{31 Days} Preparing for Baby # 3 – Going from 2 car seats to 3!
Welcome to my {31 Days} series this year! We will soon be welcoming baby # 3 and I realized that there is a lot I need to do before that happens! You can find all the posts in this series here. Thank you for following along with me.
When we first found out we were expecting our third child,
we were obviously excited. But, closely
followed our second thought – how are we going to fit three car seats in the
back of our car?!
I never really considered the difficulty until after we knew
were pregnant. You see, we have a Toyota
Yaris. I love that car, it gets amazing
gas mileage and works really well for us.
But, it seems like we were doomed when it came to three car seats in the
back.
were pregnant. You see, we have a Toyota
Yaris. I love that car, it gets amazing
gas mileage and works really well for us.
But, it seems like we were doomed when it came to three car seats in the
back.
We had a couple of options, get a new car or buy new car
seats. Neither option was what we really
wanted to do. We are a one car family,
and like it that way. However, having
three children is going to pose a challenge in getting our entire family to one
location together…ever.
seats. Neither option was what we really
wanted to do. We are a one car family,
and like it that way. However, having
three children is going to pose a challenge in getting our entire family to one
location together…ever.
At first we were prepared to join the legions of other
parents who succumb to buying a minivan.
I actually don’t mind minivans at all.
They seem pretty practical to me, and get better gas mileage than SUV’s
most of the time. I’m happy to report we
were not impulsive, and instead decided to get our oldest into a high back
booster seat. A much more frugal option
and we are all about frugal at the moment, especially going from two children
to three!
parents who succumb to buying a minivan.
I actually don’t mind minivans at all.
They seem pretty practical to me, and get better gas mileage than SUV’s
most of the time. I’m happy to report we
were not impulsive, and instead decided to get our oldest into a high back
booster seat. A much more frugal option
and we are all about frugal at the moment, especially going from two children
to three!
We do have another car option available. My wonderful mother is allowing us to use her
car when we need to. And those three car
seats? They fit into her backseat. They would fit into our Yaris as well, but it
is a little too tight for my liking.
car when we need to. And those three car
seats? They fit into her backseat. They would fit into our Yaris as well, but it
is a little too tight for my liking.
This is going to work for us for the time being, but we
definitely will need a new option next year!
I am happy that we are used to having only one car, which means we
generally are home during the week, and able to forego car trips. And let’s be honest, I don’t expect that I am
going to load three littles in the car and go out for the day…especially not in
the winter!
definitely will need a new option next year!
I am happy that we are used to having only one car, which means we
generally are home during the week, and able to forego car trips. And let’s be honest, I don’t expect that I am
going to load three littles in the car and go out for the day…especially not in
the winter!
Have you ever had to
make a new car purchase because you added another child? How did you come to your decision?
make a new car purchase because you added another child? How did you come to your decision?
When my husband's 95 lumina finally bit the dust earlier this year we decided it was finally time for a minivan. Honestly, I really wanted an AWD station wagon instead, but my husband really wanted the minivan. We ended up with a older, low mileage Honda Odyssey. I'm still not sure how we'll do 3 car seats when we have our next one. I'd like them three across in the middle, but it isn't super easy. I really hesitate to stick one kid in the way back. Fortunately we have some time to figure it out.
With the exception of about 3 years, we've always been a 1 car family, too. When my 2nd was born, we had a tiny 2-door Hyundai Accent. She was a preemie so before she came home the hospital did a car seat test–which she failed. In other words, she couldn't sit in a normal car seat without having major medical issues. For babies like this, they have things called car beds that look kind of like a bassinet and can buckle into the back seat allowing the baby to lay down instead of sit up. Our tiny back seat couldn't fit 2 car seats in it. Thankfully, I have a wonderful mother who was willing to trade cars with us for a month. A good supportive family makes all the difference in the world. I'm glad you have one too.
When I had Sydney we got rid of my 1996 Golf (this was 2008) it was basically a safety concern and opted for a more suitable family car. Looks like you may go the mini route before long and that means driving in comfort!!! 🙂 sounds like you have a good solution for now!