You guys gave me such amazing feedback to my last post that I'm back for more!
Right now I drive a RAV4. I know that my car can't support three across (the seatbelts overlap which is a hazard, and it apparently wouldn't work with LATCH+belt from what I've read) so I'm wondering, if/when we need to, what a good third car option would be. I am not anti-minivan.
Also, I'd be interested in knowing your seat configuration and types.
(DD is 3, FF because she gets carsick, and DS is 1, RF for as long as possible, ftr.)
Thank you!
Re: those w/three+: what do you drive?
We had a mini-van (Honda Odyssey) and it worked out fine. Having the sliding door and low entry was very convenient with a LO in an infant carrier. DH is very anti-minivan and just couldn't get over it so we traded it for a Suburban.
In both cars we put the older boys in the back row and put the younger one in one of the captains chairs. We still use this same configuration.
The Suburban does use a lot of gas but also has a TON of room which is nice. But honestly, the mini-van was absolutely fine too.
My twins are 5! My baby is 3!
DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi
DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame
I have a 3 yr old, a 10 month old and a 15 yr old step daughter. DH drives and Acadia and I drive a Volvo XC90. The Acadia has captains chairs, so the kids carseats are in them and my step daughter or I sit in the 3rd row. The captains chairs make it easy to get in/out. We do eventually want another baby so I hope that DS1 will be able to sit in the 3rd row with a seatbelt + booster by that time.
In my XC 90, we can easily fit 3 carseats across if we need to, in addition there is a built-in booster in the middle seat. It also has a 3rd row, but we generally don't use it. I really, really love my car, it's 5 years old and paid off which only makes me love it more, but when the time comes I would definitely love to get another.
I drive an escalade. I took the very back left seat out. Infant is in the back right. Toddler in middle right and preschool sits in middle left.
I put all of the kids in through the back hatch, put baby in her seat, then buckle the other two if they haven't already buckled themselves.