Moms with 3+... SUV Question

tcam2012

Hi. I normally lurk here & post on the Baby Name board sometimes. We are looking to buy a different SUV now that we will have DD#3. We were going to go the minivan route but just learned that the latch system, which is why I had chosen it, only goes to 40 pounds so won't work for DD#1&2 anyway. So now I'm back to wanting an SUV that will fit 2 convertible car seats & an infant seat across the second row. Any ideas? Thanks!

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*LrCg*

I have 4 in car seats (no boosters) and have a Traverse & love it. 3 carseats are Diono Radians so very slim which I think helps.

tjkdlhb

CDK211 said:

You can still use the seatbelts to put the car seats in. Most LATCH systems have weight limits of 40-60lbs. 

That being said, we have a Mazda tribute. We can fit two Diono's and one chicco keyfit in the back...it is Extremely squishy and we can not use the LATCH system with the seats. With the seats like that the kids have very little space. I wish we could upgrade to a minivan. 

It's good to know that it's doable!  Ours is a Ford Escape... which is essentially the same thing.

Lizmullen

I know the Chevy equinox fits 3 across!

CuteBride8808

Audi q7... Two dioni radion xrt's and a Graco snugride between

LDQAM516

We have a 2013 Suburban...and I can not imagine having anything else.  Plenty of seat room without having to compensate trunk space...Comfortable no matter where you are sitting and easy carseat arrangements to not interfere with other seating...and safe.  We will never drive anything else.

chloephoebecali

We have a highlander and although we could fit three, it would be a pita. Dh uses that and I have a Sienna. My BFF has an Infiniti model with the third row and is now finding it's doable with three but a bit of a pita.

tcam2012

Thanks! I'm on bed rest so this gives me a starting point for some internet research before DH has to look in person.

oct-wedding

I love my Volvo XC90 and I plan on using it with 3 across when she arrives this month. A friend of mine uses the Diono seats (LATCH with 5-point harness) and will attest that you can use 2 of those with a Graco snugride carrier seat no problem in the XC90.

Volvos can come with 1 or 2 built in booster seats, 1 in the middle or 2 on the sides as well as an optional 3rd row so we have options. I'm planning on initially putting the baby behind the passenger seat, oldest (6yrs, 50+ lbs) in the middle in the built in booster, and middle child (4.5, 40lbs+) behind the driver in his Britax booster. If there's too much fighting or they bother the baby, I'll move #1 to the third row and put him in a booster but sacrifice some cargo space so this may not be ideal for long trips.

Hope that helps!

darkangel42

At the risk of making your family look like loons, can you or the husband take the car seats along(minus the kids) to look at whatever car you're thinking of and put them in to see how they fit?

It may end up more time consuming during the looking phase but it'll give you a much better idea visually of what you're playing with space-wise and then you'll know for sure everything fits before you commit to a particular car.

JoyfulJuly

Infiniti QX60

Tweeks23

We just got an extended Expedition and love it. It has two rows in the back. The middle row, the middle seat goes down to make it bucket seats. My 3yr old and newborn will go there and my 5yr old with go in the third row. The best part with the EXL version is when the third two is up I still have a ton of trunk space. 

Lovemylittles

I know you said you're not wanting a van but we just went from a large SUV to an Odyssey and LOVE it! I was someone that never wanted a van and now I'm wondering why we didn't do it years ago! So much space!! We love it

Worcbride

Honda Pilot

Scottwswife

Chevy traverse. Fit 2 britax marathons and an infant seat, but not all in the 2nd row. The Mazda cx7 did in 2009 though, might try one of those.

Palan

darkangel42 said:

At the risk of making your family look like loons, can you or the husband take the car seats along(minus the kids) to look at whatever car you're thinking of and put them in to see how they fit?

It may end up more time consuming during the looking phase but it'll give you a much better idea visually of what you're playing with space-wise and then you'll know for sure everything fits before you commit to a particular car.

We did this, took 2 bases and the booster, then we took the double stroller to make certain that would fit behind the 3rd row.

RedCardinal

Lovemylittles said:

I know you said you're not wanting a van but we just went from a large SUV to an Odyssey and LOVE it! I was someone that never wanted a van and now I'm wondering why we didn't do it years ago! So much space!! We love it

We have a Honda Odyssey as well. We love it. 

tcam2012

DH put the infant seat in our truck (not the car we're replacing) & it fit great. The seat is 58 inches across. So now I know the size we're aiming for. Thanks for all the great leads!

Sevilla

If you can afford it, go with the minivan.  I'm pg with #4 and we just got a minivan so we could fit all the kids.  After doing two years of 3 across I was SO VERY DONE with that arrangement - it was obnoxious, the kids fought for being so cramped together, it was annoying as heck to deal with carseats.  I really love having a van, everything is so much friendlier to having 3+ kids than the SUV.

Natalie27

I have a Honda Pilot and I have one in a booster, one in a car seat and the baby will be in a carrier and it fits in the second row of the vehicle. 

danalawrence

Lovemylittles said:

I know you said you're not wanting a van but we just went from a large SUV to an Odyssey and LOVE it! I was someone that never wanted a van and now I'm wondering why we didn't do it years ago! So much space!! We love it

Same! What sold me was pushing a button to open and close the doors. The physical work involved in me loading these kids into the car is so much LESS now.