Musical carseats

Ha. and you thought I had found a carseat that plays music. (Well, there is probably one that exists somewhere).

No, seriously, I have a question about moving carseats around in the van. We have a Sienna and currently, I have both DDs in the bucket seats in the middle row. Enter baby brother in 6 weeks. Older DD is not happy about getting moved to the rear seat.

What to do? How to make it easier? I wouldn't be happy about it either. It really does seem very far away and you really can't hear what is said from the rear. Whenever MIL rides with us back there, DH has to repeat his questions 2-3 times. What have you done? Should I just put her back there? Should I put both DDs back there and remove one of the bucket seats so that they can "see" us?



Or should I go to the Toyota dealership this weekend and do a trade-in for the new Sienna that has 3 seats in the middle seat and show DH our new wheels upon his return? I'm kidding.

[Deebs]

Re: Musical carseats

I would put the oldest (and I'm assuming largest) child in the rear. Maybe a special gift is in order for making the sacrifice. Leave 2 in the center - it's a safer position for them to be in. My DH has a minivan and I drive an SUV. My DD likes the minivan better because it has a DVD player in it (so does mine, but she's 2, so we haven't let her know about it yet), so I put a special tote in it full of toys. Since she is on a bench seat in my car, she can reach right into the bin to get whatever she wants. It seems to work - she now usually prefers my car.

[Vanquisher]

Re: Musical carseats

I'd move both girls in the back and fold down one of the buckets. This way they both have a buddy in the back. I would also play up how cool it is that they have their own big kid spot and drink holders. The back is nice because they can put toys, drinks, etc right next to themselves in the holders.

I agree with this, and I would also use it as a rite of passage accompanied by a special treat. If you have to, perhaps you can get some kind of walkie talkie system so that they can talk to you when they need to?

[Phoebe]

Re: Musical carseats

I'd move both girls in the back and fold down one of the buckets. This way they both have a buddy in the back. I would also play up how cool it is that they have their own big kid spot and drink holders. The back is nice because they can put toys, drinks, etc right next to themselves in the holders.

This is what I did when I had my third. They thought it was cool. I don't have a mini-van though.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: Musical carseats

I loved having all the free space in the minivan from removing out bucket chair and having the twins in the back seat and the baby (Luke) in the one right behind me. The kids liked it that way, too.

The twins are way the heck in the back of the Suburban now. It's definitely "their space" and there are lots of melted crayons back there to prove it.

[mommax3]

Re: Musical carseats

It's definitely "their space" and there are lots of melted crayons back there to prove it.

I have nothing to add to this thread, but Peggy, that cracked me up. I totally know what you are talking about.....my oldest has converted the back bench seat of our Suburban into his personal lounge, complete with reading material (the sports section of the paper) and snacks (whatever is left in his lunch box on any given day). It is a horrible mess back there.

Sally

[DCJenn]

Re: Musical carseats

That's why you need a Yaris. I can reach right back there and snatch whatever is about to spill.

or I could, if I actually cared about the Yaris interior!

Jenn

(today he was kicking the middle console so I reached around and took his shoe off and told him that he was welcome to hurt his foot but he wasn't going to break my car.)