We know you’ll want to learn more about how and why we chose these car seats and boosters. You’ll find in depth explanations about each one of them here including links where you can purchase – so you can be sure you’re getting the exact model shown.
2D: 2nd Row Driver’s Side || 2C: 2nd Row Center Seat || 2P: 2nd Row Passenger’s Side
RF: Rear-facing || FF: Forward-facing || HBB: High-back Booster || NBB: No-back Booster
We used the seat back recline trick for every car seat installation shown below. It allowed us to get a tight installation in some really tight spots. Therefore, be sure to watch this video to learn what it is and how to do it. The base model of the Forester does not have a seat back recline option - and it may not be possible to get some of these car seats installed securely as a result.
2D: Chicco Fit2 (seat belt)
2C: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
2P: Chicco Fit2 (seat belt)
Notes: The Graco SnugRide SnugLock (DLX, Elite, Platinum) may be used instead of the Fit2 in both 2D + 2P.
2D: Clek Liing (seat belt + load leg)
2C: Clek Liing (seat belt + load leg)
2P: Cosco Rise (shown in picture), Harmony Youth Booster, or Graco RightGuide
2D: Clek Foonf (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
2C: Clek Liing (seat belt + load leg)
2P: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
Notes: Clek Q-Tether (not shown in picture) may be added to make the RF Clek Foonf even safer.
2D: Clek Liing (seat belt + load leg)
2C: Clek Foonf (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
2P: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
Notes: Align the Foonf's anti-rebound bar exactly as shown in this picture.
Clek Q-Tether (not shown in picture) may be added to make the RF Foonf even safer.
2D: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
2C: Chicco MyFit (seat belt + tether strap)
2P: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
2D: Chicco MyFit (seat belt + tether strap)
2C: Clek Fllo (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
2P: Chicco MyFit (seat belt + tether strap)
Notes:
Install MyFit in recline 1.
With a Clek Foonf RF in 2C, a MyFit works in 2D, but does not fit in 2P.
Clek Q-Tether (not shown in picture) may be added to make the RF Clek Foonf / Fllo even safer.
2D: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
2C: Clek Fllo (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
2P: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
Notes:
A RF Foonf works in 2C here as well.
Align Foonf's anti-rebound bar exactly as shown in this picture.
The Clek Q-Tether (not shown in picture) may be added to make the RF Clek Foonf / Fllo even safer.
2D: Clek Foonf (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
2C: Chicco MyFit (seat belt + tether strap)
2P: Clek Foonf (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
Notes: The Clek Q-Tether (not shown in picture) may be added to make the RF Clek Foonf even safer.
2D: Clek Foonf (seat belt + tether strap)
2C: Clek Foonf (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
2P: Diono Radian 3RXT (seat belt + tether strap)
Notes: Align Foonf's anti-rebound bar exactly as shown in this picture.
A FF Clek Fllo may be used in 2D instead of the FF Foonf.
It was not possible to add a 3rd Clek (Foonf or Fllo) in 2P with this configuration.
The Clek Q-Tether (not shown in picture) may be added to make the RF Clek Foonf even safer.
2D: Clek Foonf (seat belt + tether strap)
2C: Graco RightGuide (seat belt)
2P: Clek Foonf (seat belt + tether strap)
Notes: If Foonfs were installed with rigid LATCH, there was NOTHING that fit in 2C. With Foonfs installed with the seat belt, there was barely enough room for the RightGuide - so the child will need to climb in/out of a buckled booster.
A FF Clek Fllo (installed with seat belt + tether strap) could be used instead of the Foonf in either position.
2D: Clek Foonf (seat belt + tether strap)
2C: Clek Foonf (seat belt + anti-rebound bar)
2P: Maxi Cosi Rodifix (seat belt)
Notes: Rodifix's inner side wing is pushed in and the head rest will not go all the way up as it hits the side of the roof (because it is pushed farther to the passenger side door than usual).
The Clek Q-Tether (not shown in picture) may be added to make the RF Clek Foonf even safer.
2D: Harmony Youth Booster (seat belt)
2C: Chicco MyFit (seat belt + tether strap)
2P: Cosco Rise (seat belt)
Notes: The following NBB can all be used in 2D or 2P: Graco RightGuide, Harmony Youth Booster, Cosco Rise.
2D: Peg Perego Shuttle Plus 120 (seat belt)
2C: Chicco MyFit (seat belt + tether strap)
2P: Maxi Cosi Rodifix (seat belt)
Notes: Rodifix's inner side wing is pushed in. Shuttle Plus 120 will be harder to buckle than the Rodifix.
The Peg Perego & Maxi Cosi can be used on either side in this configuration (so you can have two of the same HBB).
A FF Diono Radian may be used in 2C instead of the MyFit.
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FTC Disclosure: Affiliate links are included in this page. No monetary compensation was provided, however, a few of the reviewed products were supplied by the manufacturer or distributor to help facilitate the review. All opinions are those of The Car Seat Lady, LLC.
A big thank you to Subaru for loaning us a 2019 Subaru Forester for a few days so we could complete this project! Subaru did not reach out to us – rather, we reached out to Subaru and asked them if we could borrow a Forester. Subaru had no say in any part of this project. This project, like all that we do, is completely independent of manufacturer input. As always, our opinions are our own – based on our experience & expertise.
