longstocking
New member
I just want to vent. I am super frustrated right now. We are expecting baby #5 in August. We have the worst van ever for 5 car seats. An '09 Dodge Grand Caravan. We aren't in a position to get a new car so I have to make due with what we've got. I have been researching like crazy (thank you to my car seat tech and best friend Holly!) I finally figured out an acceptable solution for all the kids.
3 year old FF in a Pioneer 2nd row.
38lb almost 5 year old FF in her Evenflo Securekid also in the 2nd row.
Sonti infant seat outboard 3rd row
Bubble Bum middle 3rd row for my about (need to get exact) 55lb 55" tall almost 9 year old,
and Amp high back booster for my almost 8 year old, who's also around 55lb and 55" tall.
Husband has never cared about car seats before. He's a bit lax and will run a quick errand to the store with 3 year old just using big brothers booster since that's what he's got in his car. Despite my hard line car seat craziness he just kind of doesn't care. He always makes sure they are buckled, even to go three doors down, he's super strict about that but doesn't care about latch, anchors, any of that.
This particular van the seat belts don't even fit adults well. They are set high and back so it's a terrible fit outboard for a booster kid. There is one offset tether and anchor in the 3rd row so FF seats don't really work there if I want to get 3 across.
Husband decided last night just as I'm going to spend $120 on 3 new seats that he cares. He Googled and kept making car seat suggestions and has decided he doesn't like the way I've chosen to set things up or the seats I've chosen. He suddenly suggests we should get 3 Radians. After telling me to go easy on the spending he wants to go from $120 to $600-$900? With 3 Radians he wants girls in back outboard, booster boy in middle, skip infant seat and use 3rd Radian 2nd row. I tried explaining about anchors and why I can't put the FF girls back there but he is insisting they will all be crammed in there like sardines anyway, they aren't going anywhere. And now he's refusing to put the RF infant back there. He finally decided, after my much insisting, that he doesn't care what seats or where I put the other kids but the infant has to be in the 2nd row. I tried explaining that we could just put the baby in through the back over the seat and he says it's too annoying and baby has to be 2nd row no matter what.
So now I'm down to deciding which kid gets to be less safe.
A FF seat outboard not anchored, Bubblebum in middle then Amp Outboard
Or booster my barely 5 year old, not quite 40lbs in an Amp outboard, Bubble Bum, 2nd Amp outboard.
Oh yeah, and never having seen it in person he hates the Bubble Bum and says it looks super uncomfortable and not a long term solution so he wants me to find a different seat.
I have tried explaining why anchors are important, proper belt fit on boosters, etc but he doesn't seemed fazed by any of that. As long as baby is 2nd row, no matter what, then he doesnt care.
Sorry for the long rant. I hate my van.
3 year old FF in a Pioneer 2nd row.
38lb almost 5 year old FF in her Evenflo Securekid also in the 2nd row.
Sonti infant seat outboard 3rd row
Bubble Bum middle 3rd row for my about (need to get exact) 55lb 55" tall almost 9 year old,
and Amp high back booster for my almost 8 year old, who's also around 55lb and 55" tall.
Husband has never cared about car seats before. He's a bit lax and will run a quick errand to the store with 3 year old just using big brothers booster since that's what he's got in his car. Despite my hard line car seat craziness he just kind of doesn't care. He always makes sure they are buckled, even to go three doors down, he's super strict about that but doesn't care about latch, anchors, any of that.
This particular van the seat belts don't even fit adults well. They are set high and back so it's a terrible fit outboard for a booster kid. There is one offset tether and anchor in the 3rd row so FF seats don't really work there if I want to get 3 across.
Husband decided last night just as I'm going to spend $120 on 3 new seats that he cares. He Googled and kept making car seat suggestions and has decided he doesn't like the way I've chosen to set things up or the seats I've chosen. He suddenly suggests we should get 3 Radians. After telling me to go easy on the spending he wants to go from $120 to $600-$900? With 3 Radians he wants girls in back outboard, booster boy in middle, skip infant seat and use 3rd Radian 2nd row. I tried explaining about anchors and why I can't put the FF girls back there but he is insisting they will all be crammed in there like sardines anyway, they aren't going anywhere. And now he's refusing to put the RF infant back there. He finally decided, after my much insisting, that he doesn't care what seats or where I put the other kids but the infant has to be in the 2nd row. I tried explaining that we could just put the baby in through the back over the seat and he says it's too annoying and baby has to be 2nd row no matter what.
So now I'm down to deciding which kid gets to be less safe.
A FF seat outboard not anchored, Bubblebum in middle then Amp Outboard
Or booster my barely 5 year old, not quite 40lbs in an Amp outboard, Bubble Bum, 2nd Amp outboard.
Oh yeah, and never having seen it in person he hates the Bubble Bum and says it looks super uncomfortable and not a long term solution so he wants me to find a different seat.
I have tried explaining why anchors are important, proper belt fit on boosters, etc but he doesn't seemed fazed by any of that. As long as baby is 2nd row, no matter what, then he doesnt care.
Sorry for the long rant. I hate my van.
