I have a 1996 Windstar with 3 seats in the back and two in the middle. I have Natalia in the Nautilus, two in boosters, and one who is out of a car seat. Where should I put Natalia's carseat and seat the others for the most safety?

This is how I would arrange the kids... I believe your 3rd row center position is a lap belt only, right? If so, I wouldn't let anyone sit there as lap belts alone are not safe. You could install a harnessed car seat in that position, but I wouldn't unless absolutely necessary. I'd put the non booster child and the oldest booster kid in the 3rd row in the outboard positions and put the two youngest in the middle row. I like to have the youngest child behind the driver just because it's easier access to (loading, unloading, etc.) the child that needs the most adult attention.

Just looked up your vehicle in my LATCH manual. Most '96 vehicles don't have factory installed tether anchors, but yours does on the middle row seats. Did you know this??

This is how I would arrange the kids... I believe your 3rd row center position is a lap belt only, right? If so, I wouldn't let anyone sit there as lap belts alone are not safe. You could install a harnessed car seat in that position, but I wouldn't unless absolutely necessary. I'd put the non booster child and the oldest booster kid in the 3rd row in the outboard positions and put the two youngest in the middle row. I like to have the youngest child behind the driver just because it's easier access to (loading, unloading, etc.) the child that needs the most adult attention.

Just looked up your vehicle in my LATCH manual. Most '96 vehicles don't have factory installed tether anchors, but yours does on the middle row seats. Did you know this??

I have Natalia right where she should be because of that. Now I didn't know if they were factory installed or if it was because the lady I bought the van from had twins and installed them there. As Natllia's is the only carseat that uses the tether I knew she had to be in one of those. So I have Hannah beside her and in the back I have Josephine on the driver's side and Isabella on the passengers. That is pretty much how I had it set up I just wanted to be sure.

such a smart mommy

I have basically the same setup in my Caravan 3/4 bench in the middle, full bench in the back.

Only one munchkin though....so her car seat is basically in the center of the van, I can see her well, easy to communicate...seems to me like she's in the safest place she could be.

My niece and BF just totaled her moms car (8 hours from home), their 7 day old baby was in the back seat (slept right through it), the car was hit on side front so the car spun, all 3 are perfectly fine, just a little shaken up.

I have basically the same setup in my Caravan 3/4 bench in the middle, full bench in the back.

Only one munchkin though....so her car seat is basically in the center of the van, I can see her well, easy to communicate...seems to me like she's in the safest place she could be.

My niece and BF just totaled her moms car (8 hours from home), their 7 day old baby was in the back seat (slept right through it), the car was hit on side front so the car spun, all 3 are perfectly fine, just a little shaken up.

OMG that is scary.

oh God bless for them being all safe!

Thanks all....it pretty much sent a shockwave through the entire family....other than the car all is well, and mommy, daddy and baby are now home safe....

Just in time for Grandma to ring their necks - hahahaha, (kidding, sortof...the daddy did not have permission to drive the vehicle, so that's at issue now)...but luckily insurance will cover it (as long as they say he DID have permission)....the vehicle issue is turning into a sorted mess....but the main thing is everyone is perfectly fine, other than a tiny bump on mommy's head,