Parenting

Moms of 3 - How do you have carseats configured?

I was planning on putting my older 2 in the back and my baby behind me and leaving the other seat (middle row) permanently pushed over.  That's what a friend has done and it looks like its working well.  Of course her van is huge (Odyssey).  I have a small MPV.  
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Re: Moms of 3 - How do you have carseats configured?

  • I also have an Odyssey.   I have DD in a booster in the back.  DS1 behind the driver in a convertible car seat and DS2 behind the passenger also in a convertible carseat.

    I have been thinking about moving DS1 to the back because he keeps messing with the windows!   


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • We tried a few configurations before DD arrived.

    First, we put the infant seat on the passenger side and DS2 behind me with DS1 in the back.  DS1 can buckle himself in, but can't unbuckle the crotch strap.  Trying to reach behind DS2's huge Britax seat to check DS1's buckles and unbuckle him was practically impossible.

    We then moved DS1 to the back with DS2 and stowed the middle seat behind me.  This was a PITA because I'd have to climb all the way in to put DS2 in his seat and buckle him up and then climb in again to get him out and unbuckle DS2.  Plus, the boys antagonized one another on practically every car trip.  And, I couldn't reach them if I needed to hand them something (a kleenex, sippy, race car they dropped and threw a fit about, etc.)

    We now have DD behind me, DS2 behind the passenger seat and DS1 in the back.  This works great.  I turn around and unbuckle DS2 before I open any doors.  Then, I get out and open DD's door.  I reach behind the infant seat and unbuckle DS1 (much easier to do with the infant carrier there because it's low, not high-backed like DS2's seat).  The boys can't get out until I pull DD's seat out, which keeps everyone wrangled until I'm ready to take their hands.

    FWIW, we have a Town & Country.  My friend who has an MPV buckled her kids in and out of the back seat by opening the back hatch and reaching over them.  I did that, too, when I did preschool carpool, but while better than climbing in to reach the back seat, I found it more annoying than our current set-up.

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  • We have a minivan. Girls are in the back and Drew is behind the passanger seat.
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    {Ava 5.16.06} {Ella 12.29.07} {Drew 2.9.10}
  • I have a minivan, the two middle seats are captain chairs.  We have DD3 behind the passenger side, DD1 and 2 in the back.  The seat behind the drivers side is down, so my "routine" is: get out, open side door, get in, close door.  Get everyones' shoes, socks and jackets on, since they don't wear their coats in the car seats, and they take off anything on their feet.  Is this ridiculous?  yeah, it might be, and 5-7 minutes after we park, we're ready to exit van.  (unless we're coming home...then I just run in w/ them one at a time.  

    (This is our winter routine.  might change when it warms up....)  

  • I have an Odyssey. I have my middle child in the third row, the baby behind the driver seat, and oldest in a booster behind the passenger. My DD#1 was in the third row when the baby was born, but we had to move her to the seat behind the passenger seat b/c of drop-off for her preschool.
  • I appreciate all the feedback.  Thanks!
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  • At first, only DS1 was in the third row.  Now, both older boys are in the back, with DS3 in the second row.  I have an Odyssey with the passenger side 2nd row seat pushed toward the middle, so it's easy for me to reach back and buckle/unbuckle DS2.  Having both boys in the back leaves a 2nd row seat open for an adult or easy access to install another carseat in case we have a friend riding with us.
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  • I've been thinking about this too!
  • I'm planning to do what mamarazzi decided on....oldest in the middle 3rd row, middle child behind the passenger, and infant behind the driver (I have an Acadia and there are captain's chairs in 2nd row).  The oldest can buckle and unbuckle himself, so I don't need direct access to him, and I need both older boys to be able to get in and out of the car easily for preschool carpool line, so the baby will be out of the way of all that coming and going in her spot behind me. 

    However, when it's me getting them out (vs. carpool line), I'll pop the infant seat out and have the boys come out her door so that I have control of the open door and can grab hands in the parking lot. 

    Jack 3.5.07 / Ethan 9.17.08 / Lauren 4.3.11 image
  • I have the 2 youngest in the captains chairs in the middle row and oldest DD in the 3rd row. 
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  • I have a mini van (Sienna) and right now DD1 is in the back, DS is in the middle passenger side and DD2 is middle driver side.  I want to return DS to the back row but haven't moved his carseat back there yet (had to take it out to go with grandma).  The kids can walk between the two seats in the middle to get to the back row.  I like having the older ones in the back so I can sit next to the baby if need be (when DH is driving of course) and I like having the baby on my side so I can get her out right there (rather than walking around the car) and have the other two come out the same door (except when we are home they can go out the other side).  It works for us - the down side to having the older two in the back is getting stuff to them if they need it but oh well they just will need to wait until we get where we are going :o)
    Mommy to DS1 ~10.11.05~ DD1 ~07.22.07~ DD2 ~09.10.10~
  • I dobn't have a van or 3 rows so I don't know if you want me input, but I'll tell you what I do anyway Smile

     

    We have a Citreon Xsara Picasso https://www.carzone.ie/search/Citroen/Xsara-Picasso/2.0-HDI/200939195306066/advert?channel=CARS

    It has 3 separate seats in the back which makes it much easier to fit 3 seats. It was probably the only car we could find that fits 3 bulky child seats. Smile We have the 2 "babies" on the outside, and Liam sits in the middle...means he can climb in on his own.

     Here are 2 of my boys and my nephew. If I ever have another baby, we would have to get a 3 row car.

    image 

    imageimage

    L-R: Liam (7), Eimhin (6) and Fionn (4)!  (Irish names)
    Too busy to update the pics for now ... :)

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