XP: SUV question for moms of 2+

djm31012 · November 2014

Posted this on my BMB as well but if you have an SUV with a 3rd row, is your middle row captains chairs and if so how important do you think that is? With LO2 coming in May, I am envisioning longer car trips (DH's family is 2 hrs away and we have a beach house about 1.5 hrs away) and me having to climb in the back seat. We love the pathfinder but there are no captains chair option for the middle row and I can picture myself trying to calm a screaming baby reaching over the high back of the middle row and it being annoying. Am I over thinking this?? Clearly I am overwhelmed at planning for this second child HA.

2chatter · November 2014

I drive a Buick Enclave and love it. Two captains chairs, most third row legroom, more space in the back than most SUVs (Tahoe included). Quietest cabin. You can flip the captains chairs to access the third row, but we didn't. The 7 year old (still in a 5 point harness as she barely tops 40 pounds) and 2 year old (RF) are in the captains chairs and the 10 year old is in the third row as she can buckle herself.

You cannot fit 3 boosters across the back - learned that the hard way.

audditty · November 2014

When we were looking for SUVs before LO was born, we were pretty sure we wanted captain's chairs. We bought a Chevy Traverse and now I KNOW I want captain's chairs and am so glad we got them. I can climb all over and tend to everyone's needs while DH drives, and it helps keep the dog happy too. He can stand in the middle and see everything going on.

Still plenty of storage (now I only have 1 LO right now, but will have another within the next year), but I would campaign for those captain's chairs/bucket seats. They make it easy to access the third row, too, whether it's up or folded down.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2014

I think we just should have bit the bullet and gone with the minivan to begin with!

Sept07b2b · November 2014

For some reason, I am having a hard time understanding the significance of the captain's chairs. We have an Infiniti QX60, which has a third row seat and a bench seat for the second row. My DS (5) sits in his 5 point seat behind the passenger, and my DD (2.5) sits behind the driver. If I need to tend to them, I can sit in the middle between the two of them. The third row is still totally accessible because DS's seat "pops-up" even with the carseat installed to allow someone to get into the third row. I LOVE our SUV because the third row is actually big enough to fit adults. Sometimes, we install DS's seat into the third row, so two people can sit with DD in the middle.

Sept07b2b · November 2014

PrivacyWanted said:

Sept07b2b said:

For some reason, I am having a hard time understanding the significance of the captain's chairs. We have an Infiniti QX60, which has a third row seat and a bench seat for the second row. My DS (5) sits in his 5 point seat behind the passenger, and my DD (2.5) sits behind the driver. If I need to tend to them, I can sit in the middle between the two of them. The third row is still totally accessible because DS's seat "pops-up" even with the carseat installed to allow someone to get into the third row. I LOVE our SUV because the third row is actually big enough to fit adults. Sometimes, we install DS's seat into the third row, so two people can sit with DD in the middle.

The significance of the captains chairs is that with the majority of 3rd row SUVs there's not that "pop-up" feature that the QX60 has. We looked at a ton and the QX60 was the only one that had that feature, and one other (the enclave maybe?) had one that could slide forward with the carseat installed. Most others to access the 3rd row the 2nd row chair needed the back to fold down and you can't do that with a carseat installed. So you need to go through the middle of the 2 seats for the 3rd row to be truly accessible.

Ah Ha! Thank you! That makes total sense! I could see that being a total PIA!!! I don't think I fully appreciated what a nice and rare feature that is!!

kmh2201 · November 2014

I have a Saturn Outlook (same as GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave, and Chevy Traverse), and I love it. It will be replaced by an Acadia or Enclave. With the 3rd row down, we have enough room for our sit-n-stand stroller, luggage, and German Shepherd.

ebp913 · November 2014

I have an Expedition EL (the Suburban sized one). I personally wanted a bench in the second row because I didn't want to have to get in the 3rd row to load one of my kids. I prefer them 3 across in the second row and I have the option to use the 3rd row if I need it.

itsmevkb · November 2014

I have a three-row Ford Flex and purposely didn't get captains chairs because we actually need seating for seven. With our last baby I actually found it easier to have her in the third row as the next two oldest needed help buckling their straps and that's easier for me to do with them in the second row. Our car has a button that flips the passenger side second row seat forward for access to the third row. I love it, but because we have four kids, I do get sick of moving the booster seat for the times when I need to get to the third row.

I guess if you're having your second, I think you could fit them both in the second row and still have room for you if necessary.

dashofreality · November 2014

Totally not what you asked for, but I will put a shout out to the minivan. I love my minivan, I embrace the complete uncoolness and relish in the ease of life that it provides, especially with two small kids. Just thought I would throw that out there:)

BeachBum73 · November 2014

audditty said:

When we were looking for SUVs before LO was born, we were pretty sure we wanted captain's chairs. We bought a Chevy Traverse and now I KNOW I want captain's chairs and am so glad we got them. I can climb all over and tend to everyone's needs while DH drives, and it helps keep the dog happy too. He can stand in the middle and see everything going on.

Still plenty of storage (now I only have 1 LO right now, but will have another within the next year), but I would campaign for those captain's chairs/bucket seats. They make it easy to access the third row, too, whether it's up or folded down.

We also have a Traverse with 2nd row captain's chairs and I love it. Never put much thought in to it but it's nice on long car rides. My daughter (10) is usually in the 3rd row and I sit next to my very high maintenance son (4) in the 2nd row. The only negatives I've experienced and one is recent - I switched my son to a high back booster (Graco Nautilus maybe??) and the car seat is so big, it is a challenge to put the seat belt on. Second, if there was a bench seat, I could put their stuff in the middle so they could reach it. Right now we have something that goes over the front seat but otherwise, everything is on the floor.

On a side note, I am part of a carpool group for my daughter's school and the captain's chairs makes it much easier for them to get in and out.

Beevol · November 2014

Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't get the difference between a mini-van and a three row SUV... other than the sliding door (and some 3 row SUVs have a sliding door - I think the Mazda one does).

We have a SUV with a pop up third row in the trunk that we almost never use, both car seats fit in the regular back seat with no problems.

djm31012 · November 2014

Beevol said:

Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't get the difference between a mini-van and a three row SUV... other than the sliding door (and some 3 row SUVs have a sliding door - I think the Mazda one does).

We have a SUV with a pop up third row in the trunk that we almost never use, both car seats fit in the regular back seat with no problems.

The question is whats easiest for me if I need to sit back there with them on long car rides. The one we are looking at , I can not comfortably sit in btwn 2 car seats for an extended period of time (thinking 2+ hrs in the car). So I would likely sit in the 3rd row. I was wondering for those who have experienced this, are captains chairs really that much more convenient or could a bench in the middle row be fine.

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