need help putting 6 kids in my van

brokenlola

New member
***I posted this in another thread, but thought maybe I should start my own too...

I have two situations I'm trying to plan for :confused:...
(I've converted my '03 Windstar into an 8 passenger with two 3rd row seats)
(I do not know the heights and weights of all the kids b/c some are not mine)

1st-this summer- I'll have (6 kids) 4, 4, 6, 7, 7.5, 8.5 (4 big kids will stay in booster seats) I need to fit the two 4 yo's seats between the boosters in each row. The middle row has more room b/c it is not smashed between the wheel wells like the 3rd row.

2nd- when big kids go back to school- I'll have (5 kids) 3mo old, 18mo old, 3.5yo, 4.5yo, 4.5yo. I'd like to keep the 4.5 yo's in the middle row b/c they get in and out at preschool drop off every day.

I have to work with... 4 no back boosters (2 graco, 2 cosco), Safety 1st Alpha Elite, 2 Graco CarGo, Cosco Scenera and the baby will come with his infant seat and base. I know I'll need to buy one or two different seats for this to work. I'm thinking either the Radian65 or Titan.

* my kids are 4, 6 & 7 so we also need to have their seats fit in my husbands 08 Explorer

Thank you!!! :love:
 
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lorismurph

Senior Community Member
I think you can probably get a CarGo in the center of each row (assuming the 4yo are under 40lbs) plus 2 boosters outboard. I'm not sure how the Cosco boosters will fit. If they are like mine, the sides bump out wierd and take up more space. If you do need new boosters to fit, the Harmony backless is only like $13 at Walmart and is a good little booster. Hopefully, you can fit a Turbo, CarGo, Turbo in the wider row and then a Harmony, CarGo, Harmony in the narrower row.

2nd scenario: 3rd row: RF Scenera for 18mo, CarGo for 3.5yo. 2nd row: boosters possibly for the 4.5yo kiddos (if they will be harnessed, I'd look at the Maestro. It's pretty narrow and fairly inexpensive. And then I'd put the baby bucket in the center.

So for new seats, I'd look at the Maestro and possibly Harmony boosters. You may want to take all your seats and go to BRU to "play" one day soon.
 

brokenlola

New member
Thank you for your help! Answers to the questions...

There are only lap belts and no head rests in the center seat of both rows.

The CarGo will not fit between 2 boosters in the back 3rd row, it is so narrow b/c of the wheel wells. Maybe the Harmonys would fit better though.

For the summer- both the 4yo's are just under 40 lbs. Then for the fall- they will both probably be over (and don't have to be harnessed) and the 3.5yo is tiny, maybe 30lbs.

-So my biggest problem is for this summer and fitting booster, harness, booster in the back 3rd row. How much narrower are the Titan, Maestro and Radian than a CarGo?
 

mommyfrog

Active member
Measurement charts. http://sites.google.com/site/carseatmeasurements/

I was thinking maybe if you could get two Radians the four year olds could use them in the center positions for the summer. In the fall I'd put them rfing in the back seat and load the 18 month old and 3.5 year old through the back. The baby could be put in either the 2nd row or 3rd row.
 

brokenlola

New member
I ran to Wal Mart and bought 2 Harmony's. They do fit in the back row on either side of the CarGo, but it is very difficult to fit my hand in to buckle them. I'm going to see if my big kids can do it themselves when they get home. Otherwise I'm going to look at different seats instead of the CarGo.
 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician
I have 3-acrosses involving boosters, and they are difficult if not impossible to get your hand down there to buckle.

Our solution (I read about it here on the board :love:) is to "install" the booster when I install the other car seats, by buckling it in. I have taught my kids to slide around the belt -- they stand on the seat and pull slack into the belt, put their feet through the lap belt as they sit down, duck under the shoulder belt and tighten it around themselves. Other than when they lock the belt by accident (not particularly frequent,) I don't have to rebuckle it, and my hands are saved. :) The kids think this is a fun exercise, lol, especially the 5 & 6yo. (My 8yo is tall and is not so fond of it, so I put him in a position where I can easily buckle him.)
 

Carrie_R

Ambassador - CPS Technician
I don't know how it will work with backlesses, but with my Monterey (which granted is a very structured booster) it works awesomely. Just watch out for the locking of the belt, lol.
 

April

Well-known member
I don't know how it will work with backlesses, but with my Monterey (which granted is a very structured booster) it works awesomely. Just watch out for the locking of the belt, lol.

Windstars don't have locking retractors, they have lightweight locking latchplates so that shouldn't be an issue. :thumbsup:
 

soygurl

Active member
Another great thing about "installing" boosters is no possibly forgetting to re-buckle unoccupied "projectile" boosters! :thumbsup:
 

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