Offering a little friendly neighbor support can be a bit tricky in this day and age – especially when it comes to carpools and car seats.

When we were kids, it was easy for our parents to save money and consolidate travel time by befriending the neighbor with the biggest minivan. Taking one more kid to the soccer game or adding a passenger on the way home from school simply required one extra click of the seatbelt. Carpooling was a common way to take children to school, too, with parents alternating driving days and catching some much-needed “me time” on those mornings off.

However, taking an extra passenger along for the ride on today’s roads requires the same effort and consideration you give to any car travel with children aged 8 and under. Each child needs his or her own booster seat in a size that meets federal and state regulations. Bringing on additional passengers also requires adequate space within a car, since many types of car seats and booster seats are fairly wide, making it difficult to fit three seats in the back of a sedan or other compact car.

Some brands of minivans have tried to sidestep this issue by offering fold-down booster seats that allow for last-minute adjustments to the seating itinerary. While some children can use these as a secondary option, they may actually be unsafe for certain sizes and ages, and shouldn’t be relied on for regular transportation.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to write off carpooling altogether. It just means you need to take a few extra steps before you become the neighborhood taxi.

Keep additional booster seats on hand. When one child outgrows his or her booster seat, put it in storage in the garage. That way, you have one accessible in a pinch. However, you should always avoid buying the seats secondhand, since you never know what stresses they have undergone. (Research shows that car seats that have been in accidents before may have internal structural damage not visible from the outside.)

Keep additional booster seats in the car. If you have the space, having an extra car seat or booster seat in the vehicle can give you greater freedom in your transportation options.

Organize a booster seat and SeatSnug sharing plan. Booster seat safety is important, and booster seats are fairly easy to take in and out of cars. If you know that you will be carrying additional passengers, make sure you make seating arrangements before they get in the car.

Although we may no longer be able to make last-minute changes to our travel plans, it is still possible to be a helpful neighbor and pick up the kids from school. It just requires a little more attention to car seat safety - which should always be foremost on our minds, anyway.