OT- How to seat everyone in minivan

[emmababy]

We are expecting dd3 in August. We bought a minivan last year. At the time of dd's arrival, we will have a 4 year old, 2 year old, and the baby. My question is where to put everyone?? Right now, the two kids are in the captain's chairs.

Who do I move to the back? I originally thought my oldest, but she will be too small for a booster, so I will still have to squeeze back to buckle her, which I am not looking forward to. I worry about putting her back there and not being able to pass things to her.

Please help!

 

[ireland_nicole]

If she's 4, you could probably teach her to buckle herself in. It's still easier imho to keep the smallest that need the most help closest to you.

 

[emmababy]

She can get the top part buckled but not the bottom part. She will be too small to use seat belt.

 

[Maize&Blue]

remove one of the captains chairs, put two kids in the 3rd row and then one in the other captains chair.

 

[dougsmom98]

Have you thought of taking out one or both of the captains chairs? When we had a 2 year old and newborn twins, the type of van we had allowed us to take out the middle row of seats and move the back seat (3 seater) forward. It was a tight fit, but all kids were in the front. I don't think our current van would allow for this, but in the van we have now, I think I would fold down (stow n' go) one of the captain's chairs and put two kids in the back. At least, it would be easy access to the kids in the back seat because the captain's chair is out of the way. As for passing things to your DD in the way back, it might be difficult, but she is getting older and won't need as many things.

 

[disfan07]

You still have a few months. I would start teaching your 4 year old how to buckle herself. She'll probably surprise you and be able to do it very quickly.

Where I work, when we do carpool for the preschool camp, all of the 4 year olds and most of the 3 year olds know how to buckle themselves. We still have to check if it's correct for liability reasons but we only have to correct it once in a blue moon.

 

[set1208]

remove one of the captains chairs, put two kids in the 3rd row and then one in the other captains chair.

I agree. I have four in car seats and an older child so I have 3 toddlers across the back and the infant in a captains chair. I keep the other captains chair folded over so I can sit on it while I buckle my three toddlers in. Once they're in, my dd10 hops in and flips the seat up. My passenger side chair slides over to snug up to the drivers side one so that the big kids can just hop into the slider and walk into the back instead of climbing through the middle row.

 

[set1208]

My big guy can buckle his own seat but I still make sure I check it b/c sometimes he doesn't get it in all the way. Don't trust that they can properly do it themselves. As far as reaching them, I just throw stuff at them! I just cleaned out my back seat and found enough food to feed my family for a week....lol.

 

[mupt02]

We have kids about the same ages. We took out one of the captains chairs and put the two older kids in the back. It has worked out great for us. I don't have to climb over seats to get to anyone and with the baby seat in a captain seat, I don't have to lift his carrier into any crazy seats.

 

[Samar]

I have my oldest and the baby in the captains chairs. I have my middle DD in the back. We don't eat or drink in the car so the only thing that needs passing is tissues which my son can do

With your kids ages, I'd just put the older child in the back since the younger 2 will need your attention more.

 

[emmababy]

Any tips on helping her learn how to do the bottom buckles? She can do the top. Thanks!

Our van has the swivel and go- really wish it was stow and go now! I will have to look at how the seat folds down.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Any tips on helping her learn how to do the bottom buckles? She can do the top. Thanks!

Our van has the swivel and go- really wish it was stow and go now! I will have to look at how the seat folds down.

DS learned how to do both when he was about 4. I think it really depends on the carseat, too. We moved him to a Graco Nautilus when he was 4, and he has never had a problem getting the bottom hooked, he still struggles with the seat in DH's car. I actually let him practice in his seat in the living room, before I put it in the car, then he could take his time and focus without us being in a hurry to go somewhere.

 

[Bren's Mom]

First you need to know where the tether anchors are in your minivan, you can find this in your owner's manual. All forward facing car seats should be tethered.

I gather your 4 year old is still harnessed, that's great. Is your 2 year old rear or forward facing? And if your newborn going to be using an infant carrier or a convertible seat from the get go?

Most likely, it will be easiest while your infant is in the carrier (if you're using one) to put the base in the 3rd row since it doesn't require a tether and can be lifted over the 3rd row from the rear lift gate area. You can remove the headrests.

The suggestion to remove a captain's chair and put the two older children back there is a good one as well if there are 2 tether anchors. Alternately, you can put the 4 year old and the newborn there together if there is only 1 anchor. Put the 2 yo in the remaining captain's chair.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Can you pull out one of the middle chairs??

Put Baby and oldest in the back bench, and the middle kiddo in the middle row? By taking out a middle chair you'd have less to crawl over?

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

My oldest is in the back and the two youngers are in the captain's chairs. While it took my oldest a while to get used to buckling himself and I still check it almost every time to make sure it's properly snug, I can reach my hand alongside one of the captain's chairs to reach his seat.

I really prefer this setup as it lets me fold down half the back seat which gives us lots of storage room or a place for the dogs when we bring them with us.

Worst case, I occasionally went in through the back liftgate to check on my oldest - this was actually easiest when it's raining out as you don't get wet under the back door.

We keep a "Pik Stik" on the floor between the captain's seats that we use to pass stuff back to our oldest when we're stopped at a light or such. You could buy one or make your own by attaching a small basket to a broom handle. I can't wait until minivans come with little conveyor belts to get stuff to and from the back passengers... LOL

I like having the younger ones within arm's reach as they need more attention. Try it one way and you can always rearrange them as necessary. You'll find what works for you!

 

[emmababy]

My oldest is in the back and the two youngers are in the captain's chairs. While it took my oldest a while to get used to buckling himself and I still check it almost every time to make sure it's properly snug, I can reach my hand alongside one of the captain's chairs to reach his seat.

I really prefer this setup as it lets me fold down half the back seat which gives us lots of storage room or a place for the dogs when we bring them with us.

Worst case, I occasionally went in through the back liftgate to check on my oldest - this was actually easiest when it's raining out as you don't get wet under the back door.

We keep a "Pik Stik" on the floor between the captain's seats that we use to pass stuff back to our oldest when we're stopped at a light or such. You could buy one or make your own by attaching a small basket to a broom handle. I can't wait until minivans come with little conveyor belts to get stuff to and from the back passengers...

I have never heard of a Pik Stik, what a great idea!! She will love being in the back. I'm afraid my son will miss being next to his sister!

I thank everyone for their tips. I think I will fold down part of the back and put her there.

 

[PaulaSue]

I had the baby behind me, my 2 year old behind the pass and my 4 year old in the way back since she didn't need help unbuckeling, just buckeling.