We have three britax blvd car seats across the middle row all facing forward. We have a 5, 4, and 3 year old. It is no problem. Just take out the console, slide the middle seat all the way forward and make sure the two outboard seats are slid all the way back. This way you can load all three kids and still keep all of the room in the back.

We are in the same situation... what did you end up doing?

Anonymous wrote: also, there are only latch systems on the outside seats- none in the center, which means I would have to use the seatbelt to secure an infant carrier car seat- I'm stumped w/ what to do.!

For 3-across scenarios you often get a much better fit with all seatbelt installations because you can put the outboard seats closer to the doors with the seatbelt.

For maximum safety of all passengers, because rearfacing is 500% safer than forward facing, the recommendation is to put the youngest forward-facing child in the most protected position (ie the middle). That said, it's only about 30% safer for the middle vs. outboard, so do whatever is easiest.

How would my 3 year old get to his seat with 2 infant car seats on each side of him facing backwards?

Just take the baby's seat out (put it on the ground) while he's climbing in and being buckled.

I'm going to be in a similar situation- 3 children ages 2, 1, and one due in April- we own the xc90 and I'm debating a mini-van now. One of my main concerns is with 2 car seats installed right now, (we have bulky Recaro Signos) there's virtually NO access to the 3rd row if I were to put one kid there- also, there are only latch systems on the outside seats- none in the center, which means I would have to use the seatbelt to secure an infant carrier car seat- I'm stumped w/ what to do.

I know the center console is removable between front 2 seats, and I can slide the center seat up from the 2nd row a few inches, which may help to get the carrier secured in the car. All in all, I'm dreading this though!

I am also in the same situation.... I have a 3 1/2 year old and am having twins. My 3 year old is pretty skinny and he will not be 40 lbs. in order to fit into the built in booster right away. I also need a bigger car and am looking at the xc90. I have two Graco snugrides that I would use for the twins so would it be best to put the twins on the outside and then get another carseat for my son to fit in the middle? He has a Britax Marathon right now (I'm not sure if it will fit) If not, which car seat can go in the middle? Radian? I am also wondering if it is a pain to have three kids stuffed in the middle row. How would my 3 year old get to his seat with 2 infant car seats on each side of him facing backwards? Would my 3 year old be able to sit in the third row? If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

-Laura

We have two kids now and have a Marathon and a Roundabout (and a Graco snugride for baby #3 who is coming in March). The OP was going to do the snugride in the middle, but can you do the snap-in on one of the ends? It seems to be easier to get the baby in and out and have one of the kids climb into the middle row??

I've also got an XC90 and you definitely have to work with a variety of carseat brands. Luckily my kids are spaced apart so I've got a Roundabout, Britax Frotier and my 5 yo is in the built-in booster in the middle b/c his standard booster would not fit. I do know that 3 fairly large seats will not fit in a row.

I just fit three Radians (two forward facing, one rear facing) in an Audi A3 (small hatchback). SO I know it will work in a larger car.

OP here- thanks for the advice, everyone. 16:34, we will be in the exact same situation! And I know we will have to buy a Radian for at least the new baby when s/he outgrows the infant seat, and possibly for the other two as well. Or maybe we'll have to get a minivan after all, but I was hoping to get away with something smaller than that...

Thanks again!

If you don't mind spending the money, you can buy two radian 65 car seats for your twins and fit the infant seat in the middle. You'll use one of the radian 65's until your infant is either too tall or 65 pounds so it's not a total waste of $$. (My 5 year old was already too tall for one although within the weight range.)

To build on what 16:34 said ...

once the infant outgrows the Snugride, you cannot fit 3 Marathons across the back of an XC90. You might be able to do a Roundabout in the rear-facing position, in the center seat.

You're right, you do have to pull the center seat forward (or push the other 2 back).

We also have twins, now 2, and a newborn and we fit all of their carseats across the 2nd row of the xc90. The twins are in britax marathons and the baby is in a graco snugride. It all fits but barely. The newborn seat is a tight fit and it takes some physical effort to get that seat safely snapped in and taken out. But is definitely is possible.

We have 2 kids (18 months, twins) in Britax Marathons, and are having a third. We're looking at bigger cars and like the Volvo XC90 with the 3rd row. Does anyone know if a third carseat would fit between the two Britaxes in the middle row? At first we'd like to use our Graco Snugride for the new baby. I wondered if it would fit between the other carseats if we pull the middle seat forward a bit?

Thanks for any voices of experience out there!