2 under 2... Do we *need* a van?

[texmati]

Hubby wants to 'upgrade' to a minivan. In january, we will have a newborn and a 15-16 month old.

Currently, if both of us are there, one of us will be sitting in back with the baby. When DS was little, we hardly ever took him out on his own.

i don't think we need a new van with a family of 4, but I also don't know how to answer DH's questions about 'logistics'. What will we do when one of them is crying. As they get older, how do we keep them from killing each other?

The biggest car we have now is a Camry.

[weliveintheforest]

You may not need it, but it can be very useful. I loved being able to climb right in to buckle them, or change them, manoeuvre carseats, whatever. Being able to carpool or transport large items was another bonus. As soon as we can afford to get a different vehicle I want a van.

You might be able to sit in between them, if you need to sit in the back with the baby.

[MusicianDad]

Is there a reason one of you would be sitting in the back?

Honestly, I can't think of a reason why a family of four would need a van, unless one of the children had serious health issues and required a lot of equipment at all times.

[rightkindofme]

No, you don't *need* one. But we drive a lot of people around so we wanted one.

[Karamom]

I don't think you necessarily need a van but it might be nice. I had a honda accord when my second was born. After a few months I could not stand it anymore I really wanted a minivan. With 2 car seats and a diaper bag maybe a stroller it was all to much. I felt really squished. Now I have a minivan and I LOVE the extra space. It's a good thing we bought it too because now we have another on the way

ETA: Also it gives you much more room if you need to pull over and nurse or change a diaper. Tinted windows in back are nice too if someone older needs to change. I now have a kids toilet in the back for potty emergencies which has come in handy many times.

[Drummer's Wife]

I don't think you need a van, but it might make it easier to get the kids in and out, store the stroller, groceries, etc., as well as have space for an extra adult or two (or more kids in the future).

If you keep your Camry, you could definitely have both LO's outboard - then they can't touch each other. it would make squeezing an adult in-between two rear-facing seats pretty difficult, though (not impossible, depending on your car seats).

ETA: with four kids, I never sat in the back with the baby . But my babies were pretty content in the car, for the most part.

[BetsyS]

We drive cars for a long time, so when we looked at new cars right as I got pregnant with #1, we knew we'd have it for a long time. And that we wanted 4 closely spaced kids. So, we bought with that in mind (and ended up with a SUV).

But, to be honest? When I just had 2 kids, I had them both int he middle seat, and we never, ever, ever used the 3rd seat. I could have made due with a car just fine until I had baby #3. Now, with baby #3, I really appreciate the 3rd seat and not having to have 3 carseats side by side.

FWIW, with one baby, we sat in the back with him often. With 2 babies, I never sat back there. They entertained each other, nad baby #2 was perfectly happy all the time. Even now, with 3, I have the 2 oldest in the 3rd seat, and only the baby in the 2nd seat.

[Juvysen]

I just sat between them sometimes *shrug* it was tight, but not too bad.

[EdnaMarie]

Okay. We have a Corolla, and all I can say is, when I think about cleaning breadcrumbs and whatnot from an entire VAN (it takes me some time to get my Corolla in a condition such that my friends will agree to carpool) it is frightening. We have two trikes in the back, umbrella stroller on the floor, groceries can be squished with the trikes, adult squished between the kids.

But then, we absolutely love not having car payments and the fact that we spend very, very little on gas, even with a commute. We took it camping and everything fit. If you want more space for stuff, just get one of those little storage things you can hook on a rack on top. It's way cheaper, easy to use, and you save so. much. on. gas.

Plus... parking.

I guess it depends which is tighter--your budget, or your elbow room after a trip to the mall.

[CherryBomb]

No, I don't think so. We didn't go to a minivan until I was pregnant with #3. I never felt like we needed one when we just had two.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

Is there a reason one of you would be sitting in the back?

TBH, we still don't take DS for long drives (ie more than 15 minutes) without two people. And until recently, even just going for the 5 minutes between our house and our parents sometimes someone would have to sit in the back.

I'm hoping that ds is a special case, and that as parents of two, we have to develop a thicker skin.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by EdnaMarie

Plus... parking.

I guess it depends which is tighter--your budget, or your elbow room after a trip to the mall.

I know, right? I don't think dh has any idea how annoying it is to drive a van all the time. We have a camry and a honda civic. dh wah, i would like to sah after the new baby comes.

the civic... works. it's not as much fun to drive, and the ac doesn't work, but it drives fine. We do sometimes have other people to tote around, but, we also have the option of taking two cars in that case. or renting a van for the weekend, or whatever. No reason to drop a chunk of change right now.

I think ya'll are right. Dh is going to have to earn that car with another child.

[MyFullHouse]

No, it's not needed, but the extra space is often nice.

As far as sitting with the baby, I don't see how a van would make that easier. If the van has captains chairs in the middle row, would you put the toddler in the third row, alone? That's kind of a pain with RF seats. If it has a bench middle row, how's that any different from a bench in a Camry?

FWIW, I drove a Camaro with my first two, who are 3.5 years apart. We got a van when #3 was born. The only time I've sat in the back with them was when making an 800 mile trip so I could dole out toys and snacks.

[AllisonR]

No, I don't think you NEED a van. You may WANT a van. That's very different. Get one if you want one and it will be useful/practical/enjoyable for your family.

I had a just turned 2 yo and a newborn in a 4 door skoda. Very roomy for 2 car seats. A tight fit if a 3rd person is also in the back. DH and myself in the front.

We have now switched to a big fat gas guzzling Chevrolet with luxurious leather interior. On the one hand, it is more roomy. On the other hand, I am ashamed of my carbon footprint every time I get in it. (though not ashamed enough to have not bought it when it was on a great sale).

[nwatt]

When we found out I was expecting number 2 we started seriously considering getting a van. My in laws come to visit a lot and I didn't want us to have to take two cars every time we went anywhere. Also, out poor dog hasn't come on any of our vacations since we had DD because there is no room for her crate anymore, with a van she might get to be included again. I also like the idea of a van because nursing in the car would be so much more comfortable and DD would be able to run around in the van while I nursed. I also wanted more room for a double stroller.

Since we found out that we are expecting twins, we are definitely getting the van.

[Joyster]

I was fine with a CRV until I became pregnant with number 3. I have a van now, and the space and remote doors rock, but I still miss my CRV a lot.

[odenata]

Originally Posted by texmati

TBH, we still don't take DS for long drives (ie more than 15 minutes) without two people. And until recently, even just going for the 5 minutes between our house and our parents sometimes someone would have to sit in the back.

I'm hoping that ds is a special case, and that as parents of two, we have to develop a thicker skin.

I sat in the back a lot with my first, and never did with my 2nd. Room is one reason, but another is that my older dc entertains the younger. He really likes sitting back there with her.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by nwatt

When we found out I was expecting number 2 we started seriously considering getting a van. My in laws come to visit a lot and I didn't want us to have to take two cars every time we went anywhere. Also, out poor dog hasn't come on any of our vacations since we had DD because there is no room for her crate anymore, with a van she might get to be included again. I also like the idea of a van because nursing in the car would be so much more comfortable and DD would be able to run around in the van while I nursed. I also wanted more room for a double stroller.

Since we found out that we are expecting twins, we are definitely getting the van.

have mercy! I think we would definitely get a van with 3 littles.

[odenata]

I have to say, I'm really tempted By a minivan, but with just two, I don't feel I can justify the environmental impact, gas, etc.

Still, I want one. The perks are definitely there, and I imagine it being really useful as the kids get older to be able to have other people in the car with us, which we can't do now.

[carmel23]

We didn't get a van until we had 4 kids. But if you fast forward, and you want to do things with the kids' friends and stuff, it is nice to have the extra seats.

There are also a lot of cool cars, like the kia rondo, that have the extra seats, but not the extra fuel consumption.