Car for 3 kids in car seat

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is more about the car seats than the car--you can do it in something as small as a Honda Fit or a Subaru Impreza with the right seats, and with the wrong seats you can struggle in a large sedan. What car do you have now? What cars are you interested in?

This is amazing news. I drive a Fit. I hadn't actually picked out any cars I'm interested in- was really just starting this process. I didn't realize there was such variation in sizes of the seats themselves.

I would honestly get seats for your Fit for now and see how things go--consider upgrading to a bigger car once you get a good feel for what your needs with three will be and whether you just want a wider car or want to go all the way to the minivan/6-7 seater. That may also depend on whether you find yourself carpooling, etc. as your older kids hit school age.

In the Fit, you can definitely fit two forward-facing Radians and a Combi Coccoro rear-facing in the middle, or three Radians. I love the Coccoro for newborns--we used that with our younger child from birth. It is outgrown earlier than most convertibles, but still worth it for the size if you have a small car, IMO. You can likely also do three Cleks although I've never tried that--but I think they're about the same size as the Diono seats. Some infant seats are much narrower than others too so if you want an infant seat it's worth comparing the base dimensions. I also agree with the PP who suggested staying with the harness longer for your 5yo--it is so much easier with three-across!

For narrow boosters, we like the Evenflo Amp--it is narrow enough that my six-year-old can buckle it even when it's up against a convertible. We also have a Chicco Kidfit that is our regular seat (we only have two most of the time) but it is just enough wider than when we have three seats in the car, it's tricky to buckle.

[Anonymous]

We have 3 across in a Mazda CX 9 and they fit fine but it is a big pain and I can’t wait to get a new car. We’re getting a minivan but at the very least I’d be getting something with an easily accessible third row.

[Anonymous]

Op I would get a car with a 3rd row. At some point down the road you may want to carpool with people.
Your kids may want to have books in the car, or drinks, or bring a toy with them, this is so much easier if they have room next to their seats and are not all crammed in.
I have a Honda Pilot because we have 2 dogs but only have one actual kid. When carpooling I have done 3 in a row and it was so much easier when all in harnesses. Once they switched to boosters it was harder to get them all bucked in each time, its doable, just more of a hassle that I would avoid if I had to do it in a daily basis.

[Anonymous]

We have the same age spread and went for the minivan. (Toyota Siena). Absolutely love it. The kids are separated (captain chairs) and there's plenty of room for playdate and sport carpools (which you'll be doing once the kids are a little older). The physical separation is key - siblings have a habit of annoyingly poking and prodding each other on car rides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are a new 6, 3, and a baby. We have two cars, a Honda Accord and a Toyota Highlander.

In the Accord, we have a high-back booster for the oldest on the side, a Diono Radian for the middle child in the middle position, and an infant seat for the baby on the other side. The booster is definitely the problem in making it all fit, but it does in fact work. We bought a seatbelt extender so the oldest can still buckle herself. We also use the seatbelt to secure the infant seat, instead of the snap-in base, which simply won't fit.

In the Highlander, we have a Britax Frontier Clicktight on one side for the middle child, use a Bubble Bum in the middle position for the oldest, and use the seatbelt again to secure the infant seat. The oldest can buckle herself into the Bubble Bum and thread the belt through the brackets.

We just leave the infant seat out until the older two kids are secured. Usually the oldest doesn't need help, but the middle child still can't get those stiff bottom buckles. With nothing in the way, it's not that bad to lean in.

I will say that it has proved useful to have the older kids next to the baby. My oldest can feed her a bottle in a pinch, and both kids can replace a pacifier or adjust the sunshade on her seat as needed.

Thank you. This is incredibly helpful! So if I'm understanding correctly, you are securing the infant seat with the seatbelt each time? Is that time consuming or just takes a few times to get the hang of it? I've done the snap in base with my first two so I'm imagining myself fumbling with all of this while a bunch of unhappy kids wait! My husband has always manned the installation and removal of our car seats (ie if we got a new one, switched rear to front facing or had to take it out to transport a piece of furniture) so the thought of buckling in the infant seat gives me a bit of anxiety but I'm hoping its easier than I think.

That's right, we secure the infant seat with a seatbelt each time. You'll get the hang of it. When my first was born, we lived in NYC and didn't own a car, so always used a seatbelt to secure. I didn't even know how the base worked. Just buckle the baby into the seat and set her down by the car, deal with the older kids first. Then put the baby in the car, but don't position the seat right away. Stretch the seatbelt way out, thread it through the slots, buckle it, then position the seat where you want it and pull the seatbelt tight. It's not quite as easy as snapping into the base, but you will get quick at it in no time.

[Anonymous]

Check out the facebook page Carseats for the Littles. You can message them with the type of car you have, your kids' ages (include info like "the 3 year old is 90% percentile for height" if possible), and they will recommend carseats that will work. They respond very quickly and also review a ton of carseats on their blog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fit 3 across in my Honda Accord.

We should get seatbelt extenders.

You can't use these with car seats, unfortunately.

I have an 8 and 6 year old (and 3 year old) so the extender is for the kids to buckle themselves in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fit 3 across in my Honda Accord.

We should get seatbelt extenders.

You can't use these with car seats, unfortunately.

I have an 8 and 6 year old (and 3 year old) so the extender is for the kids to buckle themselves in

*older kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fit 3 across in my Honda Accord.

We should get seatbelt extenders.

You can't use these with car seats, unfortunately.

I have an 8 and 6 year old (and 3 year old) so the extender is for the kids to buckle themselves in

Right--I mean that they are not approved for use with boosters. They aren't considered safe because of how they affect the seat belt angle--you'll see a warning not to use them at the front of your manual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out the facebook page Carseats for the Littles. You can message them with the type of car you have, your kids' ages (include info like "the 3 year old is 90% percentile for height" if possible), and they will recommend carseats that will work. They respond very quickly and also review a ton of carseats on their blog.

Excellent. Thanks so much! I had no idea this resource existed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are a new 6, 3, and a baby. We have two cars, a Honda Accord and a Toyota Highlander.

In the Accord, we have a high-back booster for the oldest on the side, a Diono Radian for the middle child in the middle position, and an infant seat for the baby on the other side. The booster is definitely the problem in making it all fit, but it does in fact work. We bought a seatbelt extender so the oldest can still buckle herself. We also use the seatbelt to secure the infant seat, instead of the snap-in base, which simply won't fit.

In the Highlander, we have a Britax Frontier Clicktight on one side for the middle child, use a Bubble Bum in the middle position for the oldest, and use the seatbelt again to secure the infant seat. The oldest can buckle herself into the Bubble Bum and thread the belt through the brackets.

We just leave the infant seat out until the older two kids are secured. Usually the oldest doesn't need help, but the middle child still can't get those stiff bottom buckles. With nothing in the way, it's not that bad to lean in.

I will say that it has proved useful to have the older kids next to the baby. My oldest can feed her a bottle in a pinch, and both kids can replace a pacifier or adjust the sunshade on her seat as needed.

Thank you. This is incredibly helpful! So if I'm understanding correctly, you are securing the infant seat with the seatbelt each time? Is that time consuming or just takes a few times to get the hang of it? I've done the snap in base with my first two so I'm imagining myself fumbling with all of this while a bunch of unhappy kids wait! My husband has always manned the installation and removal of our car seats (ie if we got a new one, switched rear to front facing or had to take it out to transport a piece of furniture) so the thought of buckling in the infant seat gives me a bit of anxiety but I'm hoping its easier than I think.

That's right, we secure the infant seat with a seatbelt each time. You'll get the hang of it. When my first was born, we lived in NYC and didn't own a car, so always used a seatbelt to secure. I didn't even know how the base worked. Just buckle the baby into the seat and set her down by the car, deal with the older kids first. Then put the baby in the car, but don't position the seat right away. Stretch the seatbelt way out, thread it through the slots, buckle it, then position the seat where you want it and pull the seatbelt tight. It's not quite as easy as snapping into the base, but you will get quick at it in no time.

Thanks again! I appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids are a new 6, 3, and a baby. We have two cars, a Honda Accord and a Toyota Highlander.

In the Accord, we have a high-back booster for the oldest on the side, a Diono Radian for the middle child in the middle position, and an infant seat for the baby on the other side. The booster is definitely the problem in making it all fit, but it does in fact work. We bought a seatbelt extender so the oldest can still buckle herself. We also use the seatbelt to secure the infant seat, instead of the snap-in base, which simply won't fit.

In the Highlander, we have a Britax Frontier Clicktight on one side for the middle child, use a Bubble Bum in the middle position for the oldest, and use the seatbelt again to secure the infant seat. The oldest can buckle herself into the Bubble Bum and thread the belt through the brackets.

We just leave the infant seat out until the older two kids are secured. Usually the oldest doesn't need help, but the middle child still can't get those stiff bottom buckles. With nothing in the way, it's not that bad to lean in.

I will say that it has proved useful to have the older kids next to the baby. My oldest can feed her a bottle in a pinch, and both kids can replace a pacifier or adjust the sunshade on her seat as needed.

Thank you. This is incredibly helpful! So if I'm understanding correctly, you are securing the infant seat with the seatbelt each time? Is that time consuming or just takes a few times to get the hang of it? I've done the snap in base with my first two so I'm imagining myself fumbling with all of this while a bunch of unhappy kids wait! My husband has always manned the installation and removal of our car seats (ie if we got a new one, switched rear to front facing or had to take it out to transport a piece of furniture) so the thought of buckling in the infant seat gives me a bit of anxiety but I'm hoping its easier than I think.

That's right, we secure the infant seat with a seatbelt each time. You'll get the hang of it. When my first was born, we lived in NYC and didn't own a car, so always used a seatbelt to secure. I didn't even know how the base worked. Just buckle the baby into the seat and set her down by the car, deal with the older kids first. Then put the baby in the car, but don't position the seat right away. Stretch the seatbelt way out, thread it through the slots, buckle it, then position the seat where you want it and pull the seatbelt tight. It's not quite as easy as snapping into the base, but you will get quick at it in no time.

Thanks again! I appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have the same age spread and went for the minivan. (Toyota Siena). Absolutely love it. The kids are separated (captain chairs) and there's plenty of room for playdate and sport carpools (which you'll be doing once the kids are a little older). The physical separation is key - siblings have a habit of annoyingly poking and prodding each other on car rides.

Ah yes, so true. I think for early on, if we can swing it without an upgrade to cars for the first year, I might like the big kids to help and have all one row but I can see many benefits of a minivan for the longer term!

[Anonymous]

Thank you, everyone! This page is being glitchy and not posting (or double posting) when I'm trying to respond so I do want to say I appreciate all of the responses. This has been more helpful than I had even hoped!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I fit 3 across in my Honda Accord.

We should get seatbelt extenders.

You can't use these with car seats, unfortunately.

I have an 8 and 6 year old (and 3 year old) so the extender is for the kids to buckle themselves in

Right--I mean that they are not approved for use with boosters. They aren't considered safe because of how they affect the seat belt angle--you'll see a warning not to use them at the front of your manual.

I didn’t know that. I’ll look into it now. Thx!