Car for 3 kids in car seat

[Anonymous]

Our kids will be 5 and 3 when our third arrives. We will need a car to accommodate 3 seats. For anyone who has done this, what car do you recommend? It seems there are a handful of cars that accommodate 3 carseats across but I'm wondering if this is a total hassle and its better to go with the extra row. I kind of like the idea that the baby can be in the same row and helped or entertained by a bigger kid if the baby drops something etc. But it also seems stressful to have to lean in for that middle seat.

What works for you?

Please share your experience with this!

[Anonymous]

We've had success with Toyota Camry seating 3 across. Also Volvo XC70, thought the firemen who installed our carseats spent an hour doing it! They were determined to make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've had success with Toyota Camry seating 3 across. Also Volvo XC70, thought the firemen who installed our carseats spent an hour doing it! They were determined to make it work.

Thank you!

Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our kids will be 5 and 3 when our third arrives. We will need a car to accommodate 3 seats. For anyone who has done this, what car do you recommend? It seems there are a handful of cars that accommodate 3 carseats across but I'm wondering if this is a total hassle and its better to go with the extra row. I kind of like the idea that the baby can be in the same row and helped or entertained by a bigger kid if the baby drops something etc. But it also seems stressful to have to lean in for that middle seat.

What works for you?

Please share your experience with this!

Do you own a car already? Have you looked at Car Seat Lady?

[Anonymous]

Three across is very hard after any are beyond a convertible. I was able to make 3 across work with Diono's (convertible). Once we had even one in a high back booster, becomes very hard. Primarily because it is hard for the kid in the high back booster to buckle the seat belt. I got a GMC acadia (with captain chairs in 2nd row). Kid in high back booster sits in the 3rd row since he can buckle himself in and out without any assistance. Kids are 6.5, 5 and 4. I move my kids to high back booster once they are in K.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Much easier and more economical to get new seats than a new car. There are seats that can fit 3 across.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Three across is very hard after any are beyond a convertible. I was able to make 3 across work with Diono's (convertible). Once we had even one in a high back booster, becomes very hard. Primarily because it is hard for the kid in the high back booster to buckle the seat belt. I got a GMC acadia (with captain chairs in 2nd row). Kid in high back booster sits in the 3rd row since he can buckle himself in and out without any assistance. Kids are 6.5, 5 and 4. I move my kids to high back booster once they are in K.

This is so true. We actually kept our oldest in the 5pt harness through 1st grade in part because she only weighed 40 lbs but also because I wanted the baby out of the infant carrier so she could get to the seatbelt buckle.

[Anonymous]

I fit 3 across in my Honda Accord.

We should get seatbelt extenders.

[Anonymous]

I have a Range Rover sport and have 3 Diono Radian harnessed boosters. This is it --- it can begin as a rear-facing seat for an infant I believe:

https://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-All-Convertible-Shadow/dp/B076PS61XS/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1527645744&sr=8-1&keywords=diono%2Bradian&th=1

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our kids will be 5 and 3 when our third arrives. We will need a car to accommodate 3 seats. For anyone who has done this, what car do you recommend? It seems there are a handful of cars that accommodate 3 carseats across but I'm wondering if this is a total hassle and its better to go with the extra row. I kind of like the idea that the baby can be in the same row and helped or entertained by a bigger kid if the baby drops something etc. But it also seems stressful to have to lean in for that middle seat.

What works for you?

Please share your experience with this!

Do you own a car already? Have you looked at Car Seat Lady?

Thank you! I had no idea this website existed! Yes, we own a Fit and a Focus.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

We should get seatbelt extenders.

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