Canadians can shop through this link for Canadian purchases.