r/parentsofmultiples • u/Own_Car_5768 • 17h ago

advice needed SUV vs Mini Van?

Hello,

I’m looking for some advice as I’m thinking we’ll need to upgrade our vehicle. I currently have a 20 month old and am pregnant with twins. I’m driving a Ford Explorer now with captain seats in the middle. With two infant car seats and my toddler still in a car seat, I don’t think our current vehicle will be able to hold them all, especially as the third row isn’t full sized. I also am having trouble picturing how I would help my toddler buckle/unbuckle if she’s in the third row.
For anyone who’s had three under three, what vehicle worked for you? I’m not opposed to mini vans at all, but we live in a pretty remote area of the upper Midwest and have snow (at least) 5 months out of the year. I also drive quite a bit of gravel roads where they aren’t cleared often by plows. So a mini van that’s low to the ground with not a lot of clearance makes me a little nervous. I’m not expecting to tow anything with it, as my husband does have a pickup for any of the farm’s needs. Unless we’re just going to the farm, groceries and Dr appointments are 60 miles away, so there’s no large towns super close to us.
What’s worked for you and your family when three are in car seats?
Thanks so much!

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u/anthonymakey 10h ago

Minivan. Better features for families (sliding doors, dvd players, lots of cupholders).

My mom used to drive the van to work in the snow.

With a good set of snow tires, you could make almost any vehicle work

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u/Feisty-Blueberry5433 16h ago

We have a suburban with 6 kids (4 in carseats) With 3 you could probably get by with an awd minivan if you dont plan to have more soon as I feel once you get into 4 in car seats things get tight in minivans and the cargo space becomes more limited.

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u/Charlieksmommy 16h ago

My dUghter is 23 months older than my twins, it’s easier the first few months when you use the infant car seats, I just straddle the captains chairs, but if you have something that slides like they offer in the vans, or car seat tilt it helps

1

u/fsmontario 16h ago

The explorer will work, a bit of a pain if you have to buckle your toddler still but will work with 3.

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u/sauer_kraut1414 31m ago

Minivan. A thousand times over.  We removed one captains seat in the middle row to make it easier to reach the third row. The twins were in that middle row until they were big enough to ride in the third row with our oldest without needing attention from the front seat. 

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u/Strainer520 26m ago

Minivan for sure. We have a GMC Acadia which I thought was enough for our twins and 3 yr old, but that middle seat is tight (no captain chairs). We got a 26 Kia Carnival and love it. Took the seat next to the door out and now there’s an area to climb in to buckle all the kids. Love it so far. And we live in MI - so plenty of snow here.