Alright, this is going to be a bit mommy-centric, but bear with me here (I know there are dads out there too who think/worry about this as well). When it comes to kids in cars, there's a lot to think about; and when you multiply the kid portion, there's even more to consider. Mainly: How do I fit more than one car seat in my car?
Recently, I received a message from a friend who already has a 2-year-old and will soon welcome twins into the world (first off, kudos to her, she is a brave, brave woman). Her question: How do I fit three car seats across one row of seats in my current vehicle?
This is a question I've encountered before; from another friend with a young son who also welcomed twins into the world (I'm surrounded). With two Subaru's in the driveway, their solution: A Honda Odyssey. It provided them with the space they needed for car seats and in the trunk. Perfect.
However, a minivan isn't the answer for everyone, nor should it be.
While I've not seen every car seat on the market, I've used and experienced quite a few and I wonder if this three-to-a-row conundrum ever surfaces in the manufacturer's marketing research and design meetings. I mean, it has to, right? This isn't an anomaly. Couples often have more than one child under the age of 3-4 who need to be in car seats.
And a minivan cannot (should not) be the only solution here.
I understand the need to make a car seat “big.” There's a lot of safety technology (side crash protection, head support, neck support, all-around support) that makes car seats large and bulky. However, if we have the technology and ability to house an airbag in a seatbelt (thanks, Ford), how come children's car seats have to be so big?
So, I have a new mission: Solve the three-car-seats-on-one-row conundrum that I know plagues more families than we realize. Whether it's a car manufacturer issue (something they should consider when they engineer family vehicles?) or a car seat manufacturer dilemma, someone has to address this and come up with a viable solution.
Just a quick internet search proves how often this topic is brought up amongst parents of multiple young ones. Websites like Car-Seat.org have entire sections of forums dedicated to the topic (where parents confess their car model and which seats they've managed to squeeze onto one row). This is a fantastic way for parents to research through other people's personal experiences.
A car seat purchase is almost, if not equally, as important as the purchase of the car itself. And when those two things have to be combined (because, inevitably they will go together), it can be super stressful for the parents involved in the purchase. How can you plan properly for the future?
In my opinion, car seat manufacturers and carmakers should work together more often to complement one another as much as possible. Dealers should offer car seats that work perfectly with their vehicles. They should offer car seat combinations for multiple-child families and they might even consider strollers in the mix (trunk space, etc.).
It's not often I play the mommy card, but sometimes it's a necessity; especially when it comes to the health and safety of your child.
Recently, I received a message from a friend who already has a 2-year-old and will soon welcome twins into the world (first off, kudos to her, she is a brave, brave woman). Her question: How do I fit three car seats across one row of seats in my current vehicle?
This is a question I've encountered before; from another friend with a young son who also welcomed twins into the world (I'm surrounded). With two Subaru's in the driveway, their solution: A Honda Odyssey. It provided them with the space they needed for car seats and in the trunk. Perfect.
However, a minivan isn't the answer for everyone, nor should it be.
While I've not seen every car seat on the market, I've used and experienced quite a few and I wonder if this three-to-a-row conundrum ever surfaces in the manufacturer's marketing research and design meetings. I mean, it has to, right? This isn't an anomaly. Couples often have more than one child under the age of 3-4 who need to be in car seats.
And a minivan cannot (should not) be the only solution here.
I understand the need to make a car seat “big.” There's a lot of safety technology (side crash protection, head support, neck support, all-around support) that makes car seats large and bulky. However, if we have the technology and ability to house an airbag in a seatbelt (thanks, Ford), how come children's car seats have to be so big?
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| Photo: Sébastien D'Amour |
So, I have a new mission: Solve the three-car-seats-on-one-row conundrum that I know plagues more families than we realize. Whether it's a car manufacturer issue (something they should consider when they engineer family vehicles?) or a car seat manufacturer dilemma, someone has to address this and come up with a viable solution.
Just a quick internet search proves how often this topic is brought up amongst parents of multiple young ones. Websites like Car-Seat.org have entire sections of forums dedicated to the topic (where parents confess their car model and which seats they've managed to squeeze onto one row). This is a fantastic way for parents to research through other people's personal experiences.
A car seat purchase is almost, if not equally, as important as the purchase of the car itself. And when those two things have to be combined (because, inevitably they will go together), it can be super stressful for the parents involved in the purchase. How can you plan properly for the future?
In my opinion, car seat manufacturers and carmakers should work together more often to complement one another as much as possible. Dealers should offer car seats that work perfectly with their vehicles. They should offer car seat combinations for multiple-child families and they might even consider strollers in the mix (trunk space, etc.).
It's not often I play the mommy card, but sometimes it's a necessity; especially when it comes to the health and safety of your child.