Hello!

We are expecting triplets this November and also have a three year old son. My question to other parents of four or more kids is how to configure their car seats in a minivan or suv? We are considering the Honda Odyssey and the Chrysler Town & Country, but are also looking at the Volvo suv which has a third, albeit slightly hard to get at, third row.

Does any minivan accomodate three car seats in the third row?

Thanks!
Joohee Muromcew
GGG due 11/25/03

We have never needed to put three in the same row, but most vans are big enough and have the extra harness to do so.
Have you looked at the Toyota Sienna? You can get an extra seat to fit between the two captains chairs to make it an 8 person vehicle, it can also be brought forward to have better access to any child that would be put there or even removed if not needed. We just purchased one and love it. We did not get the extra seat since we do not need it, but the van it self is great.

Steve
Dad of Meghan, Nichol & Christopher (5/8/99)

Steve
Dad of Meghan, Nichol & Christopher (5/8/99)

I have 92 Plymouth Voyager and our 3rd row has 3 belts but the carseats/boosters are too wide to fit 3 across. I have my 2 youngest in the 2nd row and my 2 surviving trips in the 3rd row. You may have to split them all up.

Korrie~
^i^B/G/G 24 w 3d,1/17/00
B 10/31/01
B 1/27/03

<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="" alt="Lilypie Kids birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a>

Congratulations.

We have the Odyssey and have two in the rear (will not fit three) and oine in the middle. we removed the seat behind the driver to allow for easy access and it creates a nice staging/diaper changing area. You won't have that luxury.

We rented a GMC Safari on a recent vacation and were able to fit all three across the middle. It only has one side door, which could be a drawback, but it did have plenty of room.

Good Luck.

Regards,

Mike

Proud Daddy of Kate, Michael, Xander 2/01

Regards,

Mike

Proud Daddy of Three

We have a 2002 Odyssey. We have all three of my little ones in the last row. We removed the two captain chairs for extra loading and unloading room. We have the century smartmove carseats. I did have the two boys in the back and my daughter in the captains chair until we faced them forward.


Good Luck on your search,

Stacy
Mommy 2 MMM
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"Be quick to listen, Slow to speak, slow to be angry"


James 1:12-19

Joohee,
We had to buy an 8 passenger van when we were expecting Tess in '01. We got the GMC Safari, & you can fit 3 carseats across the benchs. We had the triplets across the back bench, & Tess in the middle position of the front bench. Now that she is in a regular seat(not that infant carrier), we have her in the middle back between 2 brothers & one of the boys gets to sit in the front bench near mom & dad in a bosster. They switch off in this position, so it's special! LOL
I find the Safari easy to drive, has enough storage for us, & wasn't outrageously priced. The lack of a 2nd side door doesn't bother me at all, in fact I like it. The side doors worry me in crash tests(jmo). Plus, the Safari isn't really mini, it's a lot bigger then other vans we pass & see like Plymouth's & Dodge's mini vans.
good luck, lou mom to justin 19, luke zach & jake 4 and tess 21 mths

We have an expedition that fits 3 across the third row, then our preschooler rides on the 2nd row. I don't think there is much more room in a full size SUV. But if I had to do it over again, I think I would go with a Suburban and be done with it.

Congrats on your babies. Mine are 13 months.

Rena

Our son ws 15 1/2 mos old when the girls were born so we also needed 4 carseats. We got the Chevy Astro van (basically the same thing as a Safari)and could never imagine going back to a regular minivan. As stated above, there is much more interior room, you can fit 3 seat across the benches (depending on the type of carseats), and the cargo area is large enough to fit a triplet stroller and more. Looking down the road, you'll be surprised to see how often you'll be glad to be able to separate the kids with an empty seat between and soon enough need those extra spaces for carpooling.
Good luck!!

Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96

Judie and Victor
lucky parents to
Frankie 3/95
Maggie 7/96
Rose 7/96
Elizabeth 7/96

I just had triplets and have 4 1/2 year old twins in booster seats.
We have the Odyssey and we have the older children with an infant in the back. The only way they fit is we purchased the Britax booster seat that is narrow enough at the base. This booster seat expands its width if you change vehicles. Its tight in the back but we didnt have to get a new vehicle.

Good Luck
Joanmarie