Advice on cars that are well-suited for infant twins duty

Hi all,

My wife and I are expecting twins (one boy and one girl) later this year. We're both first time parents and are currently shopping for a SUV for baby duty (unfortunately a minivan won't work because we need it to tow stuff on occasion).

We've narrowed down the list to several choices and wanted to run them by you folks here to see if perhaps any of you own the same vehicle, or have any experience with them, and can offer feedback as to what may or may not work for twins. My wife would like to be able to fit two carseats in the back seat and still be able to sit in the middle seat herself to tend to the kids. We also need to be able to fit a twin stroller in the trunk but I assume that won't be a problem. We don't take many road trips so this vehicle will be used mostly for short trips in town.

Our choices are:

2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
2006 BMW X5 4.4i
2006 Porsche Cayenne S
2006 Acura MDX
2008 Toyota 4Runner Limited

I figure the trim levels don't impact interior space but included them just in case. The model years are only rough estimates based on our budget, if there are certain model years of a car that would work better than others, we're flexible, so by all means please let us know. If there are certain cars in this list that just flat out won't work (for instance if they have strange seat belt arrangements or something like that), then that would be valuable information as well.

Any insights into which cars may be better suited for our upcoming pair of babies would be much appreciated. Cheers!

 

P.S.
This is my first time posting here, so hopefully I've posted my question in the right place. If I've goofed up at all, please forgive me, and any advice on how to better behave myself and where to post would be much appreciated.

 

I would think any of those would work well for what you want it to do. Obviously you will need something with good torque if you will be towing with it but space wise, any of the ones on your list will do. I have an Expedition but we chose that because we had 2 older kids and needed something with a third row seat. The drawback to the Exp is that there is not much trunk space BUT you can remove the third row seat altogether to gain the needed room.

Congratulations on your B/G twins, they are a BLAST!!! Welcome to TS.

 

I'm not familiar with many of those - we drive a Ford Excursion because we haul large trailers.

My biggest suggestion would be to take the car seats with you (even better would be the convertibles they'll go into after the bucket car seats) and physically try them in the vehicles. Then you'll know for sure. Every car seat installs differently. I've had mine installed in a flash in my truck, yet its a struggle in my parents (F150)

 

LOL My hubby loved that post. We too are in the same boat...er car situation.

We really would love to know what folks recommend. With twin boys on the way I need to get rid of my tiny little car and into something with good seating, storage, and we've considered even 4 wheel drive possibly.

 

We are looking to sell our Ford Explorer 2005 with 36000 miles, it is only a V6 so I am not sure about towing. This is a great SUV, but we are going to need something that will hold three carseats and the double or triple stroller. My little one is 20 months. Anyway we are in Atlanta if anyone is interested and would like more details please feel free to email me.

 

Haha thanks guys, yeah getting ready for the twins to arrive is certainly an experience. Lots of stuff to consider that had never crossed my mind before

It looks like car seats are a field of study all by themselves, so maybe I'll have a look at which car seats we're planning on buying first. This is probably going to be a very "unprepared dad" kind of comment, but I wasn't even aware that the kids would need different seats for different stages of life, that there were so many different configurations of seats available, etc. On the flip side it's good to hear that the choices I've listed *should* work.

Thanks for the input! Cheers

 

We had an 07 4Runner when the boys were born, but a week after we brought them home we traded it for a Tahoe. I couldn't sit between the two car seats in the back. The back seat is too narrow. My Tahoe second row fits both car seat (even the big convertible ones) and an adult. Plus it has a third row if we need it. The only downfall is if people are sitting in the third row there is no cargo space (as with most SUVs). I suggested a Suburban to my husband when we were looking at the Tahoe,but he insisted we didn't need all the space. Guess what he wants now... a Suburban. HTH. Best wishes!!!

 

We are looking at the Honda Pilot, but we also have another child. good luck

 

As I was reading the early pp, I was thinking that probably none of the SUVs you listed would accommodate two infant car seats and a normal-sized adult in the second seat. Those car seats are huge when they are attached to the bases, and I'm not sure the middle seatbelt would be easy to use with the carseats installed. I think you want to look at full-sized SUVs, like the Tahoe and Suburban. Beware of the Suburban though. They won't fit in a lot of normal-sized garages.

 

I am keeping my Honda CR-V for now. Maybe have to convert to something bigger down the road but with just twins I "should" be ok!

Double Vision - I went between the CRV and the Pilot for a while. The only difference is the Pilot is bigger as far as height and that sort of thing. If you keep the 3rd row seating in, theres NO storage at all! Just a bit I discovered while trying to make up my mind

 

I agree with PP that you might consider looking at full sized SUVS...mainly because if you DO decide to have a third child, you'll end up needing to upgrade at that point...and I don't know about you guys, but DH and I don't like buying new cars every few years!

I know that the Toyota Landcruiser and the Toyota Sequoia fit three Britax Convertible seats in a row...and remember that kids have to be in a carseat for a LONG time...so unless you plan on no other children, or waitng 7 years for a third, you WILL have three carseats!!! The good thing about car seat laws is that they keep your kids safe...the bad thing is that you have to drive a huge gas guzzler...especially when you have twins!

 

We traded in my 2 dr Honda Accord when the girls were a month old (*sniff, sniff* I still miss her!) for an '06 Ford Explorer with third row seating that folds down. That's worked out really well for us.

I was able to fit between the infant carriers and even now if I need to, between the convertible seats. It's not comfortable, but I can do it. I'm on the thinner side though, tall, but thin.

One of the best things about our third row seating (and they may all be this way, I don't know DH did most of the research for the new car...I was in denial ) it's a 60/40 split. I don't have to have both third row seats up at the same time. So we were able to have two other adults plus the girls plus our gear needed when we went bombing around showing our friends from Ontario around.

 

QUOTE(Double Vision @ May 21 2009, 08:42 PM) [snapback]1323934[/snapback]
We are looking at the Honda Pilot, but we also have another child. good luck


We were just looking at the Honda Pilot too- we loved it! Unfortunately the dealership wasnt willing to work with us (that was our 1st choice) They arent offereing any incentives, discounts or special financing right now either so we had to walk away. We ended up buying the new Ford FLEX and we absolutely LOVE IT!!!!! Im actually glad the honda didnt work out.

As to the OP, I think you should also consider cars that can accomodate more than just you, wife and twins.
We are having an oops suprise pregnancy so baby #3 is on the way. We dont travel often but we do have company periodically and its really nice to be able to ride together. I have heard excellent things though about the acura.

 

I would think a bit further down the road. I think whether the infant seats will fit is a worry for only the first few months.
The infant seats are fairly small. But will full size convertible seats fit rear-facing? Will the driver have enough room after moving the seat forward so that it doesn't touch the seat? How tall are you and your wife? Will she be able to lift - not just once, but multiple times a day for months - an infant seat with 17 lb baby into the SUV? What about a 25-30 lb toddler several times a day for years? Will she be able to lift the toddler up and into the seat? It's probably not a big deal if she's tall, but it may be a deal breaker if she's short.

My guys are skinny little things, I'm in good shape, and it got hard for me to lift them in and out of a sedan. Sure, a larger toddler can pull him/herself up, but they usually grip the installed car seat to do so, which undermines the seat installation that you killed your back to do. And don't forget having to lift a kicking, screaming, in the throes of a tantrum toddler/preschooler into a car seat in an SUV - then hold them in place while you wrestle to get the straps on. :lol: I wouldn't have been able to do it with an SUV.

Do you need the towing power often or could you buy a "family" vehicle and rent the SUV as needed? You may just find that you don't have the time or energy for the activities that you enjoyed pre-babies.

 

QUOTE(Mellizos @ May 23 2009, 09:18 AM) [snapback]1325627[/snapback]
I would think a bit further down the road. I think whether the infant seats will fit is a worry for only the first few months.
The infant seats are fairly small. But will full size convertible seats fit rear-facing? Will the driver have enough room after moving the seat forward so that it doesn't touch the seat? How tall are you and your wife? Will she be able to lift - not just once, but multiple times a day for months - an infant seat with 17 lb baby into the SUV? What about a 25-30 lb toddler several times a day for years? Will she be able to lift the toddler up and into the seat? It's probably not a big deal if she's tall, but it may be a deal breaker if she's short.

My guys are skinny little things, I'm in good shape, and it got hard for me to lift them in and out of a sedan. Sure, a larger toddler can pull him/herself up, but they usually grip the installed car seat to do so, which undermines the seat installation that you killed your back to do. And don't forget having to lift a kicking, screaming, in the throes of a tantrum toddler/preschooler into a car seat in an SUV - then hold them in place while you wrestle to get the straps on. :lol: I wouldn't have been able to do it with an SUV.

Do you need the towing power often or could you buy a "family" vehicle and rent the SUV as needed? You may just find that you don't have the time or energy for the activities that you enjoyed pre-babies.


Do both of you happen to need new cars? You could do a mini van for your wife and by next summer you could get yourself a towing rig? This post reminded me about putting a kid behind the driver and if it would work...my DH is 6'3" and we wouldn't have been able to put a carseat behind his seat if he were driving in his old truck. Like I said before, you really might want to consider a bigger SUV or a mini van. None of the vehicles you listed seem to be practical from a long term perspective. It would be totally fine if you don't ever plan on more children, but if you do, it will be obsolete and you'll be in this same "boat" again...

And I wouldn't worry too much about the pre-baby stuff...you might not want to do things like camping and boating that first year, but you will get back into it if you are determined and patient. So don't freak out. There are people who give up their pre-baby life, and then there are people who don't...they just know that it will take longer, be more work, and have a whole different feel...but still worth it if you love it.

 

As we are moving back to the States, husband and I will need two cars and we've decided on the TAHOE and the LEXUS RX360 (the small SUV -- whatever that number is). TAHOE will be hubby's car and the LEXUS will be mine. I'm a little person and I wouldnt be comfortable driving a big giant car. I know that the LEXUS may not be big enough to hold much more than the two carseats in the long run, but I figure one fullsize SUV between us is more than adequate. I also like the LEXUS cause it has some extras like the 360 degree cameras, warning backup, etc. and it is a consumer reports recommended buy for safety, etc. in its class. Those are some other factors that you may want to look at.

 

A friend of mine had 5 kids with 3 in carseats or booster seats so he bought the Expedition (and have since had a 6th kid).

I have the 2007 Grand Cherokee Laredo and have not had a carseat in it (yet) but I agree with a couple of the other posts:
1. there is not a lot of room behind the drivers seat when a tall person is driving
2. I put 3 kids (neices and nephews) in the backseat with 2 in boosters ok, but before you spend $15 or $20K on a vehicle, buy the carseats and try it out with an adult.

 

I am not sure if you consider the american car but check out GMC Acadia I read a good review on it with twins. Another cars - audiQ7 or Lexus 350Rx
we end up with minivan because we do have son 3yo and expecting our twins in the last day of June.

 

We looked at SUVs when we bought our "new" used minivan. The problem we had was the doors didn't open very wide so it was hard to get the infant seats in and out. I guess I am trying to say, like the others buy carseats first and try them out, not only if they will fit, but if you will have a hard time getting them in and out, and remember that the carseat may seem light, but you will be adding weight to it when you add a baby. Also, make sure you don't have to tilt it too far up when putting it in and out b/c a newborn doesn't have any head control. Good Luck!