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