https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 00:47:50 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399662 Thu, 24 Dec 2015 11:46:52 +0000 rattles 2399662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, you don't. Our Chrysler Sebring was more than enough space for two adults and one kid. It got dicey with our second only because the double stroller was a pain to get into the trunk and once in there, left room for little else (like groceries). We don't have dogs, but we regularly did multi-day road trips with our eldest, baby gear and luggage in that car, and everything fit just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399660 Thu, 24 Dec 2015 11:41:46 +0000 Finfan 2399660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: We had two dogs when our first was a baby coincidentally. I have only once changed a baby in the trunk of a car (happened to be my CRV). Only needed to do it that time because that's where the diapers were. I am much more likely to change the baby on one of the seats or in my lap (just did that yesterday with DD2). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399635 Thu, 24 Dec 2015 10:52:10 +0000 autumnleaves 2399635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you are planning on buying a stroller, I would test out how it fits in your trunk and think about taking that along with any gear you need for your family day to day and on trips. I had a Mazda 3 and the stroller fit in the trunk but nothing else could really go in there. The backseat with the carseat was tight - we couldn't move the front seat back. We ended up getting a Prius V which has tons of space. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399621 Thu, 24 Dec 2015 10:35:51 +0000 pachamama 2399621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: yes, changing him would be tricky if I had both dogs! Things I never thought about.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399620 Thu, 24 Dec 2015 10:34:41 +0000 pachamama 2399620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms. RV: I believe the seat will fit RF... I posed the question on Amazon when I got it and everyone said it fits, but snug. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399328 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 22:07:46 +0000 honeybear 2399328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First, congratulations! Second, no, you do not need to get a bigger car or SUV unless you haul stuff much larger than a small child and a couple small dogs and their accoutrements on the regular. There were 3 of us, our cat, and enough household stuff to keep us clothed and fed for 2 weeks in our 2-door VW Golf when we moved several states away when LO was an infant. It was cramped, but it was no worse than a commercial airline flight. It was our only car for years and I had no trouble comfortably transporting LO plus any and all of the junk I wanted to drive around with in it. ;)</p> <p>If you take a stroller in the car, you should get one that fits into your car, not a car that fits your stroller. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399295 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 21:48:23 +0000 misolee 2399295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You'll be fine in the smaller car but I do have to say, it's much easier to change a baby from a trunk of a SUV (which we did all the time). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399204 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:47:04 +0000 Ms. RV 2399204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does a RF seat in the car with you and SO? That could be a reason to get a larger vehicle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399191 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:38:14 +0000 yin 2399191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an Acura TSX, and it's a comfy fit with two kids. My only complaint is trunk space, and one day I would like to upgrade to a TSX wagon. We've traveled 14+ hours in the car with two kids, and it works for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399161 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:20:49 +0000 kiddosc 2399161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had one child, a large dog, a 65 mile commute and a Mazda 3... Worked out great. The small car was necessary with the long commute. Now we have a Mazda 6, which will be plenty of room for two. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399062 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:11:14 +0000 Meowkers 2399062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a Mercedes C230 and vowed never to get an SUV because I loved having a smaller car. Sometime around the time DD turned 6 months I became fed up with what a pain it was to get her in and out of my car. And the pain of getting the stroller in the trunk. And the pain of having to push the front passenger seat way up to accommodate the rear facing car seat.</p> <p>I recently got an Audi Q5 and I'm SOOOOO happy that I did. All the annoyances are completely gone with the larger, taller car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399055 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:05:32 +0000 runnerd 2399055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just bought a Honda Civic a few months ago and it's been just fine. We also travel with 2 small dogs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399051 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:01:16 +0000 avivoca 2399051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a medium size dog and one child. We drive a Nissan Versa and it's decent. With another child, we will need something bigger for trips, but as an everyday car it will be fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2399016 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 18:37:22 +0000 Eko 2399016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that it is fine. We are a one car family and we had a Honda Civic and ended up getting a Nissan Rogue around the time I got pregnant. Our Honda broke down and we needed a new car and decided to upgrade. While we would've made do if we still had the civic I am sooo happy we have a bigger car. It honestly would be a struggle for us if we still had a civic. Also, we did it for safety reasons living in Boston we wanted a car that was AWD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398958 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:37:11 +0000 BSB 2398958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you are fine. We have twins and 2 dogs and they all fit in my CRV. My one dog sits in my lap and the other 50lb dog can fit on the foot space in the second row. (We did try once to put my bigger dog in the cargo area when we didn't need the stroller and my dog hated it. So that's why we moved her to the second row foot space.) The double stroller does take up the back cargo area, so I wouldn't take my CRV on a long road trip. For quick trips, my crv works. My husband has a highlander and it's a smidge larger. I'm petite and can fit between the two car seats in my CRV. The highlander can fit a person a bit bigger between the two car seats. </p> <p>Oh, I am tiny enough that I can crawl through the front to get in/out without having to remove the car seats. </p> <p>Anyway, I think you are fine with one kid and small dogs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398947 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:29:23 +0000 Golden 2398947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For one you're probably ok. But 2 is a whole different ballgame. I need a bus!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398914 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:09:31 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2398914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a VW Jetta and a VW Passat when our first LO was born. I am SO GLAD we upgraded to Jetta to a Ford Explorer just over a month after she was born. Everything was such a tight fit in the small cars and the extra space is awesome! And I can't fathom any sort of road trip with the baby and dog without the SUV. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398909 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 17:06:00 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2398909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only moved to a bigger vehicle because we needed space for three RFing when #3 came our way.</p> <p>As long as you can fit a car seat and stroller in you'll be fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398887 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:56:03 +0000 travellingbee 2398887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it totally depends on the car/space. Can you fit a stroller in the trunk? How much room is there when you put a rear facing car seat in? Will you want other people to be able to ride with you? There are sedans that have great room for all of those. I had a rogue that is a crossover and I got annoyed with it because if I wanted to sit in the back and nurse him I could barely fit. We traded it in for an SUV, but I've been in much roomier sedans than the crossover was... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398858 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:38:04 +0000 gingerbebe 2398858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I hated and our Prius Plug-In when DS was born. I used the Jeep as my mom-mobile because we had it, but there was absolutely no difference traveling with the Prius (and in fact we did our longest road trip in it), as long as you can fit the stroller in the trunk. We just traded the Jeep in for a minivan because we're expecting LO2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398850 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:34:26 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2398850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I drove my lo around in my little Saturn for 2 years with no issue :) we upgraded to a van after lo2 was born but only because our families are out of town and we do a lot of driving travel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398849 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:33:14 +0000 catomd00 2398849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an accord when DD was born. I felt so much safer moving to an SUV - I got a Mazda CX-9 that I love! It's spacious but still drives like a car and is great on gas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398848 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:33:07 +0000 LuLu Mom 2398848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, I think you would be fine with 1 kid &amp; two little dogs with those vehicles, especially commuting I would stick with the better gas mileage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-i-need-a-bigger-car-suv-for-baby1#post-2398845 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 16:31:51 +0000 pachamama 2398845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We currently have a Honda Civic and a Ford Fusion. We have two little dogs we often take in the car also. I have a 50mile commute each day and I try to be eco-friendly so I'm wary of getting an SUV but do you think it is much easier with a new baby?<br /> Is a bigger car necessary with one baby? Does anyone drive a small car with a baby and dogs? </p> <p>We are considering an Outback or a Ford Edge for what it's worth </p>