Whew I'm tired now

No, 6 years old.

Squishy - were you referring to the 6 as a 6 month old? Lol that will help with my confusion

You can use a mirror if you want. The soft ones are fine, or the ones that get locked in by the headrest.

Rules for items in the car become projectiles is: if you wouldn't purposely throw it at your child's head, then it's to hard to be in the car. (I know that sounds awful, but in the event of an accident, each projectile sky rockets in weight) The soft mirrors are fine. I have a friend who was actually knocked out in an accident, due to her sons bottle smacking her, a 1lb bottle

Turned into a 25lb bottle.

Thanks, Squishy! That sounds like the way to go! We have a Sienna, I had no idea about having to go in through the trunk. Certainly wouldn't work for #3. At least w puker and newbie in the captains, I can climb back if I have to. Do you recommend using those mirrors that clip on the seat so we can see better?

@Britt, I'm very thankful for the valet! Their parking garage is across the street and it would be an big hike for anyone sick/in pain whose going in through admitting instead of ER.

Wow I didn't know a 6 year old could fit in rear facing! I thought they'd be too big for a regular car seat. And have to be in a booster seat

One of my children is in a Graco Nautilus, I never bothered with the buckle since it is a voluntary recall and our buckle is fine. Your hospital has valet?!?! Ours doesn't, the parking lot is gigantic, and it sucks walking with a newb, especially if you have winter babes (2 of mine are November babies)

Sorry for the late reply....we spent the day in Chicago at the American Girl Store and I now want to shoot myself from all the screaming girls ahhhhhhhhh

Anyways Brunch....the captains chairs are not safer. The issue you run into with RFing kids in the 3rd row (which is what I deal with) is actually getting them into the seat requires you going through the trunk to get them in AND buckle them up. While it's not a big deal with older kids, it will not be the easiest task with a newborn trying to climb in the trunk while holding them and then into the seat. It's not a safety issue having them back there but it WILL be a giant PITA. What kind of van? I'd personally probably do newborn in a captains, and puker in the other captains chair and oldest in the middle in the 3rd row and just sit in the front.

@Britt- we have graco convertibles (and yes, I'm still waiting on my replacement clip from the recall. But they're working fine.) Our hospital doesn't have a rule like that, no one checks for car seats at all. An orderly wheels you and baby out to the valet parking area for you to get into your car and that's it. I think it's actually a good thing that your hospital checks.

I want a radian for my newb but our hospital requires you to bring

The car seat to the floor before they will discharge baby, and our radians are SO heavy. I'm waiting for the new Dionos

To come out :)

@Britt, we plan to buy a convertible for the newborn. That's what we've used for the other two.

Thanks for the suggestions!!!

Also with the newb in the back are you using an infant seat, or convertible? Most car seats/vehicles don't allow bracing, and certain models of infant seats require the handle in certain positions.

I would put the newb in the captain seat with the second youngest and put your oldest in the back, and if possible teach him/her to do up the chest clip and what not. In August I will have a newborn, a 2.5yr old rear facing, a 5 yr old forward facing and a 7yr old forward facing, but she may move to a booster. We also have a mini van.

OP, I'm glad you posted this bc it gives me some ideas about to arrange things when #3 arrives!

But can I pick your brain?

Here's this sitch: I have a 2 1/2 yr old, 1 yr old and #3 on the way. We have a minivan. Right now, they both RF w their seats in the captain's chairs in the middle row of the car. I usually sit in the back bench seat bc my 1 yr old gets horrible motion sickness (even on short trips) and often vomits. So it's easier for me to clean her/calm her from there than if I was in the front passenger seat. Assuming she still has this problem when 3 arrives...what's the safest position/location for each seat?

DH wants to put the 2 oldest in the way back, FF w the newborn RF in this passenger side captains chair so he has easy access to all three when he's alone w them and it's easier post partum and late stages for pregnancy for me to sit in the captains chair rather than climb into the way back.

I'd like to put the oldest RF and newborn RF in the way back and my middle/puker RF in a captains chair, so I can reach her from either the way back or the other captains chair if she pukes. DH said 1) what if newborn is also not good in the car and 2) he can't reach or see newborn if he's alone and I can't reach easily if I can't fit in the way back post partum. 3) he believes the captains chairs are safer than the way back and wants the smallest child in them

Would love your expert advice (and anyone else's experience) sorry for co-opting your post but your pic reminded me to ask you!

Thanks

I will have 3 in car seats.

1- newborn aug2014

1-rear-possibly front when newborn comes 23m

1- booster seat 5 1/2

Gah!! Love all the radians and the RF! I WANT Spring for this baby girl I'm expecting but also want Plum, but hubby doesn't like the fact of putting Our son in a purple car seat hahaha. Love this so much.

#rearfaceuntilhighschool

It is the touring...but a 2010. Not a new one. It's still fantastic though. About the same amount of space as my Caravan front to back. I think the actual seats are wider though. I can definitely fit all 6 kids with their carseats in this car based on how much space I have in the centers...and in my van there is NOOOOOOOO 3 across happening in my 3rd row.

I have an odyssy and I absolutely love it. Number one mommy van.

Is this the touring edition of the odyssey? That's the one I'm thinking of getting.. It looks really good.. And I love the sunroof :)

Yes I have 4 children in carseats. However not all 4 are rearfacing. My bestie is here visiting for a week with her 2 daughters who are both rearfacing. They are 4 and 6 and my 2 rearfacers are 3 and 6. This is my BFF's Odyssey which I ADORE and want to steal it.

I think her oldest is close to turning 6. Whatever van she has I notice she says she hates it and wants the Odyssey lol

How old are your kids? I ask because their all still RF

Is it sad I can tell exactly what you did? I stalk you too often lol.

Wow! You have 4 children in car seats? Crazy. It's gotta be a bit smushed huh?