Three kids - did you need a third row?

[Anonymous]

I'm newly pregnant and the two older kids are early elementary, which means two boosters and a car seat. Maybe this sounds silly, but do I need the third row? Both our cars function perfectly and are paid off. Please let me know about your experience, thank you!

[Anonymous]

No - we make the least favorite kid of the day hang on to a rope in the back.

[Anonymous]

My eldest, a 5 ft 3rd grader, sure thinks we needed it.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. You will need the space for friends, carpools, grandparents. Not to mention carting around their own stuff like backpacks and sports equipment.

[Anonymous]

It depends on how long your kids will be in boosters. It’s very difficult to get two boosters and a car seat in the second row.

Also, in a pinch it’s always nice to have an extra seat in case you have a grandparent in town or someone needs a quick ride.

Not 100% necessary but it makes life easier.

[Anonymous]

We just had our third and haven't pulled the trigger yet. But our older kids are still in car seats, not boosters.

[Anonymous]

Get the skinny boosters for now. You can wait a couple of years and then add a third row.

[Anonymous]

Yes but we often have friends with us or are car pooling.

[Anonymous]

It's convenient, especially if you go on long car trip or think you'll be carting other children around with a full complement of your own. But it's not strictly necessary, especially with two others in boosters. (It's possible to fit three car seats in a row, but there are only a few car seat models capable of that.)

[Anonymous]

Just get a minivan.

[Anonymous]

I fit 3 across my Honda Accord. My husband had / has a third row.

[Anonymous]

It's actually harder with booster seats because you need to constantly be getting to the buckles. If your kids are tall and will be able to use just the seat belts when they turn 8, then you could put them back in harnessed seats until then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes but we often have friends with us or are car pooling.

Same and we only have 2 kids. If you have a relative who often drives with you (e.g. grandma) or are in car pools its a must have.

[Anonymous]

Not immediately but you will eventually. Just to carpool and drive friends. You have a few years but you will need one.

[Anonymous]

I'm so in love with my Honda Odyssey that I think all families with 2 kids need it. I hate being hassled for space on road trips and due to family, we take a lot of road trips. We also pick my parents up a lot to go downtown, daytrips or just out to dinner.

But no you don't need a van- my 3 kids fit in their 5 point harnesses in DH's car. We did get slim car seats though. But that's problematic too because the kids prefer their ginormous comfy car seats in my van.