Should we have dedicated seats for our three kids, or is OK to move them around?

[marciemp]

I have 3 kids, a 4.75 year old girl 41.5 inches tall, 36-37 pounds,
a 2.75 year old girl 30 pounds, height not sure,
and a 2.75 year old boy, 30 pounds height not sure but 2.5 inches taller then his twin sister.

Our carseats for now (planning on buying a new one for DD#1 as soon as we can decide and the newest ones are released here) are 2 Eddie bauer High back booster/carseats, and the built in carseat in our 2005 Uplander minivan. We also have a 3 in 1 Eddie Bauer that I took out to clean recently and haven't re-installed, when it is installed we only use it for the twins since it seems small on the older one. Should we have dedicated seats for each child, or is OK to put them where it works best for that ride? They are all at the top slots. DD#1's shoulders are just above the second to last, and the twins are both at the second to last, so I moved the straps up. We put one of the twins in the built in, since DD#1 is above the height limit, and then we put the other twin and/or dd#1 in either of the 2 booster/car seats. I always tighten the straps per child.

When I take dd#1 to school I like her to be in the second row as it is easier to get her out, but when we go for longer rides she usually sits in the back since she only needs minor help/checking making sure she is buckled in right, but the twins still need 100% help.

thanks,
Marcie

[snowbird25ca]

Is it this seat here that you have? http://www.sears.ca/gp/product/B000K8RIQ6/sr=1-10/qid=1211815574/ref=sr_1_10/105-2556341-5002807?ie=UTF8&searsBrand=core&mqnodeid=397280011

If they're all within the weight limits, and all using the same harness height, then it's fine for them to use whichever seat is most convenient provided you adjust the harness to properly fit whoever is using the seat.

If the booster that you have has an adjustable headrest that is moved up or down to change the harness height, like this one (http://www.sears.ca/gp/product/B00115KMJC/sr=1-2/qid=1211815750/ref=sr_1_2/105-2556341-5002807?ie=UTF8&searsBrand=core&mqnodeid=397280011) then you'll need to double check that the headrest isn't in the very top position because that topmost position can only be used in booster mode. If whatever booster they have has different slots that you thread strap height through, then you're ok. :)

eta: My preference would be to not have one of the younger kids using the built in carseat in the van because they don't always fit small children very well, so I'd strongly consider putting the 3in1 carseat back in in that position provided that one of the twins fits the harness by height still. (Top headrest position can only be used in booster mode.)

[marciemp]

It is sort of like the seat from sears, but more like this one: http://www.sears.ca/gp/product/B0019KTE66/103-5943327-9421411?ie=UTF8&searsBrand=core But it was from TRU about 2 years ago and is black and Tan. The head rests are in the lowest position, but the straps are threaded anyways. The 3 in 1 we have isn't threaded (adjustable with a bar that slides up and down), and it doesn't have a headrest.

The built in seems to fit the twins pretty well (they are average sized and will be 3 in September), however the straps are pretty far above their shoulders (2-3 inches) and their legs go straight out or to the sides. The seat sits so straight up that I tend to lean the seat back a bit for comfort. Is the built in too small for the oldest? It is rated 40 lbs and 40" she is under 40 lbs but she is taller than 40". Her shoulders are still about 2 inches below the top of the straps though, and the seat back is high.

It is a pain to put another seat in because there are only 3 tethers (only one in the back row), only one latch, and we have to climb in to strap the back child in, which you can't do if the passenger 2nd row seat has a carseat strapped in. I guess we may have to do it, since safety is #1, but we are going to be buying a new vehicle, since it really bothers me that we can't have more than one seat in the back.

We actually had 2 seats in the back row, one behind the driver, and the built in, until I re read the van manual and realized we can't tether more than one carseat together in the back.
Thanks,
Marcie

[snowbird25ca]

The 3in1's headrest is what the slots are in. It's not a headrest in the sense of an adjustable car headrest, but on the deluxe and elite models it looks more like a headrest because of the wings. :thumbsup:

Are you sure that the 2nd captain's chair doesn't have lower anchors? A 2005 should have 2 full sets of LATCH unless the Uplander falls into an exemption category.

I'd read the manual about the use of the built in carseat. I don't believe that the vehicle seat should be reclined when it's in use.

We typically don't recommend built in seats as a child's regular seat for the reasons that you've stated - they're not comfortable for long trips, kids don't have any sleep support, and the harness is often way above their shoulders.

Your oldest meets the weight requirements to still use the built in, and is under the top height, so should be fine to use it still, but again, consult the manual to see if it discusses shoulder height at all in terms of when to discontinue use. I'm not intimately familiar with built in seats, so I don't know if there are special rules that apply to them in terms of fit or not. :thumbsup:

Personally, I'd rather see a child in an actual carseat than an integrated seat. Integrated seats aren't unsafe, but they're not optimal.

Maybe your oldest could go in through the 2nd row and climb between the 2 captain's chairs to get to the 3rd row? Then you wouldn't have problems with the seatbelt getting in the way.

[CDNTech]

Are you sure that the 2nd captain's chair doesn't have lower anchors? A 2005 should have 2 full sets of LATCH unless the Uplander falls into an exemption category.

The built-in child restraint exempts the vehicle from having a second set of full LATCH. :( You either get two full sets of LATCH (in the captain's chairs) OR you replace one of the LATCH positions with a built-in seat.

Height limits are generally guidelines. As long as the tips of her ears are not above the vehicle seat *and* the top of her shoulders are below the harness straps *and* she is under the maximum weight allowed, she should be able to continue using the built-in. The built-in should *not* be leaned back when in use.

Moving the kids around from seat to seat is fine... provided as Trudy stated, that they are all using the same harness position and you tighten the seat each time to the specific child using it (which it sounds like you do). :)

Good for you for reading your manual and getting the previous tether issue corrected. :) :thumbsup:

The Eddie Bauer seats you linked to are fine to have in the top slots. The 3 in 1 that you have can *not* be in the top most position... that is for booster mode only and that warning will be imprinted on the plastic on the back of the seat near the top position. It's difficult to see, but it is there. ;)

[snowbird25ca]

The built-in child restraint exempts the vehicle from having a second set of full LATCH. :( You either get two full sets of LATCH (in the captain's chairs) OR you replace one of the LATCH positions with a built-in seat.


Thanks! I wondered if there was some sort of thing there. That really really sucks though.

[marciemp]

Yes, I figured it was because of the built in that there is not another set of lower anchors.

As for the built in not being reclined, how do you know when it is not reclined then? It seeems to have infinite adjustments, from folded right over in half, to laid back about 35 degrees (then part of the van gets in the way behind it so it can't go any farther down)

Obviously those who designed the built in never actually drove around with any kids in it, as it is terribly uncomfortable, their legs stick strait out, almost up, and their back is very strait.

We usually flip that seat right out of the way to get a kid into the back. The oldest can get in herself but sometimes needs help with the straps, and she always sits behind me when I drive her to preschool, so a twin sits in the back. They are probably old enough now that I can let them climb into the back and into their seat then lean in over the drivers side second row seat to buckle.

Yes I see what you mean about the headrest in the 3 in one. There is a little pillow that velcros on so I never really noticed the part that slides up, especially since when I raised the straps I do it from the back.

We are planning on getting a new car sometime in the next year and I will definitely be looking more carefully at the latches it has. When we bought the van we tried the carseats out, but the twins were newborn, DD was just 2 and we were very tired, just needed a van we could afford, never even occured to me that it would only fit 3 forward facing seats, and not easily at that. We usually only go short distances, but have never really used the built in except for here and there, and for friends that ride along. It is just since I realized the tether could only hold one seat that we have been using it all the time. I really hate to be so limited in the locations to install the seats.

Do you know if the back tether can support a seat either in the drivers OR the center position? I will check my manual again.



Thanks,
Marcie

[CDNTech]

Obviously those who designed the built in never actually drove around with any kids in it, as it is terribly uncomfortable, their legs stick strait out, almost up, and their back is very strait.

Do you know if the back tether can support a seat either in the drivers OR the center position? I will check my manual again.

Unfortunately, built-ins were designed as temporary solutions for parents/occasional caregivers so that they would not have to have a seat installed in their vehicle all the time. They are not supposed to be comfortable. :(

You'll have to check your vehicle owner's manual to be 100% positive, but according to the LATCH manual, you can only use that tether for the center position.

When looking for a new vehicle... you just need to concentrate on the number of top tethers (and their locations). You can always install a child restraint with the seatbelt, but you *must* have a top tether (so that's the important one to look for).

Also, depending on the child restraint... some are much easier to get past than others. Usually this is a seat with a low profile/no base.

[marciemp]

I checked my manual and the tether on the back seat can be used for either the center or the drivers side installation. The tether is about half way between those to seats so it makes sense. I will probably move the seat to the middle for safety reasons but for now it is on the side because we are going on a field trip and need a seat for one of my parents. So far kids are doing good with the new arrangement of seats.
Thanks