Big vans and headrests(or lack of them)...?

[Saramomofmany]

We are expecting #6 in December, and currently have a 7 seating Ford Windstar, so we'll have outgrown it. We are needing to get a big van at some point...what I'm curious about is the headrest or lack of issue.

Does anyone know if any of the big(11-15 passenger) vans have headrests? Can you safely have headrests added to a bench seat?

We had a 1995 Ford Econoline 11 passenger van last year but it had mechanical issues, so we had to get something else, but that one had several bench seats with NO headrests, but 2 buckets in the second row, so they would work for an adult or child w/o a booster.

My concern is our 9 year old daughter, who is currently in a Britax Regent, so she's good w/o a headrest, but there will come a time in the next year or so I'm guessing she'll outgrow the Regent, and would need head support.

We can't afford something very new, so I'm just trying to brainstorm ideas for the future...thanks, Sara

[christineka]

So far the only big van with headrests is the dodge sprinter. I've heard rumor of the new ford van having headrests on the benches and the benches being compatible with older models.

Otherwise, there's the 8 passenger sienna.

[MissKatie]

I second the eight passenger sienna. It will probably be less expensive too, and it gets great ratings and is car seat friendly. If I could buy anything right now, it would be a sienna.

[ginny4]

can you really get 8 in a sienna? comfortably?

we have a 7 passenger gr caravan. lets not even take into account that the center of the 3rd row is lap only. of course carseats make it extremely difficult to fit 7. it can be done but its not comfortable. temporarily its OK but i can't imagine dealing with it everyday or for long periods of time. basically my van fits 6 passengers comfortably IMO.
is the sienna really comfortable at 8 passengers?
i like the big vans but the headrests do pose a major issue. i guess if finances can't allow for a sprinter then a sienna would have to do regardless of how comfy.

[Minniemouse]

can you really get 8 in a sienna? comfortably?

I can't comment on three across in the back seat but my very good friend has her three kids three across in the center row and they fit great! They are riding in a Husky, Marathon, & a Regent (Marathon in the center) w/ no issues at all.

[christineka]

I have 5 kids in seats in an 8 passenger sienna. In a couple weeks we will add number 6. It was tricky to get 3 across the back. Actually, the tricky part was getting two on the 60 side of the bench. You can put any combo you want across the middle row. It would be more difficult if you put all harnessed seats across the middle and in the back. We keep one booster in the middle row so that the seat back can be put forward just a tad to get the back row kids in. A great big van may be more spacious and comfortable, but I am not willing to pay extra for gas or have to park a gigantic van. If I have 7 kids I guess I'll have to go with the big van, but I don't want to! Anyway, in 4 or so years my oldest child might actually pass the 5 step test and be able to go seatbelt only!

I have middle row: keyfit, vivo, vivo
back row: rfing tribute, rfing radian, and a turbobooster.