I have two year old twin boys and am expecting triplets in the spring. We are looking for a minivan or SUV that will fit 5 car seats - and that we will be able to access. My kids are small so it will be convertible car seats for awhile.

So far, we have looked at the Sienna and Odyssey and although I can fit them (I think), I'm not sure I will be able to get everyone in and out.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Congratulations! We have an Odyssey with our 11 month old trips. I can tell you that we're looking for a trailer because there's not enough room for 3 car seats, diaper bags, stroller, gear, etc. when we go places & it's certainly hard to fit boxes of diapers, bags of groceries, etc with all their stuff too. So even if you can squeeze 5 carseats in, you'll be very hard pressed for room for much else. I'm not sure what else to look at- maybe a larger (7 passenger) SUV?

Jessie

I have 7 yr old triplets and have a 2003 Odyssey. The booster seats don't fit well to put 3 across the 3rd row -- at least in my older model. My older stepdaughter is able to sit belted in between the two in boosters in the 3rd row. I keep the middle seats apart for easy access to the rear. The front seat has a 'smart'airbag and turns off automatically if a child is in it - so having one in the front seat is an option.
I have found that more gear fits in than you would expect. The automatic doors are helpful for access with full hands, and the interior convenience of the minivan design is easy for reaching kids from within the car. My husband's Suburban holds more gear, but is not as easy to reach kids. It also rides like a truck and there is less space between the 2nd and 3rd rows.

Have you considered a full size van? We have a 12 passenger conversion van that now seats 9. We have 6 captains chairs and then the bench seat in the back. I have an aisle down the middle so I can tend to anyone that needs me without having to get out of the van. It still has enough room in the back for a triple stroller and has overhead compartments too. We have four carseats right now and two older children. Minivans just didn't seem to offer what we really wanted. Our is a Chevy and it really is pretty good on gas too which surprised me.

Kristin
gbg born at 31.2 weeks 7/29/04

We started out with a Dodge Caravan. Once we had a our fourth baby we had to trade it in for a conversion van. I agree with the previous poster - you may be able to get all of the carseats in a minivan but we found it extremely difficult to get the kids in and out and had no room to take anything along.

We have a full size van! If you ever need to laugh at yourself this is the right opportunity! We love it! We call it our BAV! Big As# Van!

We have 5 car seats! Three in back and one each on the captains seats. We always have the extra seat for a friend of the trio or neighbor in need situation.

Truely we do laugh. And we have enjoyed the room. We even have a potty seat in the van with no problems.

Good luck. Suck it up and don't be soooo concern about cool/
Julie
Mom to g,b,b
and SUPRISE baby girl

"Even the worst day with my children is better than a good day at work."

Who makes your van? I wouldn't even begin to know where to look...any help is appreciated!!

Thanks!!!

We struggled over the whole car issue as we already had three children when we found out we were having spontaneous triplets. We ended up with an 8 passenger Toyota Sienna and we love it. We can fit the triplets across the back and there is plenty of room for two car seats in the middle and if you only need 7 seats, you can remove one of the side seats to make it really easy to get in and out. We love the versatility and the seats are very comfortable. The back will even fit three Britax husky car seats which are very wide. As far as the cargo storage area, I can fit my Peg Perego stroller by stacking the seats and the base stands next to them taking up a little more than half the back area. The back area is so much larger than other mini vans we have looked at. Then I have half of the back area for a crate that has some "just in case" items in it. I can get lots of grocery bags in the back and then we use under the girls feet if we have bulky items like boxes of diapers and cases of things. There is room under the seats for diapers and I have a low basket with books for the girlies. I keep a travel potty chair under the driver seat and we are set for most emergencies. Check out the Sienna if you want to stick with a mini van. We were amazed at the amount of room inside and how it differed from other mini vans. We have an '04 model and I have not checked out the Odyssey since they re-did it in '05.

Good luck and best wishes! Susan (6-pack mom!)

WOW - thank you so much for this great info!!! You are the first person on three forums to respond to actually having three across the back.

What type of infant seat are/were your triplets in? Are the carseats installed with seatbelts or the LATCH system?

Congrats on your family. I'm sure there is another place to ask this but I am new to the site so....just direct me.

How old were your first three when the triplets were born? Did you have help? How much did you feel you needed? Trying to get a handle on taking care of everyone.

Thanks again!!
Megin

HI Megin!

I'm happy to help! We had the Graco Snug fit infant car seats. I liked them and they just did really well in a recent crash test. When we had our girls, they didn't work on the triplet stroller that uses car seats and I wish they would have (called the triple decker, I think). Other wise, I was very happy with them. When the girls were in the infant seats we put two in the middle row and one behind the passenger seat in the back. All the middle seats have LATCH hooks and two of the three back seats are also equipped with LATCH hooks. The seat behind the driver in the far back row is not LATCH equiped so we install that one with the seat belt.

I had a friend who put the three infant seats across the back and stood in the trunk area to load them. She thought that was easier than loading them through the side door. She had a Honda Odyssey and there was enough room in that car for three infant seats across the back as well.

When we moved the girlies into convertable car seats, we used Britax Roundabouts and they fit with room to spare across the back. A man who is qualified to install car seats told me that he has put three "Husky" Britax seats across the back of a Sienna. It really is roomy back there. The rest of our kids are comfortable in the car as well.

Our first three were 9, 6 and three when the triplets were born. Friends from church were very helpful. Two women would come each week and help me. One came every Wednesday to help me bathe the girlies and one came every Friday so I could go out by myself. They helped me keep myself together during the first year. We took help from anyone who offered it and quickly found out who would help us for the long term. Get help for whatever stresses you the most. Your mental health is of the utmost importance!

Best Wishes! Susan

We have 5 carseats in our (Ford) Windstar. We have 3 across the back bench and two in the middle. That being said, we HAD a conversion van first. We did not get the Windstar until after the triplets were out of their infant seats. So, I am not sure wether the three infant seats would fit across the back bench?? We took all our seats with us to the dealership to be sure they actually fit. I would definitely recommend doing that. Also, I would make sure (and I think most do- but one of the windstars we looked at~ a few years back~ did not) that there are sliding doors on both sides~ this makes getting in and out much easier.

I loved that the conversion van had more "room to roam." When going on a trip, we also had a lot more cargo space. What I did not like about that van was driving it! I felt I couldn't see well to change lanes etc. This is ultimately why we chose to trade it in.

As for the mini van~ I am much more comfortable driving it, and for us, getting in and out is fine (but mine are older). There def. is less cargo room- but we fit all groceries and luggage for trips!

My in laws have an Odyssey, which is very nice, and those you can get to seat 8 I think. Our next van, we'd like to seat 8, so we can actually take grandma or another passenger with us.

GL deciding.

Amy
Mom to:
G 00
B 01
BBB 02

I suggest you look at the new Saturn Outlook. They really had us in mind when they designed this thing. It it just as posh on the inside as any Cadillac or BMW and costs less than my 2005 mini van. I haven't checked how car seat/booster seats fit yet but I can tell you it comfortably seats 8 full size adults. I am going to trade in my mini van for one of these shortly and I am psyced!!! It is difficult to get to the 3rd row seats in my van and I don't have seatbelts with shoulder harnesses for all of the seats. The Outlook does. It has a middle moving seat to access the 3rd row that's the easiest I have ever seen. It get's 26 MPG which is better than my parents Cavalier. You have to check it out and let me know what you think.

Chris
Proud mommy @ 26wks 6/2/2000 to
Michael, Eric & Daniel

a full size 12 passanger van was the only way to go for us. it's ugly but very practical. i can't imagine having to squeeze 5 car seats into a minivan. i'm so happy i went with the big one.

Crazy mom to:
DS 10
DS 7
& BBB 5!
9/29/06 born @ 32w2d