Moms of 3+, a minivan/carseat question

trish3905 · February 2012

Hi, I haven't lurked or posted here in a long time. My twins are 18 months old now and just found out we are expecting #3. I am minivan-shopping and my top choice is the Toyota Sienna.

The only thing making me hesitate is that the Sienna only has 3 LATCH seats. In order to use the LATCH seats, I would need to seat one of my twins in the third row. Then, the other twin and the baby would be in the second row. Will this be a PITA for me? What are the chances that my twins will balk at the idea of sitting alone in the third row? They aren't assigned to specific car seats, so they would take turns.

I know the Honda Odyssey has 3 LATCH seats across the second row, but my preference right now is for the Sienna.

Thanks in advance for any feedback

MagPie08 · February 2012

Why don't you seat both the twins in the 3rd row, one using the latch, and the other using the seat belt? As long as its installed properly, I can't see why you wouldn't use the seat belt. And then put the baby in the second row.

This is the arrangement we plan on using. We have Odyssey and can remove one bucket & center seat so it be will super easy to climb back and buckle in the twins. I wouldn't want to crawl around two 2nd row seats to get to row 3.

Good luck and congrats on #3

trish3905 · February 2012

I have Britax Boulevards, which in their installation guide "recommends" using the top tether. In the Sienna, in the 3rd row, the LATCH seat is the one with the top tether, and it is positioned in the middle of the 3rd row. So, the paranoid mom in me wonders how big a deal it is to install the car seats only with the seat belt...

scorch · February 2012

We have a T&C and its set up the same way and we just had to deal with it. If you got your vehicle now, you can put both twins in the captains chairs with the latch. Then when your baby is born , move both twins to the back and put the baby's carseat in the captains chair, youll have to use the seatbelt for one of the carseats. I dont really think that the LATCH makes thing safer, just easier. It would be a huge PITA if you insisted that everyone had to be in a LATCH seat. We put our 2yo in the back with one twin and the other twin in the captains chair and we have stow&go so one seat is always stowed and that makes it way easier to get the twins in and out.

Otherwise just go with the Odyssey.

Joshsbabymomma · February 2012

We just got the Dodge Grand Caravan and it is set up the same way. Our twins are opposite, we have a toddler and twins on the way. I plan to keep one captain's chair in the floor and put the twins in the back with the seatbelts. I am going to have to climb into the back to bucket all of the kids so this seems like the easiest set up.

UsedToBeGoldie · February 2012

installing with the seatbelts is JUST as safe as latch... latch is just easier and faster. I would not rule out a car you like b/c of latch or not.

we have all 3 in the back row now that they are all forward facing - and 2 are installed with the seatbelt... no biggie.

I'd put the twins in the back row and the singleton in the middle... they can all look at each other that way and it's fun for them. We had the twins rear facing in the middle for the first 2 years- and DS1 in the back FF and they loved it.

atc282 · February 2012

We have the Chrysler T&C. Baby #3 is in one of the captain chairs (2nd row); we've folded down the other 2nd row seat into the Stow and Go. The 3rd row has both Britax Marathons (SBS) for DDs. I like it this way as it allows a large open area in the 2nd row so that getting bk to the 3rd row isn't a PITA

cookiemonster03 · February 2012

I don't think this is a huge problem since you can always seatbelt install. You have to do it eventually anyway as LATCH generally tops out at 40 lbs.

kaylaw05 · February 2012

I just bought a sienna. I plan on putting ds in the 3rd row when the twins arrive and the twins will be in the 2nd row.

Hopeful1! · February 2012

cookiemonster03:
I don't think this is a huge problem since you can always seatbelt install. You have to do it eventually anyway as LATCH generally tops out at 40 lbs.

This

schoolsoutbride · February 2012

I have my 5 year old in the 3rd row. It's pretty easy to buckle him in back there. He likes it. There's a little "compartment" that's all his in the arm rest and he likes to stick stuff in there.

I have the captain's chairs pushed together towards the driver's side, so I can lean in and buckle him in.

Also, a seatbelt install is just as safe as LATCH. Once they hit 40lbs you have to stop using LATCH anyway.

trish3905 · February 2012

Thanks for the info, everyone!

Rangergal9 · February 2012

We have a Sienna and I have my oldest daughter in the middle of the third row and the twins in the captains seats. It works out well and since the twins are RFing they face older DD and have a grand ol time!

MrsCali_Bride · February 2012

scorch:
We have a T&C and its set up the same way and we just had to deal with it. If you got your vehicle now, you can put both twins in the captains chairs with the latch. Then when your baby is born , move both twins to the back and put the baby's carseat in the captains chair, youll have to use the seatbelt for one of the carseats. I dont really think that the LATCH makes thing safer, just easier. It would be a huge PITA if you insisted that everyone had to be in a LATCH seat. We put our 2yo in the back with one twin and the other twin in the captains chair and we have stow&go so one seat is always stowed and that makes it way easier to get the twins in and out.

Otherwise just go with the Odyssey.

This is our setup as well. I actually just took pics to show the setup. Our oldest's seat is installed with the seatbelt and the twins' seats are installed with LATCH.

LakeGenevaBride · February 2012

MrsCali_Bride:
scorch:
We have a T&C and its set up the same way and we just had to deal with it. If you got your vehicle now, you can put both twins in the captains chairs with the latch. Then when your baby is born , move both twins to the back and put the baby's carseat in the captains chair, youll have to use the seatbelt for one of the carseats. I dont really think that the LATCH makes thing safer, just easier. It would be a huge PITA if you insisted that everyone had to be in a LATCH seat. We put our 2yo in the back with one twin and the other twin in the captains chair and we have stow&go so one seat is always stowed and that makes it way easier to get the twins in and out.

Otherwise just go with the Odyssey.

Holy crap your car is so clean. The inside of my minivan looks like a cross b/t toys r us and the cracker aisle at the grocery store!
This is our setup as well. I actually just took pics to show the setup. Our oldest's seat is installed with the seatbelt and the twins' seats are installed with LATCH.

MrsCali_Bride · February 2012

Haha! I straightened it up and moved things before taking the pics. There's still a pile of cheese-it crumbs in front of the third row and in our oldest's seat. There's a small ball and monster truck Mater in the corner behind the captains chair

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