4 convertables car seats and a minivan

ceechie · January 2014

Ok, so, we will be moving our 6 mos twins to convertables in the next couple months. We have a Toyota Sienna and need to hold two rear facing seats and two forward facing for my 3 and 5 yo's. How is this going to work?! Anyone in same boat? We need to be able to get to the kids to buckle in the third row. And not sure which seats to get that fit best. I'm dreading this as the infant seats were so easy... Please help! Thanks everyone!

meldoo2002 · January 2014

Where are the infant seats now? Wouldn't it be possible just to keep the seating arrangements they have now?? I've known some people to put 3 in a row in the back in something like a Radian… or if your 5y.o. is in a skinnier booster you may be able to put 3 across. Then take out the 2nd Captain's chair to get to the 3rd row. Or do you not have Captain's chairs?

cukimerrydoll · January 2014

Yeah, I agree with @meldoo2002. Why doesn't your current configuration work? It would be helpful to know the seat configurations in the van.

LottaLattes · January 2014

I have an odyssey and took out one second row seat, have the other two second row seats pushed together and put the twins in there (just lean over one seat to buckle). And I could get into the third row to buckle, no problem, if I needed to.

bumpuser924057 · January 2014

LottaLattes said:

I have an odyssey and took out one second row seat, have the other two second row seats pushed together and put the twins in there (just lean over one seat to buckle). And I could get into the third row to buckle, no problem, if I needed to.

What convertibles do you have? I didn't even consider this, but it sounds much easier if I could fit them!

LottaLattes · January 2014

thecheshirekat said:

LottaLattes said:

I have an odyssey and took out one second row seat, have the other two second row seats pushed together and put the twins in there (just lean over one seat to buckle). And I could get into the third row to buckle, no problem, if I needed to.

What convertibles do you have? I didn't even consider this, but it sounds much easier if I could fit them!

I ended up with one Radian and one Boulevard. I started with two Radians but newer (not sure about older) Odysseys have a funny ledge in the center seat where the tooth on the Radian doesn't fit.

And I totally typed wrong, I have the seats pulled apart with the "shoulder room" whatever where they can slide apart a little, not pushed together.

ceechie · January 2014

Right now, the infant seats are in the captains chairs and the big kids are in the 3rd row, forward facing. When getting the big kids in and out we have to take the buckets out to slide the captains seats forward. If we put rear facing convertables in that seat, then the chair won't slide forward to get to the third row. And I'm worried about putting rear facing all the way in the back and having a lot of difficulty getting them in and out. Not to mention, I hate pullin the big kids out and then climbing in the car to get the twins. I don't want my 2yo and 4 yo that free in a parking lot. Oh my god- way over thinking....
I think I'll just have to play at buy buy baby and see what fits best. Maybe something low profile?!? Radians seem too tall....I love my twins, but they are logistical nightmares!!!!

LottaLattes · January 2014

If you don't have the option for two in the second row sbs, I would put one twin behind the driver RF, the 4yo and other twin in the third row and 2yo in the other captains chair. You can then get out the two in the back, get the second twin out and then the 2yo. Or swap the older two. Presumably you'll be putting babies directly into a stroller which will help this all. Good luck!

bumpuser924057 · January 2014

LottaLattes said:

LottaLattes said:

I have an odyssey and took out one second row seat, have the other two second row seats pushed together and put the twins in there (just lean over one seat to buckle). And I could get into the third row to buckle, no problem, if I needed to.

What convertibles do you have? I didn't even consider this, but it sounds much easier if I could fit them!
I ended up with one Radian and one Boulevard. I started with two Radians but newer (not sure about older) Odysseys have a funny ledge in the center seat where the tooth on the Radian doesn't fit. And I totally typed wrong, I have the seats pulled apart with the "shoulder room" whatever where they can slide apart a little, not pushed together.

Good to know. I have a Boulevard already and need to get a second convertible, so maybe I'll look into a Radian. I really like the Boulevard despite everyone's recent hatred for Britax convertibles, but I'm not sure I would be able to fit two of those together.

ceechie · January 2014

LottaLattes said:
If you don't have the option for two in the second row sbs, I would put one twin behind the driver RF, the 4yo and other twin in the third row and 2yo in the other captains chair. You can then get out the two in the back, get the second twin out and then the 2yo. Or swap the older two. Presumably you'll be putting babies directly into a stroller which will help this all. Good luck!

That helps a lot! Bc then the 2 yo can still be last one out. He's a runner...
I felt like I needed more brains on this- I couldn't see "it".

caden · January 2014

If you can fit 3 kids in the 3rd row, 1 rear facing in a captain chair and take out the 2nd captain chair that would be my vote. You'd have plenty of room inside to get the 2nd twin in a RF seat in the back, plus you'd only need to open 1 side door to get everyone out. And you'd be blocking that exit so no one should be able to escape...easily at least.

JodiAriel · January 2014

You can't FF two seats in the third row because there is only one tether in the 3rd row. Your best bet is to either puzzle one FF and one RF back there or put both RF seats in the third row and the FF seats in the captains chair. You last option is to put your 4 yr old FF seat in the middle of the third row and the two RF seats on the sides in the 3rd row, remove captain chair from the middle row and put your 2 yr old in a FF seat in the other captain chair. Personally I would leave the middle seat open in the 3rd row though so you can sit in it to buckle and unbuckle the twins.
ETA: I'm a CPST

ceechie · January 2014

JodiAriel said:
You can't FF two seats in the third row because there is only one tether in the 3rd row. Your best bet is to either puzzle one FF and one RF back there or put both RF seats in the third row and the FF seats in the captains chair. You last option is to put your 4 yr old FF seat in the middle of the third row and the two RF seats on the sides in the 3rd row, remove captain chair from the middle row and put your 2 yr old in a FF seat in the other captain chair. Personally I would leave the middle seat open in the 3rd row though so you can sit in it to buckle and unbuckle the twins.
ETA: I'm a CPST

Now I'm really going to pick your brain!!! Thank you for responding!
Any low profile convertables car seats you recommend? Something that is easy to reach into to pull the babies in and out of? Dh and I are gonna go shopping this weekend but I'd love to hear which seats you're loving right now for safety and ease. I've been searching around and it's an insane world to navigate! Thanks so much!

JodiAriel · January 2014

What are the sizes of you twins? Height/weight? What are the other seats that you already have that you are trying to puzzle with?

ceechie · January 2014

Oh thank you! My girls are tiny. Both 14lbs but long at 25" and 26" (they're 6 mos). They still fit in the infant seats, but my Sil is due end of March and we wanted to give her our buckets since it's only months difference until they out grow. We have graco safety surround convertables and a first years one for the big kids.
I have a 2011 sienna- but feeling like I need an airport van!! Haha

JodiAriel · January 2014

The graco safety surround is huge. I am thinking Radians are going to be your best bet. They last a really long time rear facing. You should rear face until AT LEAST age 2 or longer if the child still fits in the seat rearfacing. They also have really low sides so they are easier to get kids in and out of. They are very tall but you can get an angle adjuster that gives you 6 more inches between the seats. They are also really narrow so you could puzzle 2 in the third row with another seat.

ceechie · January 2014

Thank you for the info! I call the graco a bark-a-lounger. It's not my fav but was a good price at the time.

LottaLattes · January 2014

I honestly couldn't imagine trying to get two in RF in the third row with a third seat in there. It is hard enough in the second row by the door. I am going to put my radian in the third row ff with the two bigs when #5 comes along and put the bub RF behind the driver seat and the other twin ff in the center seat, which sounds like enough climbing in and out already (just giving some other thoughts since I have been noodling on this for several weeks).

JodiAriel · January 2014

@Lottalattes what vehicle do you have with 3 rows? What are your big kids in? Seatbelts?

LottaLattes · January 2014

JodiAriel said:
@Lottalattes what vehicle do you have with 3 rows? What are your big kids in? Seatbelts?

I have a Honda Odyssey, biggest is just in the seat (he is 12) and the 9yo is still in a booster but is nearly tall enough to get his freedom. I am ok with my config, just for @cheechie can't imagine trying to buckle two RF kids in the third row while managing two other kids.

ShannonSky · January 2014

My kids will be the same ages as yours and we are buying a Sienna (i keep mine RF to 4, tho). Our plan when they are in convertibles is to do:

3rd row: RF twin, driver side; FF 5yr old, passenger side - this allows me to use the top tether on my FF kid, and I can do a seatbelt install on my RF twin. This also means the 5yr old can get out easily for kindy drop off.

2nd row: captains' chairs pushed behind driver/middle, RF kid in driver side, RF twin in middle. This means easy access for preschool drop off for the kid and I can dump the twin in his seat on my way back to buckle the 3rd row kids.

Tether locations and the ability to slide the captains' chairs are dependent on model year, tho, so you will need to check that. I want to say '04-10 have the 4 tether spots and chairs slide, but that could be wrong.

ceechie · January 2014

LottaLattes said:

JodiAriel said:
@Lottalattes what vehicle do you have with 3 rows? What are your big kids in? Seatbelts?
I have a Honda Odyssey, biggest is just in the seat (he is 12) and the 9yo is still in a booster but is nearly tall enough to get his freedom. I am ok with my config, just for @cheechie can't imagine trying to buckle two RF kids in the third row while managing two other kids.

Well, we played at Buy Buy Baby and rear facing in third row was horrible. So, we are getting the Diono's and they will be in the 2nd row. We are taking out the jump seat and push the seats all the way back for the big kids to get in and walk down the middle to get to the back.
This is about to be the biggest pain in my ass....
But again, thanks for all the responses!

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