Fiat 500 v car seat and pushchair

[Stillyummy]

I have just had my 3 month scan and I am absolutely over the moon. Now my little family is becoming a reality I have started thinking about changes I will need to make. Mostly they are easy to identify except... will I be able to keep my 500? It is the car that I share with my husband and was chosen for fuel efficiency and because it is so cool. It is only 4 years old I am loathed to part with it but I guess it may be unavoidable.
Do any mums out there have a 500 and if so can you fit in a car seat and pushchair? Also, does anyone have any recommendations for small car friendly car seats and pushchairs?
Thank you all in advance xx

[Holfin]

I had a Hyundai i10 which had a very small boot and used the Quinny Zapp Xtra and Maxi Cosi Cabriofix.

[KatoPotato]

I had a fiat 500 when I first had DS. I got a bugaboo bee which fit folded in the boot without having to remove any wheels or anything, and a cabriofix seat and easy base. I really couldn't fit anything else in though, and dragging the car seat past the door rubber each time, even with the front seat totally forward it started to wear away! It is doable, but not it you need shopping too! I got a bigger car but I miss my 500 dearly!

Congrats! My 12wk scan is tomorrow.

[wingcommandergallic]

I drive a Honda Jazz.
I once had a fiat 500 as a hire car while mine was in the garage.
yes, it's great, small, fuel efficient etc but there is no way in this world I would drive one with a family.

Our car seat did fit in the back (cyber pallas) but it was a pain getting DD in and out of the car. Not impossible, just a pain.

The boot is tiny so you would have to research pushchairs carefully.

Is this your only car and what would you do for holidays? We used to take travel system pushchair (so quite big), travel cot, small highchair, our luggage, a few toys etc and our car would be jammed full with a seat dropped flat. Eventually we bought a small stroller for holidays. This is in the Honda, by the way. Wouldn't consider anything more than a shopping trip in a fiat.

[Stillyummy]

Thank you for all your advice. I think I am going to be a bit weird and knock on my neibours, they have a young baby and I will see if I can put her car seat in my car. I have spoken to them before and they are nice so it isn't weird is it? Lol. If it seems silly then it may be Ford Focus time.

Holfin, I love the look of the max cosi and quinny.

Katopotato, best of luck with your scan, I will be thinking of you.

Xx

[funchum8am]

I have a 500 and 2yo but as it is our second car DD's car seat is in the front. It is not particularly small (Recaro but not sure of the model, sorry) but does the job fine. However if anyone else is in the car they have to sit in the back!

I have a Babyzen Yoyo pushchair which folds up small enough to go in an overhead locker on a plane, but this is because we live up a flight of stairs, so worth the cost for that reason as much as fitting it in the car.

I am having to get a new car now I am expecting DC2 because as a pp has said, I think a car seat in the back of the 500 would be a pain, sadly.

[Ihateparties]

If it was me and I loved it then I would keep it and work around it. You can get pushchairs to fit, you can get car seats to fit. Lifting an infant seat in and out probably isn't that practical but you could get a from birth seat that stays in the car like a dualfix, joie I anchor, hauck varioguard, cybex sirona etc. I have an i10 now with 3 dcs, it's technically our second car but we can and do go away in it sometimes. I had a 3 door focus when dc3 was born and that was more of a pain than the much smaller 5 door car I have now.

[upduffedsecret]

we currently have a fiat 500 and 2 kids.

The group 0+ seat ONLY fitted behind the passenger seat as the seat had to be as far forwards as it could be. We fitted it by putting in through the boot rather than wrestling around the seat. once in, it was only ever removed if absolutely necessary. extended rear facing wasn't going to happen, they're now both in recaro youngsport seats.

we have a zeta vooom buggy, umberella fold, suitable from birth which we can just about fit in the boot. or across behind the front seats (kids have to put their feet on it then)

it's do-able but can be hard.

we're now looking for a bigger car as we know we can't get 3 kids in.

[ProbablyMe]

I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to let anyone who's still wondering about the Fiat 500/ baby conundrum know about what worked/is working for us.

Car seat -

Started with a Maxi Cosi Pebble Plus on the 2way fix base. Fits fine although the passenger seat has to go right forwards with the back rest very upright. Got very heavy very quickly when lifting it in and out!

Have just moved to a Joie I-anchor Advance seat now our DS is 10 weeks old which is extended rear facing and can be used from birth. It fits well and although the passenger seat needs to be forwards the back rest is now at a comfortable angle so in my opinion is better than the Pebble. I'm also now following a suggestion from another post and putting my DS in through the tailgate which I was dubious about at first but was absolutely fine and much easier than inserting the flaming Pebble into the car!!

Pram/pushchair -

We so far found a few that fit -

Easywalker Mini. A full sized Pram that fits in either with the carrycot or seat and without taking any wheels off! Awesome!

Quinny Zapp Xtra 2. Fits in and allows room for shopping. Great for quick trips to the supermarket!

Quinny Buzz. Got to take the back wheels off which is very quick but then the chassis and seat for fine:

ICandy Peach Jogger. Again the back wheels need to be removed but then it fits fine.

Hope this helps someone! I'm just glad I don't have to work out how to afford another car!!