[jenandnaomi]

I thought that I would start a new post for those of us caring for foster children who are so close in age. We have been posting under a thread called "Need to get out" about common concerns like packing diaper bags, buying car seats or strollers for 2, 3 or even 4 children under the age of two.

Even though we don't have twins, triplets or quadruplets it can feel like it sometimes and we can use all the tips and advice we can get from others in our situation.

To start things off here are some topics and questions that I'm sorting out:

What furniture items do you feel you need multiples of (like bouncy seats) and what items do you think just take up more space than needed?

What sort of routine has helped you stay organized?

[tlc4kidz]

My two are 20 and 6 months.....both with us from 2 days old. I MUST have a double stroller. Bought a front-to-back at a second-hand store and took it back on exchange for a side-by-side. I like it alot better except for the doorway thing, but mostly I only shop at Target or Walmart and there I use the cart (one in the seat and one in his carseat in the cart). I like the lightweight double, but I'm considering buying a double-jogger, because we spend so much time outdoors at soccer games and such on rough terrain.

I have one big highchair and one booster kind that attaches to a chair. I like to get them at the table as soon as possible. Got to have a sling....it's good for bonding and leaves a hand free when I need to chase a toddler. And, of course the van. And what's up with that anyway???!! Whoever designed the seats apparently did not have more than 2 kids. I can't figure out a good place to put the car seats that still lets the bigger guys get in and out easy. Any advice there? I have a Kia with 4 captain seats instead of the bench.

[yanknrebel]

Well,

I have a 33 month old fd (who we will be adopting soo, HOORAY), as well as a set of 8 month old twins. It is very challenging when we have to go out if my husband or teenage daughter don't accompany me. I have had to put the 33 month old in the front of the basket at Walmart, and put the twins both in the back of the basket on several quilts that I had brought from home. That's fun. NOT!!! The twins fight like brothers and sisters. Especially when they are in such close quarters.

We may also be getting the baby the bmom is due to have in Jan. IF the state takes that baby.

All this and we DO NOT have a van. I drive a Dodge Intrepid. My husband works at a Dodge Chrysler dealership, and he refuses to pay a car note. WHich I don't want to do either. SO, not sure how we will transport if we get the new baby.

I have both double strollers also. I hate the inline stroller. It is like driving a limousine. It is hard to maneuver. I like my side by side much more. It also fits great in my trunk.

The baby due in Jan. will be only 11 months difference in age than the twins. So I will have 4 under the age of 4. WHEW!!!

[clynn]

I have four kids under three yrs old.We have two babybeds in one room and three toddler beds in the other one(can't let dfacs know we have an extra one or it will be full too)We have two high chairs and two booster seats for the table.I only go to town with help.We put two kids in each cart and watch very closely for things being thrown from the cart or opened before we get to the checkout.Shopping by myself is such a luxury now and I appreciate it so much more than I used too.The only way we survive is a strict schedule that they are used to and we try hard to stick to it.They all take naps at the same time and go to bed at the same time.Bath time consist of three girls in the tub at one time then when they are done I bathe the baby boy.It can be done!!!

[leenab]

Fosterma,
We also have a KIA sedona. It takes quite a bit manouvering to get everyone in the 3rd row. We have a 3rd row bench and captains seats in the middle. What I do is let Raj sit in the 3rd now as he knows how to buckle himself. But before that I used to open the trunk area, climb in and buckle children from there. I know it sounds funny, but it works. When it's just the two boys they tend to sit in the middle row and Raj buckles both he and O, I double check.
Hope this helps,
LeenaB

[tlc4kidz]

Leena,
Your a genius! I never thought of putting them in from the trunk. I think that will be especially helpful with the rear-facing car seat. Thanks!!! I do love my Sedona

[L-A-J-C-R-C]

Hi,

We have 1,2,3 year olds with us. We lucked out and found someone selling a quad stroller for $125 and snatched it up!!! (at the time we had 2 - 2 y/o and 2 - 1 y/o). The youngest is medically fragile and now has his own wheelchair/stroller but, when we all go out together (which is extremely rare) I still use the quad stroller.

I make all medical appointments, etc. during the morning hours or on Monday as my dh works Tuesday-Sat. 2-11. That way I only need to take whichever one needs to be seen.

Everyone naps at the same time (even Mommy ) and bedtime for the 2 and 3 y/o is 8 pm; later if they napped longer (cause I'm so grateful to have gotten a longer nap too LOL). our 2 y/o rarely sleeps through the night, many nights up from 2 or 3 am for the day so I cherish my naps.

We drive a conversion van that seats 7, however, we are going to adopt all of these kids, plus have 3 teenagers and are hoping to adopt another daughter. We are looking into a 10 passenger van (but they're so darn ugly!!!)

I love this thread and hope to learn more from all of you.

Michelle

[jenandnaomi]

I'm so glad to get such a great response for this thread. I know I'm already getting some great tips. I never thought of putting my older baby in the grocery cart on a blanket. She might like that now that she is getting so into her toys.

I currently have a 3 week old and a four month old and I'm still driving a 2 door car. It's getting to be quite a pain so I'm looking forward to car shopping soon. Anyone know of a model (4 door car) that might allow 3 infant seats in the rear? I'm wondering if an Outback or something similar would be wide enough.

More topic questions:

With twins or multiple young infants do you use the same brand and model of car seat and bases? We're currently using the same model so that either seat fits into either base (and we have 4 bases split between 2 cars).

[yanknrebel]

As for the twins, we have two different car seats and bases, just because we were given a used one by my sister when we were in the process of adopting a baby boy through a private adoption(but she changed her mind). Then we got our foster daughter. This car seat came with a stroller but the stroller was so hard to open and close. SO my husband and I bought another stroller, car seat and base new off of ebay. It is Eddie BAuer. As for the toddler seat we have for the toddler, we bought it at Walmart. ALl three of these seats sit in the back of my Intrepid. They luckily have large back seats and huge trunks for the stroller. I do not know what I will do when we (or IF) we get that other baby due in Jan.

JUst a quick note. We have a 17 year old bio daughter who is almost always gone somewhere on weekends. Well a few weeks ago, she was surprisiningly home for the weekend. SO we got all ready for church. We walked out to the car only to realize that we had too many kids and not enough room. Her car was not running at that moment, so we had to put the babies in the car seats, my husband drove and my daughter and I fit together on the fron t seat and just prayed that no police officer stopped us. I can't imagine what kind of excuse we could have used for that. LOL

[stepforone]

We've fostered twins twice from newborn to about 9 months of age (both times). We got the stroller that has the snap in/out infant seats - front/back, not side/side - and I wouldn't do it any other way. I can't imagine going anywhere with babies that can't stand and having to take them out of a car seat each time I went someplace (that's the advantage of twins - they start as preemies so stay in their infant seat longer!). I either put them in their stroller or double them up in a shopping cart (one in the grocery area, the other over the toddler seat area - still in their infant seats). Then I push the babies while I pull an empty cart to shop. It's not the easiest way to do it but my dh travels a lot and I've done most of the shopping by myself with both sets of girls. The car issue is why I'm wanting a full-sized conversion van. Tired of my 4 yo having to clamber around the seats to get into the back with car seats in the middle section. We always had one high chair (they take turns eating since I'm the only one doing the feeding!), one swing and one bouncy seat. We did get two saucers with the first set but really only needed the one. One crib for the first 5-6 months.

[jenandnaomi]

Stepforone: What brand/model is your stroller that allows you to snap in two infant seats, that sounds just like what I was thinking of for the girls.

[stepforone]

It's a Graco, one infant seat came with it and the other we had to purchase seperate. It wasn't cheap (3 years ago). There is another alternative and I know that Toys R Us carries it. It's just eh stroller the frame (lightweight) and multiple brand infant seats fit into. It would be great if you only dealt with infants or you are willing to purchase another stroller after they outgrow the infant seats. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=glance&s=toys

[surfmama]

Hi, just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth about big ugly vans. We got a 15 passenger Ford Econo 2 years ago. We absolutely LOVE it! We have 8 kids at home and 3 that are out on their own but come and go. So, we can all go somewhere together in one vehicle. And they are less expensive than those popular minivans with all the frills you really don't need. It isn't any harder to park than our pick up truck.

Seriously, it rides very nice, you can see all around you when driving, the seats are large enough for all those carseats and booster seats. Then, if you take out the back seat, it becomes a 11 passenger with a ton of room for packing stuff.

[yanknrebel]

Where does one buy one of those large 15 passenger vans? We have 5 kids right now and need to buy a van. I would much rather buy one of these vans then a minivan.

[surfmama]

We just went to our local Ford dealer and worked with him....he was able to find us one that was a year old, just off lease and in like new condition.