Twins + Triplets = 5 car seats. Best car???

[nicole_carseat]

We have 2 year old twins and are expecting triplets in a few months. The twins are small, so we expect to have everyone in car seats (not boosters) for quite a few years. We are just starting the search for an appropriate car and would appreciate some advice. We currently have a 2010 Town & Country, but that only has the LATCH system on 3 seats and the cargo would not be able to handle a double and a triple stroller. We are thinking along the lines of a Suburban or Denali - would these fit the bill? Any other suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[jourdysmom]

I have an '08 Town and Country and can fit 2 Graco tandem double strollers in the back storage area.

Are the 2 year olds forward facing or rear facing? The seats they currently have? Their height and weight? Any medical concerns?

You can fit 3 Sunshine Kids Radian seats forward facing in the back row, not sure about rear facing. You can actually load children through the back hatch pretty easily. I have done it (in case you need to keep your van).

 

[swtgi1982]

I have an '08 Town and Country and can fit 2 Graco tandem double strollers in the back storage area.

Are the 2 year olds forward facing or rear facing? The seats they currently have? Their height and weight? Any medical concerns?

You can fit 3 Sunshine Kids Radian seats forward facing in the back row, not sure about rear facing. You can actually load children through the back hatch pretty easily. I have done it (in case you need to keep your van).

Three radians should fit rf as well in the third row they do in my 2001 caravan
In which case I would get five new radians and not a new vehicle
Also you should be able to get two double strollers back there I have done it one baby will just have to be in a carrier or sling

Also not sure if radians and if so which ones fit small newbies well hopefully some one else will know since they are triplets they inherently will be smaller so just make sure to look into that
Also I would keep the twins read facing as well

I know I can get three rear facing sceneras across my third row but they probably not work well for tiny newbies

 

[swtgi1982]

Also latch is not safer then the seat belt and with three across in the back even if you have it there it does not normally work well with three seats in a row the vehicle seat belt will likely work best there.
Also most new vehicles will only have two full sets of latch and three top anchors only a rare few have more them that legal requirement
So if latch wise that is why you are looking for new vehicle then I would not look just keep what you have And get new seats
Also you can gets a multiple discount when buying for your twins and triplets too at a lot of stores and manufactures you just need to ask for it
I know BRU does it but I am not sure if sunshine kids the maker of the radian does but can not hurt to ask

 

[nicole_carseat]

Our twins are forward facing in Britax Marathons. I notice that Radian car seats keep coming up - are they preferred for safety or for slimness? Also, I expect to be using the Graco Snugrides for the triplets (at least for 6-9 months) - I enjoy using the infant carriers for transfers to and from the car for as long as possible.

 

[Starlight]

I have a Suburban and I love it. I can easily fit a triple stroller and a double stroller at the same time - and still have some room for a small shopping trip, and you could easily put your 2 yr olds in the rear seat and the three babies across the middle, it's plenty wide enough.

 

[QuassEE]

2011 Odyssey? Now that you can put three across in the centre row, and then put two in the back (and load from the back).. With the way that many minivans have a sunken area in the trunk, it's easy to stand a stroller upright in the cargo area--I'm sure a triple Mountain Buggy could fit in there, for example. I don't think one of those quad daycare strollers would fit, though

I know you're only given what you can handle in this world...but wow, I think I'd be tempted to just make everyone and everything come to ME for a while

-Nicole.

 

[Pixels]

Radians are popular for their slimness and extended usability. With the highest weight limit and second-highest height limit available for RFing, and high forward facing limits as well, it's a seat that will last a long time. There are no safety ratings for carseats, but keeping your children rear facing for as long as possible confers a great deal of safety.

 

[cookie123]

What size/gestational age were your twins when they were born? You should probably consider that the triplets might be smaller and may not fit into a convertible seat or the Snugride 22, if that's what you have.

 

[mommy-medic]

First off congratulations!!! I hope you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy babies, and are able to maintain your sanity in the process

Thanks for stopping in. As other posters have said, we do recommend rear facing as long as possible- this helps explain why-

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sssIsceKd6U&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Rear facing vs forward facing position in the car[/ame]

You have gotten some good suggestions on seats and vehicles. I have an 05 toyota sequoia. It seats 8 comfortably, with a real cargo area in the back, not just that smidgen of room that some cars call "storage"

I have had a regent and boulevard side by side in the middle row with room for another full sized adult, and have had five car seats in it at once- that took some puzzling but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The middle row of mine is a 60/40 split, and the rear row is a 50/50 split. All seats can fold forward, middle row can completely tumble forward or be removed, and rear row folds forward, can scoot forward to touching middle row (allowing even more cargo room) or be removed completely. I can't say enough wonderful things about this vehicle. It's reliable, and VERY car seat friendly. (not sure about newer models, but I mine).

Good luck in your decision making, and thanks for stopping in- we like to see parents taking the time to make sure their kids are safe before an accident happens.

 

[autumnlily]

Congratulations!

You have received some great suggestions here. I completely agree with infant bucket seats... completely loading and unloading 5 infant/toddlers is not my idea of fun (and I have done it many times). I do agree - you will more than likely need a bucket seat that has a low harness slot (much lower than the Snugride 22 can offer).

Are you going to have a Triple Decker stroller. If so, check out the compatible Evenflo seats but be aware that the handle on them must be in the down position and with 1" clearance between the infant seat and front passenger seats. Also, they are rated from 5+ lbs.

There is a new infant seat called the Graco Snugride 30 and it has a preemie setting and is rated from 4lbs. It will fit the triplets much better and last until 30lbs (vs 22lbs) or when there is only 1" shell above their head. I'd call Triple Decker and ask if they have checked into compatibility yet. The Snugride 30 is extremely new - you might have to advise them to go to a Babies R Us and try it out of the travel system it is currently sold in (they will sell soon without the travel system).

The Chicco Keyfit, Britax Chaperone and OnBoard 35 (4lb rating version) are also highly recommended for small infants - but are not compatible in the triple decker. Keyfit is compatible in the Baby Trend Snap n Go.

 

[autumnlily]

I love my mini van. The sliding doors, in my mind, are a must have so that one can easily fit a stroller between two parked vehicles and safely load and unload children. I hate having to squeeze between an open door that is limited because of the car next to it and then load and unload kids in a stroller. Absolutely 100% dislike it!

I often have 5 car seats and on occasion 6 car seats in my 8 passenger Sienna (2007). It has a very decent drop down cargo space and I have fit a Valco Tri-mode, valco toddler jump seat and hitchhiker board, and Phil & Ted e3 Sport with double kit in there (with a Sunshine Kids Radian car seat folded underneath... I like to keep a spare car seat handy at all times).

 

[karlatta]

Congratulations! I thought I had it rough with my 4 under 4, so I can't imagine twins and then triplets!

I'd go for a 2004-2010 Toyota Sienna. For now, you'd be able to put all 3 babies in buckets in the 2nd row, no problem (it's can be difficult to get an infant seat into the 3rd row without feeling like you're throwing the kid across the car). I have a 06 Sienna and have two double strollers in my trunk area. I think you'll find the sliding doors and lower entry to be really helpful with so many small ones (especially once they are all at the point where they're climbing into the car themselves).

But I don't know that it really makes sense to replace a current, new minivan with a different minivan. If you didn't have a minivan at all, I'd say absolutely Sienna 8 passenger. But since you have one, maybe just keep it and get new seats. Although I don't know what else will work well with 3 buckets.

I'd also keep the twins RF in their Marathons.

 

[TXDani]

Congrats!!

I agree with the other posters that a minivan is probably your best bet. I see you mentioned a Suburban or Denali and those cars are really better for families with older kids who can climb in and buckle themselves. I have a Yukon XL Denali and while I love it...if I had two babies and three little ones I would be switching it out for a minivan ASAP.

 

[caritas]

Congratulations!

You have received some great suggestions here. I completely agree with infant bucket seats... completely loading and unloading 5 infant/toddlers is not my idea of fun (and I have done it many times). I do agree - you will more than likely need a bucket seat that has a low harness slot (much lower than the Snugride 22 can offer).

Are you going to have a Triple Decker stroller. If so, check out the compatible Evenflo seats but be aware that the handle on them must be in the down position and with 1" clearance between the infant seat and front passenger seats. Also, they are rated from 5+ lbs.

There is a new infant seat called the Graco Snugride 30 and it has a preemie setting and is rated from 4lbs. It will fit the triplets much better and last until 30lbs (vs 22lbs) or when there is only 1" shell above their head. I'd call Triple Decker and ask if they have checked into compatibility yet. The Snugride 30 is extremely new - you might have to advise them to go to a Babies R Us and try it out of the travel system it is currently sold in (they will sell soon without the travel system).

The Chicco Keyfit, Britax Chaperone and OnBoard 35 (4lb rating version) are also highly recommended for small infants - but are not compatible in the triple decker. Keyfit is compatible in the Baby Trend Snap n Go.

And Combi Shuttle 33

 

[An Aurora]

And Combi Shuttle 33

I seem to remember the Shuttle 33 as having pretty high bottom slots, which wouldn't work with many preemies.

 

[soygurl]

I seem to remember the Shuttle 33 as having pretty high bottom slots, which wouldn't work with many preemies.

I know the Shuttle 33 is rated from birth, and I'm pretty sure I've read it has low slots and/or fits tiny babies well... I'll try to figure out where I read that to make sure.

ETA: Never mind... you're right. Even though it is rated from birth, with no min weight, it has very high bottom harness slots.

 

[An Aurora]

Yes I was very disappointed to hear that I love the Combi infant seats and had high hopes for the Shuttle 33.

 

[Emi DoTO]

This is the only forum I've found helpful as I have 2 toddlers (forward facing in Chicco Nextfit Air's age 2 and 4) and I'm due with twins in the early spring. I live in Vermont so I need something with 4 wheel drive! Anyone out there have updates to this? . Thanks in advance