Right now we have a Mazda CX-9 with three car seats across the second row. I have a 35 lb kid, a 25 lb kid, and a 24 lb kid, aged 4.5, 3.5, and 2.5. The older two are forward-facing and youngest is rear-facing still. My husband's car doesn't accommodate three kids and also is at the end of its life span. Right now we have two radians (1 forward/1 rear) and a Britax Frontier. My husband has two marathons in his car at the moment. We ideally would like to keep what we have and purchase just one new seat, but for the right car, we can get new car seats. I have three things I am keeping in mind:
1) For right now, I would really like a car with top tethor anchors on three positions in the second row because I currently really like having them close to me so I can pass things back easily.
2) For later, I plan to my move my son to a booster maybe in a year or so. And of course the other two will follow in time. We like to keep our cars for 8-10 years so this car needs to get us through the booster years. Are there any cars, perhaps the Odyssey with it's 'magic seat', that would accommodate three boosters in the second row AND allow them to buckle themselves? I feel plenty of cars I could probably cram some seats in there, but not with a small child doing the buckling.
3) We do definitely also want a usable third row because it might be nice to give them more space at some point and have one child in the third row. My car now is not ideal because the third row has no latch and I do prefer latch for boosters. But I can live with that and just strap the booster in when the kid isn't in it. But the real issue with my car is if I have two car seats in the second row, it would take up more than the 60% of the second row seat so it's impossible to then get into the third row. Well it's probably possible for my son because he is only 4 and can climb, but if I have to ever help him buckle, it's not possible for me. I would like an adult to be able to get back to the to assist when needed even with the car seats in.
Is this crazy talk or do I have any options? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
1) For right now, I would really like a car with top tethor anchors on three positions in the second row because I currently really like having them close to me so I can pass things back easily.
2) For later, I plan to my move my son to a booster maybe in a year or so. And of course the other two will follow in time. We like to keep our cars for 8-10 years so this car needs to get us through the booster years. Are there any cars, perhaps the Odyssey with it's 'magic seat', that would accommodate three boosters in the second row AND allow them to buckle themselves? I feel plenty of cars I could probably cram some seats in there, but not with a small child doing the buckling.
3) We do definitely also want a usable third row because it might be nice to give them more space at some point and have one child in the third row. My car now is not ideal because the third row has no latch and I do prefer latch for boosters. But I can live with that and just strap the booster in when the kid isn't in it. But the real issue with my car is if I have two car seats in the second row, it would take up more than the 60% of the second row seat so it's impossible to then get into the third row. Well it's probably possible for my son because he is only 4 and can climb, but if I have to ever help him buckle, it's not possible for me. I would like an adult to be able to get back to the to assist when needed even with the car seats in.
Is this crazy talk or do I have any options? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks!