Hellobee Boards Topic: 3 car seats

Hellobee Boards Topic: 3 car seats https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 07:12:14 +0000 PinkElephant on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865323 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 22:22:43 +0000 PinkElephant 2865323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I drove an Acura MDX for two years (started with one FF convertible, one RF convertible, and an infant seat; ended with 2 FF convertibles and an infant seat), across the second row. We had an optional 3rd row, but it was difficult to access and the child sitting in it would have had to sit in her carseat with her legs crossed. The three seats definitely worked for that period of time, but this fall when the girls were 6, 4 and 2, and in need of a new car anyway, we switched it up and got a Honda Oddessey. Honestly, the kids just needed to be separated a bit, and we needed some different accessibility options because of school drop off/pick up lines. I love that the middle row of the Oddessey has a lot of options (you can convert from 3-seat bench to captain chairs easily, and the magic slide seats are awesome for letting kids in and out of the third row) - but it does not come AWD. It does have a "snow" switch that changes the traction. I drove it in one pretty yucky snowstorm when I'd had it for about 3 weeks, and (knock on wood), it was fine, but I wasn't doing anything too crazy with it. ElbieKay on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865295 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 20:15:03 +0000 ElbieKay 2865295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We had one FF 4yo and a sporty sedan. We traded it in for a VW Atlas last spring because we were expecting twins. We currently have three across (one FF, two infant seats) the second row and usually keep the third row folded down for cargo which typically includes our double stroller. Sometime soon my almost 5yo will switch to a booster seat, and the babies will switch to RF convertibles. My older one keeps asking to sit in the back row, but I think that he might change his mind if he feels too far away from us. Plus we need the cargo space sometimes. Once he is in a booster it will be easier to move him back and forth, so I am waiting to offer him that option. I did not want to force my oldest to the third row, and I also did not want to put an infant in the third row. So I ruled out the captain’s chairs option in favor of a bench seat. Our second row splits 40-60, and our third row splits 50-50, so we have a lot of configuration options. The Atlas really maximized its indoor cargo space which was a major reason why we chose it. Silva on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865214 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 10:43:29 +0000 Silva 2865214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @LadyDi: yeah, I think so too. we don't have AWD on this one, but we are moving to the end of a private road in about 4 years and will upgrade to the AWD model then LadyDi on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865210 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 10:15:07 +0000 LadyDi 2865210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Silva: Thank you! This is the level of detail I need. I think if we go minivan then the Sienna is my top choice. I think it's the only one that AWD? Foodnerd81 on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865186 Sun, 06 Jan 2019 07:39:57 +0000 Foodnerd81 2865186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @bees_knees: ah thank you! That makes sense. I have friends who specifically purchased the captains chairs too and are glad, but none have two RF seats. As it is I remember now one friend could only put her daughters seat on the passenger side because the younger ones seat was too bulky to be able to move the seat forward. bees_knees on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865176 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 23:41:16 +0000 bees_knees 2865176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Foodnerd81: @SweetCaroline: We have one kid FF, two RF. It is impossible to fit a RF seat in the third row, which means we have both captain's chairs with a RF seat in them. Not ideal, but it's ok while DS3 is still in the infant bucket seat (which allows an adult or additional passenger to load on that side and get into the third row). As soon as DS3 outgrows his Nuna Pipa, we will have to FF DS2 (who is 2y7mo, so while I feel comfortable turning him...I would still rather wait) in order to have ANYONE be able to load into the back. Right now as it is, half the time the kids have to crawl through a "hole" under a RF car seat to exit :silly: We had actually purchased a vehicle SPECIFICALLY with captains chairs so that it would be easier to load/unload. Whoops. Haha. If we had a bench in the middle, we could put two RF next to each other in the middle row and it would still allow access to the third row. Also, we are planning on a fourth sometime, so we will probably need the extra seat! SweetCaroline on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865153 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 21:02:01 +0000 SweetCaroline 2865153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @bees_knees: I drive a Yukon also, needed due to winter in our rural area. I've completely removed the third row (2011 model) for cargo space, only 1 kiddo now. We plan to upgrade, will also get a bench seat versus captains chairs. I'm excitedto have a model where the third row stows rather than removes! @Foodnerd81: For us, we don't use the third row frequently (1 kid now, only plan to be a 2 kid family). We have a greater need for the cargo space, if we had a bench seat instead of captains chairs we could fit another body in the second row instead of popping the third row up. Little different than @bees_knees: situation though. Foodnerd81 on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865151 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:50:24 +0000 Foodnerd81 2865151@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @bees_knees: curious, why bench seats instead of captains chairs? bees_knees on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865109 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 15:14:16 +0000 bees_knees 2865109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We drive a Yukon XL (2012) Denali. We have DS1 in the third row in a Chicco MyFit. He can buckle/unbuckle himself (thanks, UnbuckleMe!). DS2 RFing in a Britax Advocate in one captain chair. DS3 in the other captain chair in a Nuna Pipa. We needed an SUV vs a mini van because we occasionally tow our camper and we need 4WD for our extreme winters. FWIW, we will be upgrading to a newer model. Any GMC/Chevy SUVs made previously to 2015 have only ONE tether in the third row. In 2015+ they updated the body style and every seating position has a tether. We will also be getting a bench seat (vs captains chairs like we have now). I have spent way too much time researching this 😂 Wall me if you have any questions! bhbee on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865084 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 12:51:46 +0000 bhbee 2865084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Get a minivan! I want one too :silly: We have 3 seats in a Mazda5 which is kind of a micro van ... sliding doors on a car frame, tiny third row. With the third row seats up I can fit a folded city mini in the back, but I have to take it out to get groceries or anything unless I put under the baby seat. And I have to keep the front passenger seat allllll the way up to make a decent space for my 6yo in third row to get past. It’s kind of crazy! For vacation it’ll be super tight. We were just at my mom’s and she has a Highlander and it was better than my car for luggage space, but still seems way less roomy and convenient than a van. Minivans have so many nice features and I want to look at a certified used possibly in a couple years. We also have one kid in a booster - I think if you have to help buckle in the back row the space of a van really helps. Silva on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865078 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 11:24:48 +0000 Silva 2865078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mini van time!!! :) We have a Sienna. 5.5 year old sits in way back, passenger side. She is in a 5 point harness in a Chicco my fit, can usually buckle herself and unbuckle with the assistance of one of those unbuckle tools. The rest of the third row stays folded down to accommodate double stroller/whatever. 2nd row drivers side chair has rear facing chicco nextfit, pushed all the way back to make a large aisle for getting to third row. 2nd row passenger side chair has a chicco key fit, pushed forward quite a bit to give third row kid leg room. This also allows me to reach behind the seat to help big kid with buckle as need (I can also climb in from the other side and walk back. I can’t imagine having 3 kids without the minivan- we live rurally so we can’t walk anywhere, and we often transport a friend for play dates, having the option to put the rest of the third row bench up makes that easy. Plus when we go on vacation the car is packed to the gills. LadyDi on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865077 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 11:16:47 +0000 LadyDi 2865077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @catgirl: ah, definitely did not know that but I just started thinking about this and haven’t opened our manual yet. We have a 2014. Thank you so much for the info, now I don’t need to waste my time figuring out if it can work. On to a new car! Mrs. Toad on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865076 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 11:02:47 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2865076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've been looking at the RideSafer Travel Vest for my 4.5 yr old. He's already 40 lbs and 42 in tall. We are in the car about once a week and for about an hour max. It should fit between the convertible and combination seats. However, we are going to need a second car soon and we are looking at minivans. catgirl on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865073 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 10:52:17 +0000 catgirl 2865073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Just as an FYI due to the severe belt overlap in the backseat the RAV4 actually prohibits three across. Starting in 2013, I believe, it is printed in the manual. I think the newest model year might have fixed the problem. But otherwise it's been a problem for the past 10+ years. LadyDi on "3 car seats" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-car-seats#post-2865070 Sat, 05 Jan 2019 10:22:43 +0000 LadyDi 2865070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If you have 3 car seats in your car, how do you have them set up? Do you have a 3rd row SUV or minivan? Do you fit 3 across? I drive a toyota rav 4 and I think trying to fit 3 car seats across would require buying new carseats and even then I don't know if it'll work or if it's worth it. On the other hand we don't have a car payment right now and I really don't want one, ha. DS1 will be 4 when our 3rd is born, but he's small, so he's going to be in a 5 point harness for awhile still. So we'll need to fit in 2 5-point harness carseats and an infant seat.