Any arrangement in back should be quite safe if the kids are properly restrained. Right now, I have my 2 year old behind the driver seat, as it is very convenient to get him in and out that way. My 9 year old is in a booster behind the passenger seat. My 7 year old is in the third row behind the driver seat.

With 3 kids, you could put the infant in the passenger side second row, moved to the center using LATCH. Then one booster would be in the second row behind the driver and the other in the third-row center (also using LATCH if it is a Clek or Jane or other model that permits this). This would probably be slightly safer than other arrangements, but not significantly so.

 

THank you! That sounds like a great arrangement. Now we just have to figure out how to put the 2nd row passenger seat in the middle!

Have you had any experience with the Clek? It looks like a good seat...

 

I've seen it, but never used one personally.

 

Here what I will do. If I drive by my self allot with the 3 kids
Second row:
Infant behind the passenger seat (need attention)
9 yrs old behind the driver

3rd row: 7yrs old
This way if the infant need help or some care the 9 yrs can do it.

If usually there is someone in the passenger seat, I will flip the infant and the 9 yrs old so that the front passenger look after the infant.

For me, I have 2 kids a 2 yrs and 4 yrs.
4 yrs behind the passenger seat and the 2yrs behind the driver.

Usually the 2 yrs need help and attention from some one, that will be setting in the front passenger seat, while the 4 yrs need an eye on him/her by the driver!

Hope that helped :stupid:

 

7 year old in right captains chair, 8.5 year old in left captains chair and 12 year old has the third row all to his self.

I have ridden in all seats and think the back row is too bumpy for a baby.

Nice that the Ody is big enough so you won't hear "hes' touching me" on long trips.

 

twin infants in the 2nd row in the captains chairs, 3yr old in 3rd row center. just found out how to move the passenger 2nd row. so im thinking about shifting that to center and putting 3 yr old in 3rd row passenger side. what would yall recommend?

 

Our Odyssey is a 2004. We have 3 kids and they are all still in car seats or boosters. After trying several arrangements we have found one we really like. The toddler's seat is driver side, 2nd row. The older two are in the outside positions of the 3rd row. They keep a stash of toys between them in the middle position.

The best part for us is that we decided to completely remove the 2nd row chair on the passenger side and leave it in the garage. This gives us a very large open area in the middle of the van that is wonderful for helping kids with seatbelts, etc. without having to climb over something. It also makes it easy to load the toddler in the rain (he wiggles a lot) without getting wet yourself, and it helps with passing toys, snacks, etc. to the back row from the front. If we want, we can also sit a cooler in that middle area and strap it to the unused chair points on the floor. That makes lunches on long trips really easy.

We almost never have passengers other than dad+mom+3 kids, so it works great for us.

 

Same here - we have long cold winters and everyone can crowd in and then get sorted (08 van, 5yr, 3yr, 3yr)

J

 

Our Odyssey is a 2004. We have 3 kids and they are all still in car seats or boosters. After trying several arrangements we have found one we really like. The toddler's seat is driver side, 2nd row. The older two are in the outside positions of the 3rd row. They keep a stash of toys between them in the middle position.

The best part for us is that we decided to completely remove the 2nd row chair on the passenger side and leave it in the garage. This gives us a very large open area in the middle of the van that is wonderful for helping kids with seatbelts, etc. without having to climb over something. It also makes it easy to load the toddler in the rain (he wiggles a lot) without getting wet yourself, and it helps with passing toys, snacks, etc. to the back row from the front. If we want, we can also sit a cooler in that middle area and strap it to the unused chair points on the floor. That makes lunches on long trips really easy.

We almost never have passengers other than dad+mom+3 kids, so it works great for us.

+ 1 on this approach. We do the same thing. The big kids in the 3rd row, and the little guy behind the drivers seat. Removing the extra seats lets us all get in one door and allows some room for the diaper changes!