Comments on: Having twins doesn’t mean you have to buy a minivan http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/ Moms of Multiples Tell it Like it Is Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:03:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: stacey http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-41437 stacey Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:59:57 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-41437 Ive driven my mini cooper ever since my twins were born! theyre three now and things are finally starting to get a little too tight. Time to car shop! Ive driven my mini cooper ever since my twins were born! theyre three now and things are finally starting to get a little too tight. Time to car shop!

]]> By: Jenna http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-36805 Jenna Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:28:17 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-36805 Courtney, Congratulations and welcome to the blog! We have a 2006 Camry. We looked at an 07, but the backseat space a few inches smaller. That's why went with the 06. I think you should be able to fit three seats. We put our 2.5 year old son on the driver's side for a few reasons: (1) it was easier to reach in to buckle him than it would have been if he was in the middle, (2) he could climb in and out by himself, and (3) he was the child who went on trips by himself most often. We couldn't easily fit the infant seats behind the driver's seat because the seat had to be moved forward. It wasn't comfortable for my husband to drive that far forward. We fit 2 Graco infant seats (the standard size not the bigger size) and a forward facing seat. I don't remember the brand we originally had for our son. We eventually bought him a Radian cart seat, which we paired with 2 rear facing Radians for the girls. Now they are all in forward facing Radians. The fit right now is tight. The seats were easier to put in with 2 rear facing. We are thinking about a booster for our son who is now 5 but I'm not sure how easy it will be to fit in a full back booster. I'm hoping we can put that off at least until the spring or summer. If you want to see pictures, or you have more questions, you can email me at hdydiblog AT gmail DOT com Courtney,

Congratulations and welcome to the blog! We have a 2006 Camry. We looked at an 07, but the backseat space a few inches smaller. That’s why went with the 06. I think you should be able to fit three seats. We put our 2.5 year old son on the driver’s side for a few reasons: (1) it was easier to reach in to buckle him than it would have been if he was in the middle, (2) he could climb in and out by himself, and (3) he was the child who went on trips by himself most often. We couldn’t easily fit the infant seats behind the driver’s seat because the seat had to be moved forward. It wasn’t comfortable for my husband to drive that far forward. We fit 2 Graco infant seats (the standard size not the bigger size) and a forward facing seat. I don’t remember the brand we originally had for our son. We eventually bought him a Radian cart seat, which we paired with 2 rear facing Radians for the girls. Now they are all in forward facing Radians. The fit right now is tight. The seats were easier to put in with 2 rear facing. We are thinking about a booster for our son who is now 5 but I’m not sure how easy it will be to fit in a full back booster. I’m hoping we can put that off at least until the spring or summer. If you want to see pictures, or you have more questions, you can email me at hdydiblog AT gmail DOT com

]]> By: Sadia http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-36730 Sadia Sun, 13 Nov 2011 03:36:49 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-36730 Courtney, I don't know the answer to your question, but I think that Jenna's technique above might be useful to you. Borrow carseats from neighbours, or even go to your local Babies R Us and see what fits in your car! Courtney, I don’t know the answer to your question, but I think that Jenna’s technique above might be useful to you. Borrow carseats from neighbours, or even go to your local Babies R Us and see what fits in your car!

]]> By: Courtney http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-36714 Courtney Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:38:10 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-36714 4 weeks ago hubby and I found out we were being blessed with twins. We already have a 3 year old in a front facing seat. We have a 2009 Toyota Camry and need to fit 3 car seats in the back. For obvious reasons we would really prefer to have 2 infant carriers since it's so much easier to transport the babies in the early months. Does anyone know if this is possible? I'm sure it would take putting our 3 year old in the middle and the twins on either end. A mini-van isn't really an option right now since my car is so new. Any advice? 4 weeks ago hubby and I found out we were being blessed with twins. We already have a 3 year old in a front facing seat. We have a 2009 Toyota Camry and need to fit 3 car seats in the back. For obvious reasons we would really prefer to have 2 infant carriers since it’s so much easier to transport the babies in the early months. Does anyone know if this is possible? I’m sure it would take putting our 3 year old in the middle and the twins on either end. A mini-van isn’t really an option right now since my car is so new. Any advice?

]]> By: leah http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-7582 leah Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:30:59 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-7582 When we found out we were expecting twins, we were still driving a 1999 Ford F-150 and a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We knew one vehicle needed to be traded up. We traded the truck in for a 2008 Ford F-250. I switch back and forth between that and the Jeep. We are having another baby in May, and I cannot fit two Britax Roundabouts and one Graco Snugride in the backseat of the Jeep. It would be a booger to get the infant seat snapped in and out of the middle and it would take moving or wiggling otherwise immovable Roundabouts. I guess the F-250 diesel is going to be my new family vehicle, as all three seats fit nicely in the back seat. I don't want to add another car payment on top of the hefty truck payment, so it'll have to do. When we found out we were expecting twins, we were still driving a 1999 Ford F-150 and a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We knew one vehicle needed to be traded up. We traded the truck in for a 2008 Ford F-250. I switch back and forth between that and the Jeep. We are having another baby in May, and I cannot fit two Britax Roundabouts and one Graco Snugride in the backseat of the Jeep. It would be a booger to get the infant seat snapped in and out of the middle and it would take moving or wiggling otherwise immovable Roundabouts. I guess the F-250 diesel is going to be my new family vehicle, as all three seats fit nicely in the back seat. I don’t want to add another car payment on top of the hefty truck payment, so it’ll have to do.

]]> By: Ellen K. http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-7388 Ellen K. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:01:25 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-7388 I have a PT Cruiser (seats 4 adults) and DH has a Pontiac Vibe (seats 5 adults). Both have been adequate for our family with 13mo twins, plus one medium-sized dog, and the cars have been paid off for several years, which is pretty important considering the crazy bills incurred by IVF and a twin pregnancy/delivery on a high-deductible health plan. We don't take many road trips, but when we do, we use a rooftop carrier. I'm not sure if we'll ever get a minivan or anything larger than a small SUV or crossover. Our house and garage were built in the 1920s, when cars were short, and it would be a huge pain to park and load/unload kids with city street parking. I have a PT Cruiser (seats 4 adults) and DH has a Pontiac Vibe (seats 5 adults). Both have been adequate for our family with 13mo twins, plus one medium-sized dog, and the cars have been paid off for several years, which is pretty important considering the crazy bills incurred by IVF and a twin pregnancy/delivery on a high-deductible health plan. We don’t take many road trips, but when we do, we use a rooftop carrier. I’m not sure if we’ll ever get a minivan or anything larger than a small SUV or crossover. Our house and garage were built in the 1920s, when cars were short, and it would be a huge pain to park and load/unload kids with city street parking.

]]> By: Rachel http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-7378 Rachel Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:52:00 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-7378 prior to the twins, we had two sedans. since my partner's car was the oldest of the two, and since she would be driving the new car the most, she firmly planted her foot down against a minivan. sure, we could have managed with two car seats in either sedan, but having twins sure made that Honda Pilot justifiable :) Having had that car for almost a year and a half now, I can honestly say that we would have NEVER managed trips to see family with just a sedan, as the SUV is chock full when we head out of town. .-= Rachel´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.motherhoodsquared.com/blog/2009/12/14/its-kind-of-a-big-deal.html" rel="nofollow">It's Kind Of A Big Deal</a> =-. prior to the twins, we had two sedans. since my partner’s car was the oldest of the two, and since she would be driving the new car the most, she firmly planted her foot down against a minivan. sure, we could have managed with two car seats in either sedan, but having twins sure made that Honda Pilot justifiable :)

Having had that car for almost a year and a half now, I can honestly say that we would have NEVER managed trips to see family with just a sedan, as the SUV is chock full when we head out of town.
.-= Rachel´s last blog ..It’s Kind Of A Big Deal =-.

]]> By: Trina http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-7369 Trina Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:59:13 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-7369 I am in love with our Dodge Duragngo. We bought it used from a family with 3 kids while I was still pregnant with the twins. The thrid row fold down seats are amazing. Folded down the Dodge can carry enough baby gear for a 10 day trip to the in-laws (although who would want to do that;) and with the seats in use we can fit 5 adults and the babies and a dsng or 2 umbrellas strollers. It is a large vehicle and is perfect for our family. I am someone who keeps cars for a while and this will definitely last us through the next several years of (hopefully) more babies, playdates and pre-school trips. Trina I am in love with our Dodge Duragngo. We bought it used from a family with 3 kids while I was still pregnant with the twins. The thrid row fold down seats are amazing. Folded down the Dodge can carry enough baby gear for a 10 day trip to the in-laws (although who would want to do that;) and with the seats in use we can fit 5 adults and the babies and a dsng or 2 umbrellas strollers. It is a large vehicle and is perfect for our family. I am someone who keeps cars for a while and this will definitely last us through the next several years of (hopefully) more babies, playdates and pre-school trips.
Trina

]]> By: Susan http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-7366 Susan Tue, 15 Dec 2009 04:31:37 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-7366 We have twins plus one too...and have a minivan. We discovered this summer that the removal of one of the middle seats works wonders for the ease of getting 3 kids in and out...plus gives us a great deal more cargo space for groceries/stollers/etc. The newer vans with the seats that fold into the floor would make this even easier....that's next on my wish list! We have twins plus one too…and have a minivan. We discovered this summer that the removal of one of the middle seats works wonders for the ease of getting 3 kids in and out…plus gives us a great deal more cargo space for groceries/stollers/etc. The newer vans with the seats that fold into the floor would make this even easier….that’s next on my wish list!

]]> By: Cindy http://www.hdydi.com/2009/12/having-twins-doesn%e2%80%99t-mean-you-have-to-buy-a-minivan/comment-page-1/#comment-7355 Cindy Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:06:56 +0000 http://www.hdydi.com/?p=3785#comment-7355 We have twin 18 m/o and a 5 year old. When the babies were born we swapped our Elantra for my mother's Taurus and that fit the infant seats and the booster perfectly. When the babies went into forward facing seats, we switched back and everyone fits great and safely, but buckling in the booster is a bit of a pain - the toddler's don't like us leaning over to get to big sis. The only problem we have is hair pulling - the girls can reach their big sis and sometimes torture her for laughs (sigh). The in line double stroller fits nicely in the trunk and I can still fit groceries from a small trip. Big shoppings we have to take the stroller out. I look forward to the day we can get a minivan because it'll be easier all around but this definitely works for now. We have twin 18 m/o and a 5 year old. When the babies were born we swapped our Elantra for my mother’s Taurus and that fit the infant seats and the booster perfectly. When the babies went into forward facing seats, we switched back and everyone fits great and safely, but buckling in the booster is a bit of a pain – the toddler’s don’t like us leaning over to get to big sis. The only problem we have is hair pulling – the girls can reach their big sis and sometimes torture her for laughs (sigh). The in line double stroller fits nicely in the trunk and I can still fit groceries from a small trip. Big shoppings we have to take the stroller out. I look forward to the day we can get a minivan because it’ll be easier all around but this definitely works for now.

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