OT: What Do You Drive With 3 Car Seats?

[camdensmom]

We have a 3.5 year old and are expecting twins in the late summer.

The first thought that popped into my mind when the ultrasound tech told us was, "OMG We'll need a minivan!"

I'm just wondering what people in a 3 carseat situation drive? Is a minivan mandatory?

 

[Mama to Three]

We upgraded to a minivan with #3. I couldn't fit all the car seats in my car (Mercury Sable).

I made a recent discovery of the Sunshine Kids Radian 80 seats. Apparently you can fit three of them in the back seat of a sedan. I'm not sure if they will do as infant seats though. Its worth checking into. I also love that you can use the 5 point harness for a longer period of time. I'm very picky about that.

Of course, I do love my Odyssey! Yes, its a minivan, but so darn convenient.

GL!

 

[SCHBR'smom]

With #3, we moved to a Tahoe, but it didn't have enough room in the back for all the groceries. So, we moved up to a Suburban. It's great with all the carseats. Even better now that we have 5 kids. DH says if we have another, though, we'll need a bus.

Good luck with all the kiddos, the more the merrier

 

[DannysMom]

We have a 3.5 year old and are expecting twins in the late summer.

The first thought that popped into my mind when the ultrasound tech told us was, "OMG We'll need a minivan!"

I'm just wondering what people in a 3 carseat situation drive? Is a minivan mandatory?

Well I have a 5 1/2 year old & am also expecting twins & I'm thinking I need a *better* minivan. I have a 2003 Dodge Caravan, and that 3rd row seat, just isn't that accessable. I still need to buckle my son in and can't see how I'll do it with 2 infant bases/carseats installed on the 2 rear captains chairs. I'm thinking I need one of those new spiffy models where the rear seats swing out to get to the 3rd row seating.

Congrats on the twins!! When are you due? Feel free to come hang out with us preggo moms on the community board Moms-to-be thread over here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1998111&page=193

 

[amjg]

With #3, we moved to a Tahoe, but it didn't have enough room in the back for all the groceries. So, we moved up to a Suburban. It's great with all the carseats. Even better now that we have 5 kids. DH says if we have another, though, we'll need a bus.

Good luck with all the kiddos, the more the merrier

We also owned a Tahoe with 4 kids, but then moved to a Suburban and have never looked back. It by far has the most room behind the third row and is very comfortable for adults in each row. Just in case you have to sit in the back.

 

[nickoftime]

My DS was 2.5 when my twins were born and we got a minivan. I have a friend with 3 and she has a chevy impala though. I also know several with a crossover ( GMC Acadia & Chevy Traverse) With all the stuff you need to lug around with 3 little kids I found a minivan easier.

 

[mjkacmom]

A minivan will make your life MUCH easier! Even my parents bought them after my twins arrived, because it was such a PITA to get everyone buckled in. With a minivan, your oldest can just walk to the 3rd row, and buckle up (my kids learned to buckle their carseats around 4, and at 5, could buckle the seatbelt with the booster. I love my minivan!

 

[amjg]

I forgot to mention that if you get a suburban with 2nd row buckets you can easily move around in it. On long trips I climb from the front to the back all the time. It is a lot roomier than a minivan. We used to own a minivan and actually traded it for a tahoe then a suburban for the extra room.

Just thought I would mention this since you were asking if a minivan is mandatory.

 

[mom2meiko]

we only have 1 dd (w/ one on the way) but we frequently have other young children in the car with us. we have a suburban and never have trouble with the carseats! it's been a life saver for us. (we also have a durango but it's not as large or comfortable - especially in the 3rd seat.)

the downside of a large suv is the gas though - if you don't do a lot of driving it's not a huge issue but if you do a large amount of driving it can be painful. that being said, i'd get another suburban in a heartbeat! i absolutely love it! (my sis has one too and she also loves it!)

 

[TiggerStac]

I have a Ford Edge...I have a bulky car seat, booster seat and will have plenty of room for my infant car seat.

My problem is my 2 year old gets car sick, so I have no choice but to put him in the middle. He doesn't get sick on short trips if he's in the middle and on long trips we have to give him benadryl.

But I believe DS's seat is a triumph, my oldest is in a booster and can buckle himself. We've checked and there's still plenty of room for infant. I will just have to have my oldest wait to get in his seat until I buckle 2 year old in.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

I have a Ford Edge...I have a bulky car seat, booster seat and will have plenty of room for my infant car seat.

My problem is my 2 year old gets car sick, so I have no choice but to put him in the middle. He doesn't get sick on short trips if he's in the middle and on long trips we have to give him benadryl.

But I believe DS's seat is a triumph, my oldest is in a booster and can buckle himself. We've checked and there's still plenty of room for infant. I will just have to have my oldest wait to get in his seat until I buckle 2 year old in.

Wow-- you fit 3 carseats in the back.
My DH just got a Ford Edge and it is near impossible to put all three of our kids carseats there-- one in a bulky car seat and two booster seats--- we tried to put them in this weekend and they won't fit, my 7yo had to go with no booster in the middle-- one of the places where the seatbelt buckles was was always covered by a carseat, it was crazy and we were in a hurry so maybe we will have better luck next try .

eta----- I forgot-- I just got a Honda Pilot and the room inside is great, 3 rows and easy moving 2nd row seats and 4 positions for latch connections so there are lots of carseat options.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

We have the 8 passenger Toyota Sienna (2005 LE) and LOVE it!!! You can probably squeeze 3 kids in a car, but why? A minivan will make your life so much easier.

 

[MegaDisney]

Toyota Sequoia.

We are an anti-minivan family. Neither one of us wants to be seen in one. We love our Sequoia- plenty of room for us and plenty of cargo space. And it's great in the snow- important since we live in New England!

 

[TiggerStac]

Wow-- you fit 3 carseats in the back.
My DH just got a Ford Edge and it is near impossible to put all three of our kids carseats there-- one in a bulky car seat and two booster seats--- we tried to put them in this weekend and they won't fit, my 7yo had to go with no booster in the middle-- one of the places where the seatbelt buckles was was always covered by a carseat, it was crazy and we were in a hurry so maybe we will have better luck next try .

eta----- I forgot-- I just got a Honda Pilot and the room inside is great, 3 rows and easy moving 2nd row seats and 4 positions for latch connections so there are lots of carseat options.

It could be because my 2 year olds seat is high?? Just a thought. There is a base on it, but it sits up higher, so that may be why I can fit more.

http://www.amazon.com/Evenflo-Triumph-DLX-Convertible-Seat/dp/B000KNVUXS
This isn't pattern I have, but it's the basic idea. My 7 year old doesn't have problem w/getting his buckle in and my mom can sit in the back w/them, too w/out a problem.

 

[theprince&thepeas]

I've driven a minivan with 3 kids. It was tight. We 'upgraded' to a Ford Expedition. The room for the kiddos is great, but NO storage space. We really need a suburban (now that we have 4 kiddos). The gas is painful (avg 12 mpg) in our Expedition, can't imagine a Suburban or an Expedition EL.

Might as well bite the bullet. With gas prices what they are, the upside is that SUV's may be more affordable.

Congrats on the twins!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

A minivan is NOT mandatory. I did plenty of research when we found out we were having twins.

We have a Saturn Outlook Crossover...LOVE IT!! It has plenty of room for 3 carseats and tons of room in the back with the third row down (we got the version with the bench seat, so all kids would be in the second row). It has more room in the back than my mom's minivan. We get good gas mileage and it drives like a car. It gets excellent safety ratings, too. They have good deals on them now...since they may be discontinuing the line but warranties will still be valid. Also, the Chevy version just came out (Traverse) and I heard that one is a bit cheaper...

Congratulations!! (and, get plenty of sleep now...I haven't slept through the night in 9 LONG months... )

 

[Madzac]

We have a Ford Explorer and were able to fit all three in seats in the back for awhile... now my DD is 7 and is in a booster in the back seat. But it can be done! I will say, our other vehicle is a minivan and more roomy.

 

[DRS_Are_Best]

First of all CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I know exactly all the things that are going through your mind -- when ds was 15 months old, we learned that we were expecting twins (unexpectedly). We were driving a full-sized SUV (Toyota Sequoia) and dh is DRASTICALLY opposed to a minivan. We had 2 Britax Marathon carseats (they are HUGE convertible front/rear-facing seats) and put them both in the middle row and then placed the infant carseat base into the car, and much to our surprise, THEY ALL FIT!!!!!!

Now the twins are 26 months old (nearly) and we have the 2 Britax seats as well as a high-back booster for ds(3). I wouldn't say there was a lot of spare room, but noone is really hurting for space.

So, no, a minivan isn't necessary.

BTW, if you ever want to talk or are looking for advice, feel free to PM me....

 

[PaulaSue]

minivan mama here

LOVE the stow and go and the sliing doors. VERY nice with small kids.

 

[deva]

Twins! Congrats. We have 3 kids and drive a Honda Pilot and Chrysler Pacifica. Our oldest sits in the third row and can buckle in himself. My mom has a Buick Rendezvous and can fit all three carseats in the second row which leaves a ton of cargo space.

Given the fact that you're having twins I could see real benefits to dual power sliding doors on a minivan.