Vehicle For 3 Car Seats?

[cosmos]

Hi, I need some advice about car seats, or cars.

Are there economical cars that can fit 3 car seats?
Are there smaller car seats that can fit in smaller cars?

I have a 40+ lb 4 yr old, a 2 yr old and a baby on the way. Currently I am driving a mid size and am dreading the thought of a car payment.

Any advice?
What do you drive with 3 car seats?

[dallaschildren]

Cosmos,

Here is some links for your reference. Please ask if you have anymore ?'s.

http://www.carseatdata.org/

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ratings.htm


CPS tech and mom to 2 sons in seats
"Making a difference one car seat at a time"

[BusyMommy]

Our mini van, Mazda MPV, would fit but we'd lose our back storage area as we only have 2 Capt's seats.

Everyone I know w/3+ kids has an Expedition. Pretty safe cars. Sucky gas mileage.

[mammastar]

We have a Ford Taurus wagon, 1997, and it has worked well.

[Changed]

I drive a dodge grand caravan and DH drives a small car. A chevy/geo prism to work. I only have 2 kids but alot of gear. We will have 3 carseats by net December and they all fit well. Rear AC is going to be a must with my next car though. The kid in the back gets really hot here in Texas. I like my van alot but the quality and reliability thus far sucks. Been in the shop alot of times for minor crap and my warranty just ran out. I'm buying a used yukon or tahoe when this van is paid off. More room for the things we have to drag along. Double stroller or wheelchair....

[iris0110]

My friend has a ford taurus and we managed to fit three carseats in it. One was a booster, and the other two were high backed boosters. My car is a nissan sentra, and while it would fit two seats I dont' know if it would make three, especially with convertible carseats that are so big. My husband drives a GMC Safari. It is like the Chevy Astro, and is considered a mid-size van. It seats 8 people comfortably, eats a ton of gas though. It would easily fit more than three carseats, maybe even six if you had to. Most mini-vans will fit more than three carseats, but they can be really expensive. If you could put your two bigger kids in high backed boosters with five point harnesses, you may be able to fit all three in your present car, depending on how big it is.

[emblmrgrl]

We have an Impala and could fit 2 infant carriers and a booster in the middle when my boys were smaller... now we're up to two boosters and an infant carrier in the middle since they're older and we have another one, lol. It's a little hard to get your hands out after fastening seat belts but we manage!

[Faith]

We have a Malibu and we have fit three carseats- a booster with a back, a toddler/convertable seat, and an infant seat. It is not my first choice, but it works!

[Wabi Sabi]

Originally Posted by iris0110

My husband drives a GMC Safari. It is like the Chevy Astro, and is considered a mid-size van. It seats 8 people comfortably, eats a ton of gas though. It would easily fit more than three carseats, maybe even six if you had to.

Yep, I have a Safari and I was able to easily fit six carseats into it- that was the main reason I bought this particular vehicle. I get about 20 mpg, which I don't really consider to be bad at all considering how big it is!

[RiceMomma]

We cram three carseats in the middle bench of our '95 Honda Odyssey. It's the old version before they changed it to the bigger minivan. We just fold down the third seat and have tons of storage in the back. We've had this car for 1.5 years- love it- haven't had an problems.

Andrea

[cosmos]

Thanks so much for all the replies!

The websites provided will be very helpful (especially when I figure out what I will be driving) Checking one of them out, I remembered that the infant carrier does NOT fit well in my car.

In the Taurus wagon is there a "jumpseat" or the 3 seats just fit?

I have a booster high back and a convertable car seat currently, but it doesn't look like the booster seat is any smaller than the convertable - ?

I drool over the Mazda MPV but I have a hard time servicing the mazda I have right now due to where I live we are definitely going American with any purchase.

Thanks again!

[cosmos]

Originally Posted by emblmrgrl

It's a little hard to get your hands out after fastening seat belts but we manage!

LOL! Where does your DP and/ or older DC sit? AND How do you keep track of everybody!!!!!????

[teachermom]

I had a taurus wagon...it fit three across. you should not put car seats in the jump seat as it is rear facing.

I drive a mercury grand marqui now. I can fit three across in the back seat but it is hard to buckle them.

[jenaniah]

I have a 2000 Dodge Neon and can fit 3 seats in. Right no I have 2 Graco Turbo boosters and just slide them out, buckle the boys and then slide them back in. I have also had 3 harness seat strapped n and basically any combo you can think of with 3 seats.

[NatureMama3]

We have a 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager and it fits all 3 well (fits 4 actually, but we don't need a 4th yet).

My mother has a 1995 Dodge Intrepid and a 1997 Chrysler LHS (I think 1997?) and those both fit 3 seats across too.

My sister has a Suburban (NOT economical by any FEAT of imagination) and clearly, that fits plenty.

Good luck!

[mammastar]

Yes, in our Taurus wagon, we had three across in the rear. An infant seat and two boosters, then a toddler seat and two boosters. It's a bit of a pain, but it does work!

We also have the jump seat that folds out of the trunk, but as someone said, you can't use carseats there because it's rear-facing and actually designed to only fit children (there is a weight limit). We used to use it a fair amount when the kids had playdates, so that there would be room for everyone, or for when one of the older children wanted to sit on their own. I'm not quite sure what the jump seat's status is now, though - Ontario has recently made booster seats law for most kids, and you can't use them in the jump seat. Not quite sure where that leaves us!

[kerc]

I just saw a mama at a yard sale yesterday with a focus wagon and three kiddos -- two toddler seats and a booster.

[oohlalabags]

we had to suck it up and buy a minivan ... now that we did .. i'm very pleased with it ... 3 have 3 little ones in car seats and not to mention our huge triple stroller that has to fit as well ... we went with the honda odyssey ... i love it .. i know it's not so crunchy but it keeps me sane

[cosmos]

I have to say I am very pleased to hear there are cars that can take 3 car seats!

I think a minivan would definitely be great for hauling all the gear and stuff but definitely more practical for us to have a smaller vehicle since we live so far from civilization LOL (2+ hours to any store resembling a Target : ).

Keep the stats rolling in!!!!

[Corriander]

We just bought a '98 Honda Odyssey and I love it. It will fit 2 in the third row and 3 in the second row. If you are going the economical route then a used Honda is a great choice.