Twins in Small Car?

felinity

We've got twins on the way (no other children), and my husband and I both drive fairly small cars (Honda Civic and Toyota Prius).  We don't really want to move to a larger vehicle until we need to, and buying a new car isn't really in our budget before the babies get here.

Was anyone else in a similar situation? I'd appreciate advice about what car seats work best in smaller cars (especially as rear-facing infant seats), as well as what you found to be the best stroller options.  (I get that double strollers are by their nature bulky and heavy, but I keep reading reviews of strollers that "barely fit into my SUV," and I'm a little spooked.)  

Also, I'm a little overwhelmed by all the configuration possibilities for strollers/basinettes/car seats.  Is there some way to test these things out before buying them?

islandlife

I drove a VW Golf for the first 6 months with the boys.  They were in the Graco Safeseat I think.  We have the Baby Jogger City Select.  We ended up getting a minivan and switched to the big carseats.  The car was fine, but I'm short.  It would have been really uncomfortable if I was tall.  

Conky3000

I've asked about this too. We have a 2006 Hyundai Elantra hatchback and getting a new car isn't an option. It seems there's no easy answer for car seats ecause every car, even similar sized cars, will have different seats that fit best . I have heard the chicco keyfit seats accomodate very small infants well, though, so maybe they'd also work for a small car.

As for strollers, I thinka  lot of the double trollers will fit in a Civic or Prius trunk...you just might not have a ton of extra room. And really, I think sometimes SUV cargo space isn't that great since the strollers have to go in upright rather than flat.

 A lot of stores will let you take a stroller or carseat to your car (with an employee) to test the fit.

 Good luck!

AFaul

We have a Hyundai Sonata, which might be a bit bigger than your car, and we are making it work because we have no car payments and like it that way. My husband is 6'4" and so he needs his seat pushed all the way back to drive. We had Graco Snugrides as the infant seat and Britax Marathon 70s now and both fit no problem (there was ~2 inches between the seat top and the drivers seat with the seat pushed back). Both the DSNG and the City Mini fit in my trunk at the same time. I can still fit groceries, etc back there with creative arranging. I have heard that the Chicco Keyfit fits better in smaller cars so maybe try that seat. I know Babies 'R Us will let you try the seats in the car before you purchase.

The only time I wish we had a mini van is when we have a guest visiting and have to take 2 cars everywhere since no one can fit in the middle seat any more. 

juliagulia322

I have a Civic and MH has an SUV. Honestly the civic is really cramped but it can hold the double city mini.  There isn't much room for anything else. I also don't really like that I can't have more than one other person in the car. Yet, MHs SUV really doesn't hold much more and we still can't fit anyone else in it if we wanted to. We were looking into the Honda Pilot and that would be the best way to go for us but it just isn't in the cards for us to get a new car now. 

mpstochlinski8

I really can't help you on this but Im in a similar boat. I have a toyota corolla and DH has a nissan nizmo truck. Im sure with his truck we'd be fine for double stroller but I worry about my car. We are registered for the chicco key fit infant seats and the matching double stroller. I guess Im just hoping for the best. I know they make a snap and go double stroller, I think it may be graco really unsure but BRU has it. I think if we have trouble with the chicco double stroller I may return it and get a snap and go double stroller they dont look nearly as nice or have any bells and whistles but I think they'd fit a smaller car better. GL

felinity

Thanks, everyone! I appreciate your input.  I'm thinking we're going to go with the Chicco Keyfit and the Baby Jogger City Select, most likely.  Thanks for the advice on Babies R Us - I'll definitely see if I can try out the pieces for size.

Conky3000

Oh! One thing I think I've headr about Chicco Keyfit is that they don't actually snap into the DSNG...you have to strap them in. But I'm not 100% sure so check on that if you go to Babies R Us!