https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 06:39:25 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469216 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:06:18 +0000 kodybear 2469216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@dc yoga bee: if both 3rd row seats are up, it's not a lot of space but better than a lot of other 3 row SUVs. One perk is that the trunk can lower a couple inches so it does give you more height space (so a stroller could sit up on its side). But if there are only 1 or 2 people in the third row you could put one of the 3rd row seats down and put stuff on top. So I think it's one of the better options for 3rd row SUVs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469206 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:53:41 +0000 skipra 2469206@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are expecting our third and I think deciding on a new car will be the most stressful thing for me. We have a Rav-4 now and have no choice but to get rid of it because you can't fit 3 across. DH drives my old Corolla and I keep telling him that I'm just going to get new car seats and steal back my car! We definitely need at least one car that is good in the snow and I HATE huge SUV's. It would be nice to have a third row because sometimes my mom will go places with us and it doesn't matter if it eats into the storage room because on those occasions we don't need the trunk space. I was hoping the Nissan Rogue would be the perfect fit for us but it turns out that you can't put 3 seats across (does not allow for car seat in the middle) and if you use the third row, you can't use a seat with a top tether. Now I have not clue what we'll do - probably a Honda CRV type car for now and forgo the option for additional passengers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469183 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 10:20:21 +0000 coopsmama 2469183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HLK208: I think the sliding doors are my number one pro for the minivans! When I nannied for a family of 3 they had a minivan and it was nice. I also nannied for a family of *7* kids back in college (13 and under) and they had a Suburban and I think I prefer the bulk of it more but we will go test driving, etc. DH reallllly wants a minivan though so you should tell me all the things you like about your Odyssey. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469152 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 09:01:13 +0000 dc yoga bee 2469152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kodybear: how is the trunk space in the new pilot when you're using the third row? We only plan on two, but need a third row for when we are with my family, as I'd prefer all in one car. They live in same city, so it's often. We could take two cars on trips, but I'd love to take one! Usually 6-7ppl. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469148 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 08:57:33 +0000 Littlebit7 2469148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd look at the car buying guide on car seats for the Littles. They describe seat belt overlap, number of tethers and which cards you can't do three across in </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469067 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 01:46:14 +0000 HLK208 2469067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: yes! We looked into buying new car seats and we did try several different boosters. We made it work for about 7 months after having #3! I had a hard time loading the kids in (opening the car door while holding the infant car seat and trying to get every in was tough). The sliding doors have been a life saver!<br /> So not only the space but safety issues with getting everyone in the car were enough for us to go with the Odyssey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469061 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 01:24:49 +0000 gingerbebe 2469061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a Sienna that we got after I got pregnant with #2. We needed a true third row for visitors and real trunk room. We tried out some SUVs but the Highlander we rented was a joke in terms of the 3rd row and trunk space. Any of the super large SUVs wouldn't fit in our garage and I wasn't going to buy a $50K+ vehicle to park it in the street! We love our Sienna XLE! We got captains chairs, leather, automatic sliding doors and liftgate, dual zone cooling and heating, it has good power with the V6 engine, and the mileage isn't awful. DH actually loves it and drives it more than I do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469053 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 00:32:10 +0000 coopsmama 2469053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HLK208: Yes. I know I'm going to get something in the six months - I'm due for something newer anyways, mine's an '08 I've had since I graduated HS - but not sure what it will be! J really wants to get a minivan though so I'm sure that's what it will be! :) We may look at bigger SUVs just to be sure, but I have no idea if they would even be convenient/it would be worth it. eta - I think if we switched our carseats we could fit 3 across with my model according to this site <a href="http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/2015/01/3-across-installations-highlander.html/" rel="nofollow">http://www.thecarcrashdetective.com/2015/01/3-across-installations-highlander.html/</a> but honestly, if we're going to spend $$$ on nice new seats I might as well just bite the bullet and make the upgrade anyways!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469052 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 00:23:53 +0000 HLK208 2469052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coopsmama: you have a highlander right now, right? Ours couldn't fit 3 car seats! We switched B to a booster because there wasn't enough room :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469050 Sun, 21 Feb 2016 00:15:09 +0000 HLK208 2469050@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I looooove my Honda Odyssey. I wasn't a van person before but I had a Toyota Highlander and it was too cramped (DS was in a booster by that point too). So we decided to bite the bullet and finally get a van.</p> <p>The Odyssey is super roomy and the features are awesome. They thought of everything a family could possibly need/want in a car. We keep snacks in the cool box for long road trips, there's tons of compartments and storage and it's so comfortable. I kind of like that it looks sleeker than minivans use to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2469045 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 23:55:15 +0000 autumnlove 2469045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sienna and loving it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468996 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 21:42:31 +0000 kodybear 2468996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a 2016 Honda Pilot and while there is plenty of room for 3 kids in the 2nd row, it basically makes the 3rd row inaccessible unless you climb in through the trunk or get captain chairs in the 2nd row. Just something to consider for SUVs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468957 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:55:11 +0000 MrsSRS 2468957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only have two, but I have a third three days a week and we really like our Flex. It's almost as good as a minivan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468955 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:54:12 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2468955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm obsessed with my Sienna. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468953 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:51:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2468953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm excited that when we have our third we will be able to have three across and still full trunk space (with option for third row later on when we don't want them all side by side). We love our Odyssey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468942 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:28:24 +0000 Mrs. J 2468942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: I loved my CR-V. I gave it to my sister. I have a Subaru Forester now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468937 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:25:25 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2468937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a honda cr-v, so no room for extra passengers when we are all together.</p> <p>I wasn't interested in buying a new car. But I am sure we probably upgrade to something with a 3rd row in the next couple of years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468935 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:24:30 +0000 regberadaisy 2468935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have two and our next car will most likely be a odyssey or Sienna. :P We just road trip way too often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468928 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:17:41 +0000 Mrs. J 2468928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are thinking a third too, so we will probably go minivan. My SIL just got an Odyssey and loves it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468923 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:14:32 +0000 coopsmama 2468923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'm going to have to make the switch to a van this summer - and I'm not sure how I feel about it! I just think the convenience with a 3 year old, 2 year old, and a newborn probably couldn't be beat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-have-3-or-more-kids-what-is-your-family-car#post-2468912 Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:06:09 +0000 mrsjyw 2468912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in the market for a new car this year. I thought we decided on the Lincoln MKT, but I want to do some more research pending our maybe plans for a maybe baby 3! </p> <p>DS1 is 3 (will be 4 in late Nov), DS2 turns 1 in July, and we don't have any real plans of TTC, but our two boys will be in their carseats (Frontier and Adovcate) for the next few years, so I want to be cognizant of a potential third carseat with room for other passengers and trunk space.</p> <p>What are your recs? A van? Oversized SUV? </p>