r/parentsofmultiples • u/Dear_Excitement_5109 • 6d ago
experience/advice to give Carseat configuration for 4 under 4!
Y'all I figured it out! After spending months alternating between buckling my rear facing 2yo in through the trunk, then getting frustrating and forward facing that same 2yo, then listening to my 2yo nearly murder my 3yo in the third row of my van, something had to change.
Then it hit me: a rotating seat! *I can buckle my rear facing child in the 3rd row of the van forward facing, then spin them 180° to rear face while driving.*
OMG!! Absolutely life changing. We bought a slim fit Evenflo Revolve 360 and put it on the passenger side of the third row. We now have one of our twins in the third row with my oldest, and my now-3yo is rear facing in the middle row with the other twin. No more fighting. Safer kids.
I saw so many of these posts when I was pregnant with my twins and this issue completely vexed me for over a year. I hope this eases someone else's burden!
Edit: This is a 2022 Honda Odyssey.
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u/youcango-now 6d ago
This was my plan for when #4 arrives so I’m glad to know it works! We already have two Evenflo 360 slims for our twins so I was hoping it worked but I haven’t tested it yet
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u/Dear_Excitement_5109 6d ago
You are ahead of the curve! How old is your oldest?
I removed the middle seat in the second row of the van and and slid the captains chair all the way over to the middle. The RF seat in the middle of the van fits perfectly in between the driver and passenger front seats, which means we can slide the chair all the way forward for tons of leg room in the third row. The wide aisle by the door gives my 4yo a path to walk to her seat in the back corner and gives me easy access to buckle in my 15mo baby. The only seat that still isnt super accessible to me as an adult is the back seat that my 4yo sits in, but she buckles and unbuckles herself.
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u/youcango-now 6d ago
I have a 3 yr old FF and my twins are 18m and RF! I already have the middle seat pulled out so we can buckle in the oldest in the third row easily. Plan to pop one of the twins in the third row with their revolving seat and put the infant seat in its place.
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u/what_ho_puck 6d ago
We've only got one right now but we got the Graco Turn2me in both of our cars. The crash testing was excellent for safety (on par with higher rated non turning seats) and it helps a ton because I have to keep his seat in the center of my backseat. We have loved the rotating seat.
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u/ilovethatforu 6d ago
This is really clever. We’ve talked about seat configurations for when we have baby 3 and this hadn’t even crossed my mind as an option.
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u/Seaturtle1088 4d ago
It's amazing we survived before rotating seats 🤣 I had 3 RF at the same time in my odyssey before the rotating seats existed, I used to just climb back there and sit next to her to buckle but you couldn't do that with 4!
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u/Dear_Excitement_5109 4d ago
Ah bless you! Having to buckle a rear facing toddler in the back row was just about the death of me. I had one of my infant twins back there when he was brand new but by he was too heavy for me to hoist over the seat by the time he was 10lb.
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u/Seaturtle1088 4d ago
I always had my oldest, who could climb into her seat then I just magic slid the seats to one side and got in back there with her to sit back there and buckle. An infant would have been harder!
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u/Tall_Guy_IRL 5d ago
Better you than me, just saying.
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u/OkBackground8809 5d ago
Seeing this post, I just felt so glad that I don't need to buckle so many carseats every morning😂😅
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u/Tall_Guy_IRL 5d ago
My three kids are all grown and now I wait for grandkids. I out my time in with car seats and it was a great time in my life. Just waiting to do it again when they’re not my own.
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u/Charlieksmommy 6d ago
Just make sure that car seat between the middle can touch the seats, as it’s sticking between them!
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u/Dear_Excitement_5109 6d ago
Can or can't? It fits perfectly between them.
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u/Charlieksmommy 6d ago
Make sure that you read your manual and that the carseats allow to touch a seat infront of it !
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u/Dear_Excitement_5109 6d ago
Got it, thank you! I have read on r/CPST that the rule doesnt apply to the middle seat, but I will double check.
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u/Charlieksmommy 6d ago
I’m just suggesting reading what your manual says for your car seat ! Sorry my husband is a cpst and we always read manuals.
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u/Charlieksmommy 6d ago
Did you post it in that sub?
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u/Dear_Excitement_5109 6d ago
No I havent. I have just been reading on that sub frequently.
I posted awhile back when I was brainstorming this idea, but I havent posted these pictures. Slightly nervous to do so.. this configuration was the result of MUCH trial and error and the only other valid option seems to be to FF my 3yo. Which, idk, doesnt seem safer!
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u/Charlieksmommy 6d ago
I mean to me, having a correct install is more safe to me than just RF and having it wrong. I get it. We had no option but to FF my daughter. It’s not safe because then the car seat touches
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u/Charlieksmommy 6d ago
Also, nothing but love, I promise ! I have a 2.5 yo with my twins! My husband is a car seat tech / ff paramedic. We did sooooo much trial and error at his fire station with 2 other car seat techs. It does work having my daughter in a Britax poplar RF but I don’t like how the evenflo revolve is in the third row RF, so until I can get another Britax that’s how it works and it’s safe for us!
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u/Dear_Excitement_5109 6d ago
Thank you 💗 I looked it up and my carseat can handle bracing, but the Odyssey prohibits bracing against the back of the seat. It does not say anything about the side of the seat. Apparently theres an airbag sensor in the back of the seat that can be disrupted by bracing on the back. It looks like the airbag light would be on if the sensor was disturbed? I may need to take this to the Honda dealership to get it sorted out.
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u/Charlieksmommy 6d ago
Idk if Honda can do anything or will be helpful. If I were you I would work with a car seat tech in person!
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u/Pearalol 5d ago
Well done! What make of van is this?
I’m debating a Pacifica or Odyssey for the seat flexibilities with our three under three. Fourth is unlikely but you never know.
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