Tell me about the logistics getting 3+ small children into your car! - Page 2

[bearandotter]

We have an Odyssey. LOVE IT! (though shhh, only a year ago I swore I would never become a minivan mom). #3 is still baking, but the plan is: 3 1/2 year old in back front facing (still rear facing now) with the seat removed in front of her (passenger side captain seat out). 2yo rear facing middle driver's side. Infant middle of middle row. Then everyone is facing each other and they can have a party in the car.

Then I can throw baby into seat and ensure 3 yo is climbing up, run around put 2yo in and buckle her up. Back to the other side to buckle infant and 3yo. It rains her a lot on my island so I can also be physically in the vehicle while doing most everybody up and even put infant in babycarrier while still inside. 

[porcelina]

Originally Posted by bearandotter 

Then I can throw baby into seat and ensure 3 yo is climbing up, run around put 2yo in and buckle her up. Back to the other side to buckle infant and 3yo. It rains her a lot on my island so I can also be physically in the vehicle while doing most everybody up and even put infant in babycarrier while still inside. 

Glad you love yours too! Sounds like all minivan owners agree on that! I actually really like the idea of doing all kinds of stuff while in the car -- it rains here too, though not a lot, but in the winter that sounds like it could be really, really nice!

[dayiscoming2006]

We just fit 3 across in the back of our 2001 Sienna. DH decided to try it out last night. It is a bit snug, but they all like it. Right now the youngest is in the middle, since her seat allows for a lapbelt installation. I may change it to the youngest closer to the easier door, the oldest in the middle with the back of his booster removed and the middle kiddo on the other side. That leaves us with 2 open seats in the middle, so plenty of room for new baby and if by some crazy chance there are twins, then they'll be room for 2 more. So, hooray! No need to upgrade vehicles. One drawback is less cargo space. We only had half the back seat up before, but oh well. The Sienna is the most dependable car we have owned until now. So, I'm glad we can hang onto it. 

And for car seats, we have an evenflo triumph(planning to set up the next step up in the evenflo before baby comes and give the newbie the triumph), then 2 evenflo big kid full back boosters that convert into regular boosters. 

[sunshine28]

For a RF back seat, I would get into the trunk of my minivan to buckle the chlild. Now I have the FF in the back of the van, and the RF kids in the middle bench.

Also, I'd like to recommend car-seat.org as an amazing forum dedicated to car seats. I have learned so much there, and there are many car seat techs on board there.