Hello,

We're in the process of shopping for a minivan. Ideally, we'd like one that can fit all three triplets on the back bench (leaving a captain's chair for the older brother, and either an open area, or the 2nd captain's seat for a passenger). Of the three minivans that we are considering most seriously, the Odyssey has the shortest back bench (49 in).

Does anyone here have an Odyssey & can you fit three car seats in the back? If so, what kind of carseats do you have?

How about anyone that has a Sienna or one of the new Quest's?

Thanks much!

Mike H
Andrew, born 9/01
Ty, Ben, & Zach born 6/04 at 36w1d

I have the Britax roundabout and I can not fit 3 across the odyssey back bench. We have 2 across and 1 in the captains chair. I know there are narrower car seats, and many people have fit 3 across the back of a car (it may have been the evenflo). If you go to babies r us they can probably give you the dimensions of the seat and you can take it from there. Also if you find seats that you like you can take them with you as you car shop to see if they fit. Good Luck
Tara

I have a 2003 Odyssey and there is no way I could fit 3 seats across the back (2 fit fine). However, we will be able to get 3 backless boosters across the back once my kids get bigger. We have the Graco convertible boosters now.

Jenni
mom of ABC 11/1/98

We have 3 in the back of our Odyssey (or we did have three, before we moved them into the Suburban. Our car seats are an older Evenflo (Oshkosh) model. They were new in 2000 when we got them.

Sheri
Mom to 5 Great Kids
Savannah-6/1/93
Sydney-8/19/97
Clayton, Jackson, Tyler-10/6/00

Sheri
Mom to 5 Great Kids
Savannah-6/1/93
Sydney-8/19/97
Clayton, Jackson, Tyler-10/6/00

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

We're facing the same vehicle shopping dilemma. I stopped at BRU a couple months ago with my tape measure, and here's what I found. The width of carseats (infant and convertible) varies from 17" to 18.5" across the front depending on the model and it's accessories. The dimensions make it complicated to fit 3 across in many vehicles.

Additionally in doing car safety research I have found that car manufacturers generally recommend the following configuration for multiple (3) car seats: 2 seats in the captains chairs or middle bench seat and 1 seat the in center of the rear bench seat. The ones I have researched (Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country) say that is why they have designed only those seats to be LATCH compatible. They say to avoid 3 seats consecutively across the back large seat because there is no give if there is an impact or a roll (the seats are so tightly packed they have nowhere to go and there's greater potential for injury, whiplash, etc.). They say this is of somewhat less concern if the long bench seat is positioned over the rear wheels (more structure and less chance to crumple). We're not in need of placing 4 car seats (and have no plans currently to need that), but I've not found any "Mini" vans that recommend seating for 4 carseats.

With that information, we're planning to do the captains chairs and long bench configuration with our 3. I was going to go with a small SUV (like the Hyundai SantaFe) but that only seats five, and with my MIL moving in, we'll likely need room for 6 (as I foolishly think we might go do things as a family -- don't laugh). I don't really care for the "full size" SUVs, and I'm concerned about having enough room in parking lots to be able to open the doors and maneuver about the stroller.

Stephanie
West Rogers ^i^ b
Keaton Edward ^i^ b
Rebecca Joy ^i^ g
1/6/04 19w5d

We had the Odyssey and couldn't fit. We now have a 15 seater Express with the last row of seats out, so it is an 11 seater and we ahve room for the quad ra in the back. It's ugly as sin but works really well for us, and let me tell you, I rule the road in this beast!

- Sara, mom to Dovi (age 6, special needs), and Elisha, Shana, and Jakie (born 8/12/02 @ 29w6d)

- Sara, mom to Dovi (age 10, special needs), and Elisha, Shana, and Jakie (born 8/12/02 @ 29w6d)they're 6!!

http://dovislife.blogspot.com

Sara, I rule the road along with you. My Ford Club Wagon is ugly as sin too and I can't wait until I can get into a little mini van. That being said, I do feel so safe and the kids have lots of room. We took out the rear seat too (and now seat 11) and have several strollers in the back including the triplet Runabout! 2 months ago my babies outgrew the infant carriers, they were all in one row on the 2nd bench row. Now they're rear facing on the 3rd bench row and I actually load and unload from the back of the van, people stare with open mouth. I even have a little step stool to get in and out of the back. Once they hit 12 mos adjusted (1/29) I will put them back in the 2nd bench forward facing and load them from the sliding door. My 3 yr old rides the "commando" car seat on the first bench in the middle, best view in the house!!! My two oldest float around, sometimes in front seat, sometimes not, especially if we have a movie going.

AnneLena - SAHM
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Christian 17
Savannah 12
Jacob 3
and surviving sextuplets born at 32.2 wks Dec 02:
Noah 4# 4oz
Dylan 4# 3oz
Amalie 4# 2oz
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^angel f^
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AnneLena - SAHM
·.¸><((((º>.·´¯'..¸.·´¯'..¸><((((º>.·´¯'..¸.·´¯'..¸><((((º>.·´
Christian 19
Savannah 13
Jacob 4 1/2
and surviving sextuplets born at 32.2 wks Dec 02:
Noah 4# 4oz
Dylan 4# 3oz
Amalie 4# 2oz
Sweet Angels ^d^ ^e^ ^f^ We'll love you f

We own a 2001 Sienna and have been struggling to configure seats for the girls now that they have outgrown the infant carriers.

The best possible arrangement appears to be 2 in the rear on the bench and 1 in the captain's chair with the other captain's chair removed.

I know another triplet family with an Odyssey in which the seats are configured this way.

Part of the problem is the variation in car seat size as another person suggested. Our Britax Marathons are larger (19" wide), but are the easiest I've come across in terms of easy in-easy out. Plus I got them for 30% off at a Zainy Brainy going-out-of-business sale.

Anyway, after looking at mid-size SUV's and deciding we couldn't sacrifice the space, we ordered a 2004 Sienna today with the new 8th middle seat. I'm banking on being able to get three seats across the middle of this unique van.

I'd be curious if anyone else has experience with the new Sienna and the optional 8th seat.

The bottom line appears to be that there is no perfect vehicle for triplet families--especially those with additional siblings.

ErikM
ggg 6mos.

Erik,

You should have no problem fitting three across in the Sienna. My brother & sister-in-law just bought one. With two booster seats on each side of the 2nd row, there's still room for my 5'10", 230-240 lb, brother-in-law to sit in the middle. They're expecting their 3rd & are planning on using the center seat for that one.

Mike H
Andrew, born 9/01
Ty, Ben, & Zach born 6/04 at 36w1d

hello -

we bought the odyssey this fall. we have newborn triplets and a three year old. unfortunately, there is no way to fit three infant seats across the back so we put two in the back, one in a captain's seat and our older child's seat in the other captain's seat. the captain's seats do not have the latch, which is not ideal, but this was the best configuration we could come up with without buying a truly humungous van. once you get used to the idea that it will take alot of time and acrobatics to get your kids in and out, it's not so bad.

by the way, forget the triplet stroller - we've gotten much more use out of a double and single.

good luck!

Joohee
alexei, 9/27/00
mary, nikita, natasha 10/31/03

In the 2003 Odyssey, the captains seats have the latch........


Liana
Proud Mommy to Jack, Alayna, and Emma - 6/12/02 (31 Weeks, 3 days!)

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So does the 2001.

Regards,

Mike

Proud Daddy of Kate, Michael, Xander 2/01

Regards,

Mike

Proud Daddy of Three

We tried 5 car seats in our Odyssey when I was pg with my quads. We had 4 Graco Snugrides and 1 Britax Roundabout. I know we made it fit, but realized we would never move the seats once we had them in, which defeated the purpose of the carrier seats. We either had 3 infant seats across the back or 2 infant seats with the Roundabout in the center, I don't remember for sure. DH thought it could be done until I reminded him that the seats were empty when we were playing with them. I told him to put a sack of potatoes in each one and try to manuever them around.

We ended up buying a full-sized Chevy van, but we still have the Odyssey too. Even in my big van with 2 rows of bench seats, the infant car seats fit very snug and we can't fit 3 Roundabouts on one bench rear facing. I know of a family with infant quints that bought a Nissan last summer, but I'm not sure of the model and I don't what car seats they are using (maybe Evenflo??).

MonsterMom6
10 year old ^b^ b twins @ 30w5d (1 survivor) and
8 year old gggg quads @ 32w0d

They've been very helpful.

Mike H
Andrew, born 9/01
Ty, Ben, & Zach born 6/04 at 36w1d

We have a ‘03 odyssey. Originally we had all 3 Graco Snug rides in the third row. We had the fire dept install the bases. Then we found it more practical to have 2 in the 3rd row and 1 in the passenger side captain’s chair.

Hope that helps

Good luck

Akbar Jaffer
Proud Daddy of BGB
Azam, Sofia and Adam 4/18/03

Greetings, All!

We have a 2001 Odyssey EX and have had no problems fitting 3 across with either infant carriers or regular car seats. I just took the car to a local "baby-stuff emporium," Buy Buy Baby, had a salesman measure the rear bench and selected the seats: Two Century Accel-DX and a slightly-narrower Safety 1st. All were in the $60-70 range. Put the narrower seat in the middle; all fit easily and well.

Cheers,

Inna,
mom to Rachael (8/7/99),
Evan, Ari and Josh (5/29/01)

DO NOT PUT ALL OF YOUR BABIES IN THE BACK SEAT--I used to put two of mine in the back and one in a captains chair because it was easier on me--eight months later someone rear-ended me going pretty fast. If my babies had been with me my little one would be dead and possibly my middle one as well--please think of these possibilities before doing this.

I guess I don't understand. Are you saying that putting any babies in the back seat is unsafe? I know that in certain cars, there is not enough of a distance between the back window and the back bench, which makes it dangerous to put babies in the back seat. However, thats not true across the board for all vehicles, and there is really no other option when you have triplets--babies have to go in the back seat!

Melinda
mom of Annabelle, Lillian and Charlotte, 2/25/03
35 weeks, 6 days

We have the 2004 Sienna (the 8 seater)and love it!! We put all three babies in the second row and the car seats fit with plenty of extra room (they are in the convertible car seats). We leave the third row flat and that gives us tons of space for cargo. We actually took a trip for Thanksgiving to my in-laws we fit a peg perego triplet stroller, a RunAbout triplet stroller, three pack in plays, three booster seats, golf clubs, and all of our luggage in the back. We have comfortably fit 8 people in the car numerous times and we are still able to fit the Peg perego in the back. Also the 40/60 split bench for the third row is awesome and one of the things that sold me on the Sienna versus the Odyssey plus you can't get a 8 seater in the Odyssey. Good luck in your car search!!

Mariann
Mom to Mia, Ava, & Kaden 10/21/02 @ 31 weeks