How Many Car Seats Fit In A Minivan? (Where To Put Them)

This is a question that is most asked by families with younger children. Every day you have to go out to drop the children at school or if you simply want to go on a picnic or a road trip, you can’t do that unless you have the right car seats for all of your children. 

One question that people often have before purchasing a minivan is how many car seats will fit inside of it. 

You can fit either 4 or 5 car seats in the back of a minivan depending on their sizes. If they are all the type or car seats that you carry a baby in then you can fit 5 in a minivan. If they are larger rear facing seats you will likely only be able to fit four of them. 

However, if you have an eight passenger van you can then fit 4-5 car seats along with a couple of passengers in the back of your minivan. Ultimately it comes down to the sizes of the car seats and those obviously vary a considerable amount depending on the model or type of car seats that you have. 

If you have all booster seats then you can easily fit 5 of them in the back of your minivan without any problem. 

Car seats are a great way to ensure the safety of your child or children and are a must have for everyone with a child. You can install the car seats easily in your car by using the LATCH system. Lower anchors in the minivan’s seat can be used instead of seat belts and the upper tether is attached to the tether anchor behind the seat.

This is much more convenient than having to use a traditional seat belt as it’s easier to put in or remove car seats using this method. 

Minivans are an excellent choice for a young, growing family. They are big and very accommodating and since there are so many different models of minivans out there you can choose which one you like the best according to your exact needs.

How will you get into the back row to buckle the children?

The last row is usually the safest place to tether a car seat but you can also use the second row safely as well. The child will be extra protected in the rear seat so that is the best option if possible. 

However, if you are going to put your children’s car seats in the third row of the minivan you might be wondering how you can get back there as easily as possible to buckle them in. 

Well you don’t need to worry because that is the beauty of a minivan. It comes with ample space to get to the last row and comfortably latch the car seat into position. 

The easiest way to get in is from the sides by sliding the middle row seats forward and either reaching or climbing behind them. But if that’s not enough space for you then you can also  go in between the seats. 

Most minivans have a space between the two seats in the second row which is enough for an adult to get through and secure the car seats in the back. Some minivans have a seat instead of space but don’t worry because the middle seat can be removed if you don’t need it or if you need to get through (as long as it isn’t a bench seat. 

Where should you put the car seat in a minivan? 

This is a common question asked by parents, whether to position the car seat behind the driver’s seat or the passenger’s seat. It depends on the number of children travelling but it is safest to put the car seat in the middle of the third row seats. That way the baby would be protected from any side impact from collisions or the impact of airbags. 

The car seat should not be facing the front seats until the child is of the appropriate weight for you to turn the seat around. Rear-facing car seats would be the best option for babies and toddlers up to around 2 years of age. 

Should you place the car seat front-facing or rear-facing?

Virtually all experts recommend placing younger children in a rear-facing car seat. This is done to protect the child from any sudden impacts from collisions. A baby has lower bone density than an adult and their skin is also sensitive and could get bruised if you even hold them too tightly. This makes them prone to getting heavily injured in the unlikely event of an accident. 

If the car seat is kept rear-facing then the damage done to the child would be minimal. Rear-facing car seats provide extra protection that parents can give to their children.

Experts suggest using a rear-facing seat as long as the child has not outgrown it. As long as the child can fit in there, he/she should continue sitting like that.

What other kid-friendly functions does a minivan has?

One of the best things about a minivan is that it is very spacious. It has enormous trunk space which is very helpful for travelling or keeping sports equipment or anything else for your children. Car seats are very wide but the seats in a minivan have enough width to easily fit any car seats. 

Many minivans also come equipped with a full entertainment system with some models coming with drop down TV screens for watching movies, and headphones so that other people can listen to the radio who aren’t watching the movie. 

Do you need to replace car seats after a minor accident?

No matter how minor the accident is, most manufacturers will suggest you replace the car seats after they have been involved in one. The car seats, if damaged once, won’t be able to properly function and protect in the event of another accident. 

If the restraints of the car seat get damaged and are not tight enough then you should get a new one as soon as possible. 

If the accident was minor and the vehicle is drivable then you should be fine driving home with the same seats but before using them again the car seats should be replaced with new ones. 

Can you put two car seats side by side?

This is not an easy question to answer because it depends on many factors. When you have more than one child then a common question that arises is “where should the second seat go?”. As you know, the middle seat is the safest. When another baby comes there might not be enough space to put a car seat adjoining the first one and you obviously can’t wedge two car seats together. 

You must ensure that there is enough space between the car seats to safely buckle and remove them so in this scenario, you have no choice but to latch the seats on the left and right seats.

The behavior of your older child also matters. Your oldest may try to play too forcefully with the baby, poke them, or even accidentally feed them something. This may cause the baby to start crying which will divert your attention and make it difficult to drive or could even injure the child. 

This makes the decision on where to put car seats even more difficult. 

In regards to a minivan you can easily put two car seats in the two chairs that are in the second row without any issue. The car seats will be plenty far apart, easy to access, and still safe in the event of an accident. 

Do you have to tether a car seat?

Yes, it is essential that you tether or buckle in the car seat to prevent it from tipping forward or to the side. The tether anchor can be found on the back of the seat or the ceiling, depending on the model of your minivan. If you are using rear-facing car seats then you can tether it to the seat in front of it.