Hi mamas. I am having a very difficult time trying to decide what new vehicle to get for our expanding family. We currently have a Pacifica (hubby's car - has 2 captains chairs in the second row w/ a console, and a third row) and a Mercedes E class (my car...my baby!). One or both of the cars need to go. It's simply not practical to be flipping a seat down in the Pacifica to put a child in the third row, or to force 3 kids to sit squashed together in the back of the Mercedes.
I'm looking for seating advice from mamas with 3 kids. How did you seat the kids, so that they aren't sitting on top of each other. I'm trying to be realistic and while I understand that it is feasible to sit 3 kids next to each other, it's not practical (especially for my sanity!). And also, what kind of vehicle are you driving? Mini-van? SUV? Crossover? Standard sedan? I will admit, that I am NOT looking forward to getting a mini van. Not particular reason why...maybe it's just the stereotype of the "mini van soccer mom" that has me worked up. :) And before you say it, I know it's silly. I have plenty of friends with just 1 or 2 kids who have a mini van, and as far as practicality, it's just genious! But I'm 27 and trying to hold on to a little bit of youth. :) But then again, I never thought I would have 3 kids, so maybe I should just embrace it!
Baby #3 is due in May and at that time my daughters will be 8 yrs & 3.5 yrs old. The current plan is to put our 8 yr old in the third row. And ideally I'm thinking having a vehicle with either an aisle on the side or up the middle is ideal, so I don't have to flip seats down to get a child into the third row. I would like to be able to leave the infant carrier base buckled in the car, so I can just click baby in and go.
What kind of vehicle to do you have? How does it work with 3 kids? Any options/features that are a MUST HAVE? Or something you wish you had, but don't?
Thanks in advance mamas!!!
PS - I have never really felt comfortable driving a monstrous car/truck. I'm always more at home driving a car. :)
I was driving a mini van at 21 and got made fun of so much. I didn't care because I ABSOLUTELY loved mine. I drove a honda odyssey for 4 years, never had any problems with it. I now miss it every day and wish it was still mine.. When I had mine there were different ways to move the middle row seats so that you could control where the aisle was and whether the kids would be right beside each other or not.
We have a Honda Odyssey and it is heaven on wheels! I just turned 30, so I know what you mean.........but, then I test drove one and fell in love with the pure genious of it all!!! The automatic doors and trunk......the folding down seats with one hand.....the dvd player, hands free phone system, navigation system, the voice activiated system (can do anything just by pushing the button and telling it to do it.....the rear back-up camera.....the rear digital controls for the heat/air....the leather (and completely washable!!!!!!) interior........the all weather floor mats (a must!!!).....the sun shades that pull up for the back windows so sun doesn't get in their eyes.....the infloor storage.....the surrounding airbags.....ALL OF IT! It's literally our heaven on wheels and we can't imagine having anything else. It's so safe and so easy do drive and so comfortable for everyone in it. I just can't say enough about it. LOVE IT!!!!!!!
With 2 carseats and the need to get an older child to a third row - your EASIEST option is a minivan because you won't have to flip a seat forward to access that third row. Most SUV/Crossover vehicles you do have to flip a seat down to get to the third row.
We had a minivan until just this summer - we had captain's chairs in the middle row and a bench seat in back - you can go down the middle. I found captain's chairs the best for installing carseats over a bench seat.
Can you not get into the third row of the Pacifica without flipping the seat?? I thought that was a great family vehicle - my friend's have one. I would surely try carseats in there and try it before being hasty and getting 2 new vehicles.
Good luck!
We have two kids 4 and 2 and our next one is due in May. We have had a mini van for over a year and love it (we have the Dodge grand caravan stow and go) We are actually planning on Stowing one of the middle seats( driver side) and putting our two older in the back row and then our baby in the middle passenger side. This is because I know that I will still have to buckle up our oldest as she is so petite and in a 5 pt harness still. This will give me ample room to get into the van without having to squeeze. I am 25 and I really love our "hockey mom" van!! You just can't say no to having all the extra space for hauling all the kids stuff with ease!!
Honda Odyssey. You'll never regret it. Love LOVE ours!!!! We bought a used 2004 one last year with 62,000 miles on it. Feels like a new car. It'll run forever. We also have a 1997 Honda Civic that shows no signs of slowing down. I am forever a Honda Girl! Good luck, and congrats!!
I didn't want a minivan either, but with three kids (two small ones 16 mos apart) we needed practical. SO... I test drove one. We bought an Odessey and I LOVE IT! There are days I wish I could drive a cooler car, but it really is easy to drive - not like a BIG truck and SO much cheaper with regard to gas mileage (mine gets about 22 to the gallon on ave. - I do lots of highway driving) vs. and SUV (12- 16 ... maybe), and the insurance is also cheaper... and the resale is better. At least drive one... then you can decide. Good luck.
i have a ford escape (hubbys car) i like it but i love my dodge durango it has a alot of espace but you can try the trailblazer has also alot of espace i love my dodge durango because i have 3 kids 2-1 year old and one 6 year old and usually i take friends of my kid to school,soccer... so is almost always full and i have my stroller in the back,also is economic in gas .
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my GMC Acadia. It is very roomy and the standard setup is to have 2 seats in the 2nd row with space in the middle for your older daughter to access the 3rd seat.
BUT, I have to say that my last vehicle was a full-size truck, so I can't really say how the Acadia compares to driving a car. I know my friends have driven it when we share driving on trips, and they like it. I just know I would MUCH rather drive it than a minivan.
Another possibility, since the Acadia is pretty roomy going across, is to get the 8-passenger like we have, and you could put the baby in the middle and your other two on either side. The 8 year old could probably unbuckle the baby while you help the 3 1/2 year old out of the car, then you could grab the baby. Seriously, the back seat is very roomy; I ride next to our son in the back on long car trips. 5 adults in the first two rows is do-able. I usually keep the 3rd row folded down for trips to Sam's and just other gear we haul around.
Standard is 7-passenger; optional is 8-passenger. We only have one child and that is how things will stay; but I bought this car after that decision was made, have had it for 2 1/2 years, and still wouldn't want anything different. Love it.
Happy car shopping!
I love my friends cadilac sxt, I think that's what it's called! there;s a 3 seat bench in the 2nd row, and 2 seats in the back. Easy to put 3 kids in 2nd row and easy to put kids in the back, plus it will still be classy to compete with the mercedes!
We had a Jeep liberty with twins. When I found out I was pregnant again we had to upsize. We got a Ford Expedition. It was great cause we could fit 3 car seats in the second row and had plenty of room. We just changed over to a Dodge journey and I love it. I can fit all 3 booster seats in the second row no problem. A little less room than the Ford but not such a big difference that I miss the extra space. It drives more like a car than a truck. It has AWD which we need where we live. It has storage bins in the floor like a mini van and a third row seat if you need to ever carry extra passengers. We even got one with a dvd player and wireless headphones. I recommend taking a look at one. Its really cute too.
I drive a Buick Enclave and love it. My 2 year old sits behind me since he is the one that pretty much is with me whenever I go anywhere. It's easy to get him in and out right there on my side. My soon to be 8 and 6 year olds are both in the back seat. Prior to the Enclave I drove a Chevy Venture minivan for 7 years. It was by far the most family friendly car! Kids could climb in and out on their own easily. The seat in the middle had the aisle to the side so the baby carrier could be in the middle of the middle seat and the older 2 could easily get to the backseat. As much as I love my new car I truly do miss the convenience of my minivan. In hindsight I should have waited another couple of years before getting rid of it because it was just so perfect for hauling the kids around. Also, minivans typically have much more cargo space in the back then the crossovers or SUV's. My stroller fit much better in the minivan than it does in the current car.
Good luck,
K.
