https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 08:48:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2831671 Sun, 01 Jul 2018 13:53:33 +0000 PinkElephant 2831671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@anbanan15: Thanks for the update! I think we're probably headed that direction as well - I got in a friend's Pilot recently and it doesn't really solve most of my space issues. DH would really like a Suburban or something similar, but I am apprehensive about (a) the size in our garage and (b) loading/unloading, because my oldest still can't figure out how to unbuckle her carseat.</p> <p>That Cabinwatch feature sounds awesome! My kids don't unbuckle, but they do instigate each other (feet in each other's carseat, etc.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2831665 Sun, 01 Jul 2018 12:22:24 +0000 anbanan15 2831665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: So we ended up upgrading to the Honda Odyssey Touring yesterday. When I revisited the Pilot we learned that the latest redesign resulted in the 3rd row being lower so a person even at 5'1" ended up sitting with their knees in their throat and this turned me off from it. I looked into the 2018 Ford Expedition because it offered the most RF/FF seating configurations out of all the 3 row SUV's and the ability to get into the 3rd row without removing the car seats from the 2nd row, however it is huge and the price was so high. The Odyssey offered the same seating options, but a ton more features for the price. As much as I was against a minivan, it also just seemed to be the most practical for our family. </p> <p>The reason we went with the Touring was because it offered CabinWatch, so we can view the 2nd and 3rd rows from the navigation system upfront. With the amount of fighting and unbuckling we have been having in the car lately this feature alone nearly sold me on the Odyssey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2828976 Mon, 18 Jun 2018 10:11:31 +0000 ElbieKay 2828976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just set up our VW Atlas for three across. We have a 4yo and are expecting twins, so we have a Fllo and two Keyfit30s. I want some access to the babies from the front seat, and I think my 4yo might be butthurt to be sequestered in the back by himself. (This was the main reason I wanted a three seat bench instead of captains chairs in the second row.)</p> <p>Once we adjust to being a family of five and the babies are a little older, we can consider adjusting. I have no idea how I will manage to buckle a 1yo into the middle RF car seat so that may wind up being the breaking point.</p> <p>I also don't plan to take this show on the road for awhile. People can come here if they really need to see my babies :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2828710 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 21:35:09 +0000 PinkElephant 2828710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What @anbanan15: said. 3 across is about to stop working for us because my 6 &amp; 4 year old girls are constantly touching each other...and now the 20 month old wants to give the 6 year old stuff (shoes...toys...half chewed food she decides she no longer wants...) and the 6 year old freaks out.<br /> @anbanan15: if you upgrade to the Pilot and can remember to share, I'd LOVE to see pics of how you're configuring your seats. I'm wondering if a Pilot would be enough of a size upgrade from my MDX to help the situation we're in. DH wants a Suburban, but I think that's kind of overkill! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2828697 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 20:42:37 +0000 ShootingStar 2828697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Pacifica minivan with captains chairs in the middle. If we were to have a third, then the only thing I see working for us is the oldest (4.5) would need to go to the 3rd row. He’s currently in a high back booster and buckles himself. It took a little practice but now he’s totally self sufficient. </p> <p>The only other option, which I wouldn’t care for, would be to take out a captains chair and put two in the 3rd row, meaning a parent has to constantly climb in and out of the car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2828648 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 10:37:02 +0000 anbanan15 2828648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently have 3 across in a Ford Escape but plan to (and have to) upgrade to a Honda Pilot (ideally 8 seater) by October before #4 arrives.</p> <p>Our plan is to put the least needy in the back; so that means our boys, oldest (7) whose in alBritax Frontier CT and our 3rd, who will be 3 when baby arrives and is currently RF in a Britax Boulevard CT.</p> <p>Our girls will then be in the middle which includes the NB in a Cybex Aton Q and our 2nd, who will be 5 when baby arrives and is currently RF in a Britax Marathon CT (she’s the same size as her younger brother so their both still RF). </p> <p>We will probably turn our 2nd and 3rd children FF when baby arrives. Not sure if we will keep their current seats or switch them out to a HBB like big brother and then save the others for baby. They always fight over who gets to sit in our oldest seat when he’s not in the car, plus they can do the HBB buckle themselves, but aren’t so good at their own seats. Go figure. </p> <p>Honestly, I have not figured out the logistics of who/how we are getting everyone in/out of the car, but I know the above is the plan for now lol. I think, just like everything else, it’s a learning curve and we, just like you, will figure it out in time. I know when we went from 2 to 3 I was nervous about this as well, but it ended up being easier than expected (just now they fight since they sit at arms reach). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827997 Tue, 12 Jun 2018 18:03:47 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2827997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a 4.5 year old, 2 year old, and 5 month old in a Honda Odyssey. Big kids are in the third row, baby is in 2nd row behind the passenger seat. The other 2 seats are out of the 2nd row. It’s the best for us. If we need extra storage I just throw stuff where that 2nd row would go. It also gives us a place for the kids to stand to put on coats and winter gear, for me to sit and nurse the baby if necessary, and to do diaper changes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827780 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 22:35:50 +0000 PinkElephant 2827780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: I don’t have a minivan, so maybe this is a dumb question, but can you pop out both captain chairs and slide the third row bench forward? For the purpose of buckling everyone easily, I really liked my kids three across in the second row (I have an SUV with a not-very-useful third row, so we just use the second) at the beginning. They were 4.5 and 2.5 when the baby was born. I did baby behind me, 4 year old FF in the middle (she was super helpful), and 2.5 year old RF on the passenger side (she pestered the baby so needed to be separated. Now at 6, 4, and 18 months, it’s the same configuration with the 4 year old FF, and I’ve just now reached the point where I feel like they need to and can spread out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827755 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 19:08:19 +0000 misolee 2827755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My Kids are just like yours. I have a Sienna too. </p> <p>We have captain chairs in middle. Behind the drivers seat is baby. Middle is left open and there’s a small chair that can be inserted if we needed. Behind me is 2 year old. (Teachers need to pull him out for carpool). 5.5 sits in the back behind baby. I had to convince her to move to the back. At first she was resistant but we had no choice bc the middle only has two latches. She’s good about buckling and unbuckling by herself so I never have to climb in and help her or anything. With that being said, I can’t imagine climbing to or the baby in each time. Infant rear facing seats are big and heavy and it would kill my back. The two year old is also very resistant of his car seat so it helps that he’s in front to put him in quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827722 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:52:47 +0000 Silva 2827722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: yeah, some of this may be me admitting to myself that this is just going to be a little overwhelming, regardless of the amount of planning I do!!!</p> <p>@bees_knees: @bhbee: I think working on getting the big kid on board with the way back is the way to go. I just realized that we transport her friend with some regularity, and they always want to sit next to each other so I have to move the two year old to the way back. It will be way easier to just put the big kids in the back!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827713 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:20:34 +0000 bhbee 2827713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to talk up the third row! We haven’t done it full time yet since baby is due early Aug but I think it worked and she has done it some to practice. I focused on things like you get your own windows, you get the empty space next to you if you brought stuff, you get extra cup holders (for stuffed animals and assorted junk), etc. My only issue is the ventilation back there (I have a mazda5 so not as nice as a van) but we bought a noggle air tube thing to help with tx summer. </p> <p>My oldest is almost 6.5 and moved to a hb booster at 6 so i really want her in the back (and hopefully she can see the rf baby and help keep her happy!). My 3yo needs to sit on the passenger side for preschool carpool so baby will be on drivers side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827709 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 14:07:06 +0000 bees_knees 2827709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Yukon XL. We put our 4 year old (FF in Chicco MyFit) in the third row drivers side and the two RF (almost 2 yo in Clek Fllo and 4 mo old in Nuna Pipa) in the captains chairs. We had the 2 yo RF next to the 4 yo in the third row for awhile, but it’s actually much less annoying to have the two RF seats in the middle. </p> <p>I’d work on your oldest buckling herself! :) our 4 yo just figured it out and it’s super easy to just reach back and tighten him up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827697 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 13:34:08 +0000 MrsF 2827697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an odyssey - my big kids were 4.5 and 2.5 when the baby was born. We put (and still have) the baby in one of the 2nd row seats and the two big kids in the third row. My older kids were both forward facing by that point, so that might rule out this option for you, but it's worked out really well for us. We did't take a chair out, just pull it forwards and I climb back there and buckle them in. It's a hassle but hey, 3 kids is a hassle :silly: I do miss having all that trunk space as well, but it's been a good trade-off for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827673 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:57:10 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2827673@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My friend has the captain chair pulled. Two oldest in third row and the youngest in the remaining captains chair. She can get to the back row easy that way. </p> <p>That’s what we planned to do with our Santa Fe captain chairs... but now we’ve realized they aren’t removable. Baby is coming in 5 weeks and we still aren’t sure what to do 😬</p> <p>ETA: they put extra items in the empty spot where they captain chair used to be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827672 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:57:00 +0000 Silva 2827672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: I can't slide the seat over, though I could remove it like @catgirl: suggested. My concern is that we then lose the option to transport stuff, and we use our van for that semi regularly (but I may just need to get over this and buy a bike rack and plan ahead for homedepot runs). Currently we have the 3rd row folded down and its so nice to have all that space! But obviously losing some of that space is unavoidable.<br /> Also, I don't really have a good place to store a captain's chair right now- we could figure it out, but we don't have a dry basement or a garage.</p> <p>@skipra: I'm worried about buckling the 2 year old in if he's in the back, thats why I was thinking it would be easier to just be able to drop the carrier seat in. </p> <p>But I think everyone's right that it will be hard to not be able to see/hand things to the baby. I may have to start working on convincing my daughter that the way back is the cool spot to be.<br /> I think she's generally mature enough to handle a high back booster (she'll be 5 1/2 when the baby is born), and sits well in the car/listens to direction, so I could offer that as a carrot.<br /> That said- my husband and I both have car sickness issues, so road trips will be a PITA (trying to hand/get stuff all the way back), but honestly with 3 kids that is maybe just unavoidable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827662 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:42:00 +0000 catgirl 2827662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about pulling out a captain's chair, putting one in the middle row and two in the back. It would give you more room to maneuver inside the van when getting everyone buckled. You could do infant in middle row, rear facing behind infant, and the oldest behind the empty seat. Or rear facing convertible in middle row, forward facing seat in third row behind it, and infant behind the empty seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827661 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:40:06 +0000 skipra 2827661@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like it would be a pain to put the infant in the back especially as they get bigger and heavier. We have my oldest next to the youngest and it was really great in the beginning because he could hand him toys or talk and sing to him and it is easier having baby in second row because you can see better.<br /> If you can't do 3 across I might put the 2 year old in the back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827659 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:35:57 +0000 HappyBaker 2827659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids are similar ages and we also weren't sure where to put who in our van! Can your 2nd row captains chairs slide next to each other? I feel like it would be REALLY hard to see the baby in one of those car seat mirrors if they are in the way back. In my Odyssey I have the middle seat removed and the two remaining seats pushed next to each other, so on one side I have a "landing zone". I put DS (3) in the 2nd row driver's side, infant seat in the 2nd row middle, and DD(5.5) in the 3rd row, passenger side but where the landing zone area is. That way I can plop the baby in and then reach back to help her buckle, then buckle DS when I come around to my side. </p> <p>DD was SUPER upset about moving to the back by herself, but has gotten used to it and now does not want to move back to be with her brothers. We play up the fact that she has her own cupholder to keep snacks in, she has a seat next to her to stick all her stuffed animals, and she can reach her own light. The only big issue is I can't hand stuff back to her, so if we take a long car trip I might just sit in the back too for parts of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/car-seat-configuration-for-3rd-child#post-2827636 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 10:40:38 +0000 Silva 2827636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just want to make sure I'm not overlooking something here. The logistics of three are starting to make me panic a little.<br /> I have a 2015 Sienna, which certainly makes things easier.</p> <p>Oldest child (age 5.5) is forward facing in a harnessed Chicco MyFit. No immediate plans to switch her to booster. </p> <p>Middle child (age 2) is rear facing in a Chicco Nextfit. Will rear face until at least age 3.</p> <p>Infant (due in October) will be in a chicco keyfit.</p> <p>I'm thinking I will put the older two in the middle row captain's chairs. Put the baby in the 3rd row, single seat. That way we can still leave the double seat folded down for transporting stuff.</p> <p>So far my oldest is resistant to sitting by herself, and can't buckle herself all of the time into her seat (she's getting better, but has trouble loosening the straps or if anything is twisted at all). I figure this way I can set the infant seat down, buckle in the 2 year old, climb in and set the infant seat in the back, then help the oldest if she needs it.</p> <p>When the oldest is able to buckle herself it would certainly be easier to put her in the way back, and maybe when she's a bit older I can make it seem fun to sit alone?</p> <p>I won't be able to hand stuff to the infant if she's in the way back, and I don't think my oldest will be able to either (she will be directly in front of the baby). Maybe I should convince the oldest to sit in the way back now? </p>