[Balderic]

My wife and I are pregnant with our third child. When he/she arrives in December, we will have a just turned five year old, a 20 month old, and a newborn. We currently have Diono Radian car seats. So, the proposed setup is two rear facing radians in the second row and the forward facing in the third row.
My wife drives a 2016 Honda Pilot and we currently have a rear facing seat behind the driver's seat and the forward facing in the center. The radians (as anyone that has them knows), back is very tall. As far as our Honda Pilot goes, it is technically possible to have three radian car seats in it, but if two are rear facing it is practically impossible to get to the middle car seat. The kid has to crawl on his hands and knees to the center section. I guess we would have to get in the front seat and strap him in by turning around on our knees.
So, my question is, how accessible would the third row be in the Pacifica with two rear facing Radians with the stow and go seats. The Odyssey's magic seats look really intriguing, being able to push the seat to the middle to access the third row. Anyone in my boat that can help me out? Thanks.

 

[Red MC]

You could keep the 40% side of the 3rd row folded down into the cargo well so the older child can enter from the rear.

If you opt for a 7 passenger model, or remove the center seat, the older child could maybe crawl under the back of one of the rear facing car seats and then squeeze through the middle. But the tether might get in the way of that.

 

[Balderic]

You could keep the 40% side of the 3rd row folded down into the cargo well so the older child can enter from the rear.

If you opt for a 7 passenger model, or remove the center seat, the older child could maybe crawl under the back of one of the rear facing car seats and then squeeze through the middle. But the tether might get in the way of that.

Well, with the pilot our son would have to crawl under the seats to get to his middle seat. We would have to get in the front seat and turn around on our knees to strap him in.

My concern with the Pacifica is that even if he was able to get in from the back how would we be able to strap him in. He is in the second percentile (38" tall 29 lbs) and can't really fasten himself in.

So, in addition to him being able to easily get into the third row, we need to be able to get back to him at least enough to strap him in.

 

[Red MC]

Do you have the infant seat you're going to use? If so, here is something to try at a dealer. Find an 8 passenger model, stow one of the second row seats, install one of the convertible car seats rear facing in the second row on the other side, and install the infant seat base in the center seat using the lower latch anchors. If you can then install and remove the infant seat without interference from the convertible seat next to it, you're good to go.

Your success will be dependent on the width of the seats. With the Britax seats we have, it doesn't look promising, but the Diono Radian is a surprising 3.5" narrower than the Britax Marathon Clicktight we have. So I think your odds are good.

If that doesn't work, you could follow your older child in through the rear liftgate to buckle him in. I'll admit that's not very convenient though.

You could also put the 20 month old rear facing in the 3rd row. That way you could gain entry to the 3rd row by passing in front of the forward facing car sear and through the middle (no center), and sit on the 3rd row seat while you buckle him/her in.

 

[JPhi]

We currently have a newborn in the second row passenger seat, have the driver second row stored and have a 5yo and 3.5 yo in the third row (front facing).

The stowed driver side seat provides plenty of room for us to buckle in the 3.5 if the 5yo can't or won't do it and also a good place to drop groceries, diaper bags etc if we don't want to open the back.

Your rear facing could be in the third row driver side. There'd be enough room to get in and buckle. Just another option....

 

[tsax6010]

Is one of your children that are rear facing old enough to climb in the 3rd row and get up in the seat themselves? I have a 2yr old rear facing that actually gets mad if we try and lift her into the car seat - she insists on climbing herself every time now. If so, putting the forward facing Diono in the second row would allow full tilt of the van's seat for easy 3rd row adult access to sit down and buckle up the 3rd kid. Otherwise, like @JPhi says, putting 2 of the seats in the 3rd row with 1 2nd row seat stowed is a good idea.

 

[Balderic]

We currently have a newborn in the second row passenger seat, have the driver second row stored and have a 5yo and 3.5 yo in the third row (front facing).

The stowed driver side seat provides plenty of room for us to buckle in the 3.5 if the 5yo can't or won't do it and also a good place to drop groceries, diaper bags etc if we don't want to open the back.

Your rear facing could be in the third row driver side. There'd be enough room to get in and buckle. Just another option....

Two kids in the third row might actually be a great solution. I guess I will just have to lug the car seats out to the Chrysler and Honda dealerships and give them a try.

 

[JPhi]

Two kids in the third row might actually be a great solution. I guess I will just have to lug the car seats out to the Chrysler and Honda dealerships and give them a try.

I've posted this link before and it's a great resource for any car: http://thecarseatlady.com/chrysler-pacifica/

Great reviews and info for several arrangements per car.

 

[Wendygirl]

Chrysler, Honda and Toyota all let us take vans for a 24 hour demo. It was great to test each out in our normal environment with a narrow garage and multiple carseats. We have a large Britax for a three year old and a Graco base with carrier for an eight month old. The second row seats tilt forward enough with both to access the third row. My son's Britax has to be used with the seatbelt now and you wouldn't want to unbuckle it just to access third row. If we still used Latch, we would do that. I like all the options!

 

[Geustice22]

I have a forward facing 3.5 year old and rear facing 2 year old (both in Diono Radians) and a 6 month old in an infant seat (eventually in another Radian).

We have found that it's best to have the rear facing 2 year old behind the driver's seat with an angle adjuster. The infant is in the middle of the second row. We have the passenger side second row stored, as well as the 60% seat in the 3rd row. The forward facing 3.5 year old is in the 40% seat in the 3rd row.

We like this because we can easily pop the baby into her base and then quick reach back and buckle in the 3.5 year old, all from the passenger side. Then we just have to go around and buckle in the 2 year old in her rear facing seat on the driver's side and get in and go! It also gives a ton of storage room for strollers and stuff with the 60% seat down and my son in the 3rd row really likes being able to see everything because the seat in front of him is down. Also, it's nice to keep the 2 toddlers away from each other

 

[Feenom]

My strategy for the third row car seat has been to keep most of the third row stowed by default and just step in though the trunk. Granted I'm tall so this is easy. But I found it personally easier than when I had a car seat in the middle of the second row.

 

[Davidroger]

i had a convertible car seat with my first child at first i had no idea about them i faced an accident with the first one my baby just bumped out of it while a road shock but thank god he didn't feel down he came onto the car seat, anyway after that we bought a smaller convertible car seat which by 8-9th month he was bigger for the one nd than we had to gave it away and buy a new one. I would suggest you to search first of all for the good quality convertible car seats and then go for it because the safety of your kid comes first. now my son is 5 years old I think the masersti car seat will for great for a 1 yr. old and looks sweet

 

[savmcal]

Ok I have the pachy limited. I have 3yr twins and a 1yr little girl all in dionos. I have found the twins on the 3rd row with wireless headphones was the best option. They can still see everything and can almost buckle them selves in. Until then I just slide the empty 2nd row seat forward to buckle up! Then baby girl is in the passenger left side captain seat. Has worked out well for us

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