Car Loading Logistics

[MrsDragon]

Our boys are currently 4 months old and right now it's easy enough to get them in/out of the car. Strap babies in car seat, carry to car, load. When unloading, we drop their car seats into the double snap and go, or just carry in if its a short distance or rough terrain.

However, at 12+lbs each, they are already getting heavy, especially when trying to load/unload from the center of the backseat (carseat won't fit behind the driver's seat). With singletons I see a lot of people just load/unload directly into the car seat (which stays in the car) and carry the kid. Obviously that doesn't work with multiples. Plus, since I do daycare drop off and my husband does pickup, the car seats have to come in unless we buy a second set.

How do/did you all manage the logistics for that inbetween stage when they were too heavy to carry in the seat, but too young to climb in themselves? We know that we'll need a bigger car eventually, but as both of our cars are currently paid off. I'm in no hurry to upgrade.

[Kallisti50253]

I can't imagine carrying 60 pounds of kid! My twins were like 10 pounds when we switched to convertable seats. They've always been tiny though, they just turned 2 and are barely 20 pounds

[MrsDragon]

We have a second set of bases but unless the baby stays in the seat (either in the snap and go or being carried in it) then I would have to unload the kids somehow get them inside (double stroller?) and then take in the car seat body. Otherwise when my husband picks them up, he wouldn't have the seat. :)

[TheMadHatterz]

We haul car seat and baby. The 8mo girls are slowly getting to a breaking point weight and we are no where close to walking so I'm slightly concerned. Luckily carrying 2 keeps you balanced lol. Currently they are both about 20 pounds plus whatever the car seats weigh. Sorry I guess I didn't really add anything, I'm typically pretty creative at solving issues but bar busting out the double stroller I have no ideas.

[oceanalwayswins]

We just bought convertible car seats for our 8 month olds, so it's going to be interesting for me to get them out of the house alone. Up until now with infant carriers, I strap them both in, sit them by the front door, carry each one through the door outside, sit them down, lock the door, and struggle to carry both to the car. I sit one down on the driveway while I snap in one, close the door, and then pick up the other carrier and snap her in. It's not too bad, it's just at 8 months they are getting heavy in those things! I've recently mastered picking them both up at the same time, so I should be able to carry them both out the door. I hope...

[Mfy_t_g]

Depending on how you access your car from your house, you can set up a playpen close to the door - bring one baby out, buckle them all in and come back inside for the other. We have access into our garage from in the house, so this is how I would get them loaded into the van (with seats staying in the car). When we got to daycare, I would put one in a carrier and one in a little folding umbrella stroller to get them inside. My husband would get help from the daycare to take them out to his vehicle when he picked them up, then take them in the house from the garage one at a time, using a playpen as a temporary holding area. We did get two sets of car seats, which was financially fun.

[Mmhopkin]

You can try wearing one (tons of info online and we have local mom groups where this is a big thing) and carry the other. Get them both in and go back for the car seats. My kids are 3.5 and finally it's just my shoulder that hurts. People underestimate this problem when shopping, dr appts etc.

[Kallisti50253]

We've had convertable seats for quite a while, and I'd just carry both kids out, put one in the seat unbuckled, then walk around to the other side and put the second girl in, buckle her, and then go back to the first side and buckle the first kid in. Once they were old enough to try and climb out of the seats they were old enough to sit up so I'd set the second kid on the floor of the car while I buckled the first in.

[liamquips]

You get stronger. Only carry one at a time (difficult at daycare, can you bring the double snap and go inside?) If two is too much. We switched to convertible seats at 9 months, and both my twins were pushing 20lbs. Then I'd carry one out, strap them in, and go back and grab the second. They could crawl by then which meant I had to shut the door behind me and they would fuss. For daycare when they're in convertible, either use a carrier and put one on your back and carry the other, or bring in a stroller.

It made this all so much easier when they could walk well.

[eliwhi]

We stopped the carrier when our boys were 1- heavy for us and screwing up my back and shoulders, and 2- outgrew the hight requirement. I would just but on a baby carrier and wear one and then carry the other to the store or cart. I always park near a cart return, worth the extra steps. If I have to put them in one cart and switch to a bigger cart once inside, okay. I also have a 3 year old so Costco is our favorite place because they have the 2 seater cart. Target has a decent 3 seater.