3 car seats/ auto options?

Soon2bMrs.NeilD

For three car seats? We need to buy a new vehicle this week or next. We were already planning to since #3 is due in November but given that I was in a car accident last week we need to move on it pronto. The husband thinks we need a van and I'm insistent that an SUV with a third row would work. What do you have/recommend?

keg

Minivan, hands down.  The automatic sliding doors are worth their weight in gold when you are trying to wrangle multiple children.  Plus, it's lower to the ground than an SUV and makes it easier for kids to climb in by themselves.  When we have the third row up, we still have space to carry multiple strollers (we sometimes have 4--double Combi, Phil and Ted's, and 2 umbrella strollers). 

MrsLnt

If you are replacing car seats because of your accident, the Sunshine Kids Radians are made to fit 3 across.  We just replaced our Snugrides with the Radians and we actually have more room in the back seat than we did before.

I love my Pilot.  I know a minivan would be more practical but I'm a "form over function" kind of girl.  I wore my 4 inch stilettos until the very end of my pregnancy   The only issue I can see with an SUV like mine with bench seating on the second row and three car seats is it completely blocks your access to your 3rd row.  Something like a Tahoe with captain's chairs in the center row may be more flexible for you. 

I have a MoM friend with a Tahoe for her 1 + twins.  She has her twins in the captains chairs, and her older child rides in third row in a single seat.  She has the other seat removed for cargo.  I think it works well for them. 

SoldiersGreenBean

keg:

Minivan, hands down.  The automatic sliding doors are worth their weight in gold when you are trying to wrangle multiple children.  Plus, it's lower to the ground than an SUV and makes it easier for kids to climb in by themselves.  When we have the third row up, we still have space to carry multiple strollers (we sometimes have 4--double Combi, Phil and Ted's, and 2 umbrella strollers). 

This! Except we have a different stroller combo.

ougrad1

I have a mercedes GL450 SUV.  The babies are in the middle and Emerson is in the third row.  We have the seat beside Emerson down to slide the stroller into.

I'm not a van gal either.  Em crawls through the back and can latch and unlatch her seatbelt at this point.  I always check it prior to leaving and she hasn't undone it while we are moving-yet.

It's not ideal but, I made it work.  : )

Soon2bMrs.NeilD

Thanks ladies! Looks like you're all equally split, just like DH and I are. I'll take all of your experiences into consideration.

Rangergal9

keg:

Minivan, hands down.  The automatic sliding doors are worth their weight in gold when you are trying to wrangle multiple children.  Plus, it's lower to the ground than an SUV and makes it easier for kids to climb in by themselves.  When we have the third row up, we still have space to carry multiple strollers (we sometimes have 4--double Combi, Phil and Ted's, and 2 umbrella strollers). 

Ditto this... 

Sharra711

We looked at the cross-overs (some with captian's chairs) and SUVs.

I *think* we have settled on the Forx Flex. It's low to the ground and easy to get into (Oh, BTW a minivan is off the table for DH... he just won't do it! LOL!) and it has a third row that I fit in just fine.

1/2 of the 3rd row will fold down to have DD get in or she can go through the 2nd row. She still can't buckle herself, so I have to be able to reach her and with the Flex it was eazy to reach her from the 2nd row.