Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 21:17:23 GMT
How do parents with more than 2-3 in car seats do it?
I take care of my grandkids a lot. Right now it’s the 4 month old DGD every day & the 2.5 yo DGS one or two days a week. We all live across the N Tx metromess & meet at my DH’s office near downtown Dallas. So I MUST have car seats for all. I have a 4.5 yo DGS that goes to preschool & I pick him up a couple of times a month. We are expecting grandbaby #4 in August, and I’ll eventually keep that one a day or two/week. So I really need 4 car seats installed all the time.
We bought a Lincoln Navigator last year, because it has the 3rd row seats & got good safety reviews.
But still, it’s hard to get all the car seats in, especially since 2 are still infant car seats!
What do other multi car seat mamas drive?
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Post by snugglebutter on May 27, 2019 21:31:25 GMT
I have a minivan.
I would put anyone forward facing in Radian because they are narrow. You could probably fit 2 radians plus an infant seat in the third row and the other infant seat in the middle row. That leaves the other middle seat free fold down while you buckle in kiddos.
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Post by myshelly on May 27, 2019 21:32:46 GMT
3 rows with captains chairs in the second row.
2 car seats in the captains chairs, 2 car seats in the 3rd row.
Captain chairs in the second row is key. Gives you and the kids easy access to the third row.
I drive an Expedition XLT.
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 22:01:02 GMT
I see now that our mistake was the console between the captain chairs in the middle row. I have no easy access to the third row car seats! What were we thinking??
So, the older boys can climb into the car seat from the front (over the console) or from the back. One seat back can lay flat so I can CLIMB IN THE BACK and make sure they are buckled in the car seats properly. Oh, that’s going to be fun!
Fortunately this will be an occasional event that I have the boys.
I just wasn’t thinking logistics when DH insisted on buying this Navigator. Yeah, they say it’s safe....but not very convenient for Grammy to get them all buckled up.
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 22:04:53 GMT
The 4.5 year old will be in kindergarten next? So he either walls home or takes the bus?
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 22:06:42 GMT
I didn’t realize how difficult it is to uninstall & reinstall those car seats, especially with the “latches” when we bought this giant red tank of a Navigator. Nor did I realize we would have 4 grandbabies I would be transporting ages 5 & under...
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 22:08:33 GMT
The 4.5 year old will be in kindergarten next? So he either walls home or takes the bus? He is in private preschool now & kindergarten in the fall. So I’ll only have him on a weekend. But there may be a rare occasion that I have all 4 & want to be prepared. |
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Post by beaglemom on May 27, 2019 22:28:00 GMT
We have a Tesla Model S with Jump Seats in the trunk. So we have 2 rear facing in the back seat and the older two in the 5 point harnesses in the trunk. We have a Tesla Model X. We currently have it set up with the 2 rear facing on the outsides and the 8-year-old in the middle, she rode with her booster there. The 6-year-old is in the back. But you could do a 6 seater with the rear facing in the captain seats and the other two in the 3rd row. And in the Suburban we have the 2 rear facing on the driver's side and middle. The 3rd seat on that row folds down allowing access to the 3rd row for up to 3 more car seats.
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Post by ntsf on May 27, 2019 22:49:12 GMT
I used to drive a saab 9000 with three car seats across the back seat.. we shopped with our kids and three car seats...so fun
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Post by miaow on May 27, 2019 23:04:46 GMT
I have a Pathfinder and have two car seats in the third row which I can lean in to check and one rear facing seat in the second row. I have a “certified in car seats” fire fighter install them and I never remove them. I am concerned that I could not install them tight enough that they move less than an inch. The children in the third row are 4 and 2.5 and they can buckle themselves in. I reach in to check. I don’t know what I would do with a fourth seat because I move the seat in the second row (on the no car seat side) forward so the kids can step in.
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 23:32:29 GMT
I didn’t realize how difficult it is to uninstall & reinstall those car seats, especially with the “latches” when we bought this giant red tank of a Navigator. Nor did I realize we would have 4 grandbabies I would be transporting ages 5 & under Can you get a set you install and leave installed? Or bases for the seats they use, especially for the rear facing babies. The oldest one is possibly big enough to use a booster seat that buckels in with the regular seatbelt. |
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TheOtherMeg
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,541
Jun 25, 2014 20:58:14 GMT
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Post by TheOtherMeg on May 27, 2019 23:41:27 GMT
I didn’t realize how difficult it is to uninstall & reinstall those car seats, especially with the “latches” when we bought this giant red tank of a Navigator. Nor did I realize we would have 4 grandbabies I would be transporting ages 5 & under Can you get a set you install and leave installed? Or bases for the seats they use, especially for the rear facing babies. The oldest one is possibly big enough to use a booster seat that buckels in with the regular seatbelt. This is what I'd look into. Find whatever seats/boosters fit, then leave those suckers in there! Good luck and have fun with those grandbabies! My grandson lives 10 hours away and I miss him so much. He'll be 2yo this summer and he's absolutely adorable. My DIL texts me & the other gma (who lives a few minutes from me) pictures almost every day. I'm so thankful for technology! |
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2019 23:41:50 GMT
I didn’t realize how difficult it is to uninstall & reinstall those car seats, especially with the “latches” when we bought this giant red tank of a Navigator. Nor did I realize we would have 4 grandbabies I would be transporting ages 5 & under Can you get a set you install and leave installed? Or bases for the seats they use, especially for the rear facing babies. The oldest one is possibly big enough to use a booster seat that buckels in with the regular seatbelt. I don’t move the car seats if I don’t absolutely have to. I just installed the oldest grand’s car seat in the passenger side 3rd row seat but I don’t feel it’s secure enough. I did see the number for a certified person through our fire dept so I’ll call that & see what they say. I’m just so annoyed that this giant car isn’t convenient for all these car seats. Car seats are much larger & heavier than when I was raising kids so I had no idea what I was in for. But I love these kids so much & want to spend as much time with them that I can. |
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Post by stormycat on May 27, 2019 23:49:39 GMT
I have 3 kids under test are 2 or under. I have a Toyota Sienna.
My 2 yr old who is disabled is in middle row, passenger side.
20 mo is rear facing, middle row, driver side
10 mo old, in 3rd row, rear facing in infant car seat. My 3rd row has a split bench, so I leave part of it down, and climb in the back to buckle him in.
I also have a double stroller, and either s single stroller and a wheel chair in the well area in back.
I also have to bring 2 diaper bags, feeding tube bag, snack back, a d the “hot bag” for when my one overheated.
It is tight but we make it work. My 12 yr old who is 5’7 sits back the 3rd row too , when we all go out as a family and is reasonably comfy
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Post by stingfan on May 27, 2019 23:53:41 GMT
I see now that our mistake was the console between the captain chairs in the middle row. I have no easy access to the third row car seats! What were we thinking?? Those center consoles can usually be removed without too much difficulty. Sounds like it would help to get that out of there for the time being. |
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2019 0:03:47 GMT
I see now that our mistake was the console between the captain chairs in the middle row. I have no easy access to the third row car seats! What were we thinking?? Those center consoles can usually be removed without too much difficulty. Sounds like it would help to get that out of there for the time being. Thanks for the tip. I’ll look into that! |
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2019 0:05:28 GMT
I have 3 kids under test are 2 or under. I have a Toyota Sienna. My 2 yr old who is disabled is in middle row, passenger side. 20 mo is rear facing, middle row, driver side 10 mo old, in 3rd row, rear facing in infant car seat. My 3rd row has a split bench, so I leave part of it down, and climb in the back to buckle him in. I also have a double stroller, and either s single stroller and a wheel chair in the well area in back. I also have to bring 2 diaper bags, feeding tube bag, snack back, a d the “hot bag” for when my one overheated. It is tight but we make it work. My 12 yr old who is 5’7 sits back the 3rd row too , when we all go out as a family and is reasonably comfy Bless your heart, with all the extra equipment it sounds like a challenge but you are winning. Best wishes for you & the family. |
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,427 
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Post by amom23 on May 28, 2019 0:09:44 GMT
We had 2 different Yukon XL's with buckets seats in the middle row for the 2 car seats and oldest child sat in the 3rd row. Now we have big kids and drive a Traverse (also with bucket seats for ease of access to the 3rd row).
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Deleted
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Nov 2, 2024 7:32:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 28, 2019 2:36:36 GMT
I have a minivan. I would put anyone forward facing in Radian because they are narrow. You could probably fit 2 radians plus an infant seat in the third row and the other infant seat in the middle row. That leaves the other middle seat free fold down while you buckle in kiddos. Thanks for the recommendation on the radian car seat. I thought that was an autocorrect at first, I have never heard of that brand but it seems to get good reviews on Amazon. I will definitely look into getting a better fitting car seat for my oldest grandson. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,840
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on May 28, 2019 2:50:22 GMT
We have a 2005 sequoia. It seats 8. We had 4 adults and 4 car seats.
Front - 2 adults
Middle - infant, 5 point, adult (seat flips to allow back row access)
Back - 5 point, 5 point, adult
It was tight but everyone survived.
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,081
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on May 28, 2019 3:03:27 GMT
We traded our sedan in for a minivan after a couple months of dealing with three car seats. It was a huge pain in the ass.
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Post by pierkiss on May 28, 2019 3:36:54 GMT
I have a minivan. All 4 of mine are in a 5 pt harness (2) or are in booster seats.
When the youngest was in her infant bucket and was backward facing in her harness, she sat behind the driver seat in the first row of chairs. Then a kid in a booster sat next to her in the other chair.
2nd youngest sits in his harness in the back row, driver’s side, and the other kid in a booster sits back there with him.
Sometimes I can even squeeze another high backed booster seat in the back row betweeen my kid in the harness and the booster seat should a friend need to come along somewhere.
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Post by ~summer~ on May 28, 2019 3:40:07 GMT
I had 3 kids in 3.5 years - they were all in car seats at the same time -- I fit 3 car seats in the back of my volvo S70 sedan  |
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