getting a 2009 dodge grand caravan...carseat layout suggestions??

[wendileez]

Hello all!

I am getting a 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan & was curious what worked best for others out there that have used carseats in this van. I currently have my 16 month old daughter RF in a Britax Boulevard. I am having twins in July and will be using Chicco Keyfit 30 infant seats, RF.

When I first looked at the van, I determined it would be easiest for me to stow one of the captain's chairs in the 2nd row & use that space as a loading area. I don't have a garage, so I like the idea of not getting wet in the rain to buckle everyone up! Also, I am a bigger, less coordinated gal...so squeezing in between the 2 captains chairs seems a bit daunting.

So I was thinking that it may be easiest to put my 16 month old daughter in the Boulevard in the remaining 2nd row captains chair (that has latch) since she still needs to be placed in the seat & buckled in...and it is a cumbersome effort especially while she is rear facing. She also tends to throw up in the car relatively often...so I thought to get to her quickly, as well as to remove the carseat to clean it up & reinstall it, the 2nd row may be easier. I think in the 3rd row it would be more difficult to get her buckled in and also the tether would be in the way in the 3rd row.

I was then going to put the two infant seats outboard in the back 3rd row. Here's my concern with the third row...there is only one latch in the back which is kind of centered, slightly off to the right. So if I put two carseats back there, they would have to be strapped in with a seatbelt. Is that really still safe? I have always used latch...so I would just want to be sure using a seatbelt to secure is OK. Also, would having the infants outboard in a van in the third row be safe? I know if people have two kids in a sedan the kids are outboard, and that's fine...just looking for other people's opinion. I also figured since the infant seats don't use a tether, they would be the best for the back row since there would be no tether to have to climb over/around.

So does that sound OK? Safe? Any other Dodge Grand Caravan users share their layouts that work? I appreciate all of your help in advance!! Thanks!!

--Wendi

[o_mom]

I think your plan sounds great! The KeyFits are super easy to install with a seatbelt, so don't worry about not having LATCH. LATCH is not safer, just easier in some cases and all seats are tested both ways.

[codex57]

Exactly. KFs are great with seatbelts.

LATCH isn't safer than a seatbelt. In fact, seatbelts have higher weight limits than LATCH does. LATCH is just there as an alternative. Just another way of attaching a car seat so you can pick btw seatbelt and LATCH and choose the easier way.