3 car seats in the back - what is the best order??

[2made3]

Ok.. #3 is due in about 5 weeks time and I need some of your opinions on what works best re car seats! I have a nearly 4yr old and 2yr old, then of course the newborn.

I will have 3 car seats (one booster) across the back seat of my car, in a very snug fit. I want to know what is the best order to put them in???

I was thinking at first, rear facing seat on the side so it would be easier for me to put bub in and out since the boys can climb into their seats themselves. Then I thought, maybe having the boys sitting next to each other will be a disaster and cause fights or waking each other up if they fall asleep.

Although not as easy to get in the car, would it be best having booster seat, rear facing in the middle and the other seat on the end?? Then they will be nicely seperated???

Ahhh...I don't know! And I change my mind every day!

I would really love your opinion on this!

TIA :thumbsup:

[Areca]

I have a 4.1 year old, a 2.4 year old and a 10 week old. 4 year old is in the middle, baby on passenger side, 2 year old behind ddriver. Works great! my two year could not be trusted to not poke and prod the baby.

[xxchloexx]

are u allowed to put newborns in the middle of the car anymore? someone told me it was illegal! i dunno!

i would put the oldest one in the middle! as he would be more aware of bubs!

[xxchloexx]

I have a 4.1 year old, a 2.4 year old and a 10 week old. 4 year old is in the middle, baby on passenger side, 2 year old behind ddriver. Works great! my two year could not be trusted to not poke and prod the baby.


:iagree: im having DS who is 2 on the opposite side of the car when bub is born!

[~BEXTER~]

i would think having the eldest one in the middle that way he can give the baby the dummy when it falls out?

[Areca]

are u allowed to put newborns in the middle of the car anymore? someone told me it was illegal! i dunno!

i would put the oldest one in the middle! as he would be more aware of bubs!

Someone has their wires crossed. It's safest for a newborn to go in the middle if it's doable but this obviously gets tricky once there is more than one child.

[mim1]

I'd also put the newborn on the passenger side as it's the safest place to stand next to the car for a prolonged time. The forward facing seat behind the driver & the booster in the middle so it can sneak in behind the edges of the other seats potentially.

You can get an extension for the belt buckle if your eldest is out of a built in 5 point harness.

[2made3]

I'd also put the newborn on the passenger side as it's the safest place to stand next to the car for a prolonged time. The forward facing seat behind the driver & the booster in the middle so it can sneak in behind the edges of the other seats potentially.

You can get an extension for the belt buckle if your eldest is out of a built in 5 point harness.

That's true. And I guess this way I can shut the other door and lock the 2 older kids in while I attend to bub so I can keep my eye on all of them!

[2made3]

i would think having the eldest one in the middle that way he can give the baby the dummy when it falls out?


This was my very first thought! How handy would that be??!!

[Funtimes]

I was having the same dilemma & decision as you as im expecting #3 also. I decided to put my eldest DS in the middle who will be 3.5, DS2 who will be 20tmths behind the driver and the newborn behind passenger seat.
My eldest will be a great help with dummy and wont be a worry being next to the newborn, but no way would I put DS2 next to baby, he is too rough!!!
On the otherhand I will have to worry about DS1 and DS2 getting at each other perhaps, even DS1 waking DS2 up when he goes to sleep in the car, but I think it will be best this way. We'll see how it goes!!!
Good luck with baby #3!!!!

[Areca]

That's true. And I guess this way I can shut the other door and lock the 2 older kids in while I attend to bub so I can keep my eye on all of them!

:yes: I grt my kids to 'crawl through the tunnel' when we're on a busy road so they crawl underneath the baby's car seat and get out on the safe side.
If we're in a car park, or at home I go to baby, un do DD1's seatbelt (she has a H harness), then she unstraps DD2 while I get DS out and by the time I walk around they are ready to get out.
DD2 has tried to annoy DD1 in the car on occassion but I give DD1 permission top hold DD2's hands so she can't. DD2 hates that so she then leaves her sister alone.

[HART]

We have our eldest in a booster seat in the middle, the baby (rear facing) on the passenger side and our DS2 behind the driver - it seems to work really well. I did have to get an extension fitted to make putting the seat belt (that loops through a H harness) easier to click in. It seems to work well DS1 puts DD dummy in for me or just pats her tummy when she is upset and hands things to DS2 for me like his drink bottle or a snack.

[Sheer Bliss]

It really depends on how trustworthy your youngest is!! I hate having DS1 next to a baby, but I have no choice, as we have a rearward facing in the middle a rearward facing in the middle, and a maxi behind the driver. It is a killer on your back lifting the baby into the middle everytime over the other seats. If I do it from the passenger side and DS2 is already in his seat, by boob dangles over his face which is a big tease :D. And DS1 on the other side gets annoyed with me leaning over him, so it's a matter of doing it in the right order (when you can).

My biggest worry was DS1 hurting bubs or giving them food they are not allowed yet, which is why he is only next to one bub, not 2! When DS1 is not in the car 4yo DD1 sits in the maxi, instead of in the back in her special seat, and she is great at keeping the babies happy!

[2made3]

I was having the same dilemma & decision as you as im expecting #3 also. I decided to put my eldest DS in the middle who will be 3.5, DS2 who will be 20tmths behind the driver and the newborn behind passenger seat.
My eldest will be a great help with dummy and wont be a worry being next to the newborn, but no way would I put DS2 next to baby, he is too rough!!!
On the otherhand I will have to worry about DS1 and DS2 getting at each other perhaps, even DS1 waking DS2 up when he goes to sleep in the car, but I think it will be best this way. We'll see how it goes!!!
Good luck with baby #3!!!!


Yep you sound exactly like me! I am hoping the same for my boys in the same arrangement, I am beginning to think. Good luck to you too!!



:yes: I grt my kids to 'crawl through the tunnel' when we're on a busy road so they crawl underneath the baby's car seat and get out on the safe side.
If we're in a car park, or at home I go to baby, un do DD1's seatbelt (she has a H harness), then she unstraps DD2 while I get DS out and by the time I walk around they are ready to get out.
DD2 has tried to annoy DD1 in the car on occassion but I give DD1 permission top hold DD2's hands so she can't. DD2 hates that so she then leaves her sister alone.

This so just sounds like the way to go to me! I had thought about whether or not the boys would be able to crawl under the rear facing seat - now I know they will be able to! Which is great coz the way we park in the garage means I won't have to back the car out everytime I need to load the kids in.

charlis_mum - I was not looking forward to the idea of having the bub in the middle for that reason - a killer on your back! I remember it way too well when I had DS1 and put him in the middle. That was only one kid too! Didn't want to have to do that again.

I am just hoping DS1 will live up to my expectations of being a "good boy" and looking out for bub and not annoying DS2!

[punchypie]

Can I ask what cars all you mums x 3 are driving?
We're planning no.3 asap, but won't be able to fit 2 car seats and a booster in our Nissan Pulsar hatchback so will have to upgrade. Don't really want to go the big people carrier or 4wd route (financial and greenie reasons), so can anyone recommend a wide 'regular' car that will take all 3 across the back?

[honeydew]

I'm glad I found this thread because I've been wondering how I'm going to do it in a few months when #3 arrives.

Going by everyone's responses, it seems most pracitcal to put the newborn behind the passenger seat, DS (will be almost 4) in the middle, and DD (will be 15/16mths) behind the driver. I *think* I can trust DS sitting next to a newborn.... he is quite rough with his sister atm but he thinks she is a big girl now so hopefully he'll be ok with the newbie. He doesn't have toys or food in the car so I guess we should be pretty safe.

To answer a PP's question- we have a Pajero but the back seats are folded under the floor to allow for extra boot room, so we will be using the 2nd row only for the kids.

[Mama2Mia]

exact same dilemma our end!
we have a 2.5yr old, a 12mth old and another bub on way.

we have a 7 seater SUV (captiva) however its not as practical as what i first thought. the car is actually really narrow...we've got a booster seat (behind driver) and a forward facing seat behind passenger at the moment and i doubt a baby capsule would fit in there somewhere...i sometimes sit in the middle feeding 12mth old when she's really hungry and can't hang on and i really struggle to fit back there...(i'm only 48kg and petite).

we were thinking might have to use the 3rd row of seats but then again, we need the bootspace for the stroller and pram.

we did think to put booster in 3rd row (only seat 6 up and seat 7 still flat so we still have some bootspace) and then 2 younger ones in 2nd row...but it still couldn't really work because we need the seat behind driver to remain vacant as this is the seat that folds down so 3rd row sitters can get out.....which means bubs and 12mth old would have to be sitting next to each other....a big no no in our case as our 12mth old is rough as!

sorta confused as to how its all gonna work now!

[soon to be mum of 4]

are u allowed to put newborns in the middle of the car anymore? someone told me it was illegal! i dunno!

i would put the oldest one in the middle! as he would be more aware of bubs!
I always thought the middle seat was the safest if in an accident so have always put the youngest "less developed" baby in that spot??

[brogeybear]

Clarification: it is not illegal to put a rearward facing seat in the middle. It is in fact the safest place. It is illegal to put a rearward facing seat in the front, exceptions being in a "ute" but there are some strict rules regarding doing that as well, ie. airbags etc.
:yes:

[sweetseven]

:yes: I grt my kids to 'crawl through the tunnel' when we're on a busy road so they crawl underneath the baby's car seat and get out on the safe side.With a capsule in the way (on the rear passenger side), I find it easier for toddlers to go between the front seats and enter or exit from the front passenger door.