The day has finally come… it’s time to say goodbye to three across in our family vehicle.

With Baby #4 finally here, Tyler and I wanted to figure out the car seat set-up in our Ford Expedition weeks before I gave birth. After making three across a part of my identity for the past 18 months, I finally have to make a change. This is the first time EVER I will consistently be using the third row to haul all four of my kids around for our daily life.

This means less trunk space and a little more creativity for car seat installation, but it was important to me to share with the Carpoolers what it looks like in real life to try and navigate a growing family when it comes to the car seat setup.

Without any further introduction, let’s dive in and break down all my ideas to set up my family’s Ford Expedition! This is a change I’ve been anticipating (and talking about) for months, so it felt only right to share it.

Let’s Take A Step Back… What Family Car Do I Drive?

Before we dive into the car seat setup, let’s talk about the family car I plan to haul all my kids around in. This is by far the number one question I get asked in my comments and during my family car consultations. The answer is… I drive a 2023 Ford Expedition Max.

Previously, I drove and loved my 2022 Ford Expedition, but I decided to get the extended wheelbase version for more room on the back half since the third row will always be up. While I'm not thrilled about losing trunk space, this does give me more room.

If you’re curious to learn more about wheelbase sizes, check out my post - Regular vs. Extended Wheelbases: Which Size Vehicle Is Right For Your Family?

Why I Love My Ford Expedition For Car Seat Setup

There are two specific reasons I wanted to mention why I love the Ford Expedition so much when it comes to fitting a family in the second and third rows: bench size and LATCH installation.

With so many cars, the LATCH installation is only available on the second row, which would make it impossible for me to install my favorite car seat for Hattie in the spot where I plan to have her sitting in. The Ford Expedition has LATCH in the third row, so I’m able to be flexible with my car seat options.

Second, the bench seat in both the second and third row is made up of three individual seats (instead of a 60/40 bench). This makes it SO EASY for a car seat setup to grow with your family as it can manage pretty much any car seat installation without fuss.

Kelly, Why Set Up All The Car Seats Before Baby #4 Was Born?

I wanted to have the whole family adjust to this new transition (myself included).

With the third row up all the time, it will be a new way of driving for the whole family. Since two of my kids are going in the back, I wanted them to adjust and practice with this change before Baby #4 was born so they were comfortable with the setup.

Also, I needed time to adjust to the lack of trunk space and pack things better.

That being said, do not install your newborn’s car seat until closer to your due date. In the event of a collision, any car seat in your car will need to be replaced. I’d recommend three weeks out, but I’ve also installed them in the hospital parking lot.

My Previous Car Seat Setup For Three Kids

Everything about my previous car seat setup with three kids was easy. I had all three in the second row and with the Expedition’s excellent second-row bench, I could test out a ton of car seat combinations with zero issues.

For a little background, this previous setup used two forward-facing car seats and one rear-facing car seat. Tyler and I both loved having three across in the second row and it worked great.

My New Car Seat Setup Priorities

When it comes to moving from three across into the third row, here is my priorities list to ensure the entire family will be happy with the new setup:

Third-row access
Keeping my older two kids together
Making sure no child feels left out in the third row
Potential for me to sit in the second row with Baby #4

While my priority list isn’t too long, I want to point out, that for a lot of families, this can be difficult to achieve in their current vehicle. For this reason, I HIGHLY recommend using my Family Planning Guide to help purchase a family car that can grow with you. Forecasting your family isn’t a foolproof method, but it does help show your priorities easier.

My Car Seat Choice For Each Kid

Before I dive into the specific reasons I chose each seat for my kids, I wanted to give an overview of what seat each one is sitting in:

George (my oldest): Graco SlimFit 3LX
Hattie (my second): Clek Foonf
Fred (my third): Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim
Baby #4: Nuna Pipa

My New Car Seat Setup For Four Kids

Starting off in the third row left outboard seat, we are installing a Graco SlimFit 3LX for George. This is one of my favorite car seats because it’s very slim and works well with a non-removable headrest (which the Ford Expedition is infamous for). Most importantly, it’s great for tall kids like George since he’s grown out of several forward-facing car seats already.

Moving to the third row right outboard seat, we are installing the Clek Foonf for Hattie. This is one of my favorite forward-facing car seats, but it can be difficult to install in some cars because it’s heavy and uses a rigid latch. In a lot of cars, there are no LATCH install spots in the third row, so if I didn’t have a Ford Expedition Hattie would not be able to sit in the third row. Instead, I’d have to completely redo my installation strategy which would not be ideal for any of my kids.

Now that the third row and forward-facing seats are installed, I’m moving into the second row with rear-facing car seats. My third, Fred, will be using the Evenflo Revolve 360 Slim, which is one of my favorite rotating car seats. Since Fred is under the weight limit (make sure to read your manual for the best way to install car seats), we installed this car seat with LATCH on the left outboard seat.

Finally, Baby #4’s car seat (the Nuna Pipa) is going to be installed in the second-row middle seat when the time comes closer to her due date. It’s important not to install a car seat too early before your due date, just in case you get into a collision and then have to replace the seat. Why the middle seat you may ask? I want to have the right outboard seat open for third-row access and a seat available for me to sit in and ride in the back with Baby #4.

Saying Goodbye To Three Across

While I loved making three car seats across in the second row a part of my personality and The Car Mom brand, I’m looking forward to this new third-row-up era. It’s going to be a huge transition for the entire family, but I’m relieved to get this checked off my to-do list and have a ton of time to get used to this new setup.

Do you have any questions about how to set up your car for four kids? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with all the latest when it comes to car tips for families, check out my recent posts:

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