Can anyone help solve our impossible car seat problem?!

[TeamEponine]

We need to get a second car seat, but finding the solution seems impossible, so I'm delegating to the MN hive mind

DH picks DD up from preschool once, maybe twice a week. It's only about a three minute drive on very quiet roads. He drives one of those tiny smart car things.

We have a Joie Stages in our "big" car, and usually we switch it between cars when needed, but this isn't going to be possible for much longer, so we need to buy a second car seat that will live in the smart car.

The big problem... DH has to have a passenger in the car relatively often, and usually with no notice.

So, we need a car seat to go in a smart car, and can be removed and stowed away within the smart car when there is a passenger. Is there any car seat that would work for us? I'm guessing the only option is that it would go in the shoe box boot. Does such a thing exist?

DD is about 103 cm tall and weighs about 15.5 kg. It is only for very occasional use and for a very short and safe journey.

[NameChange30]

How old is she?

[aperolspritzplease]

I don't think you'll find one that'll fit in the boot. What's the age limit on those bow up bubble ones, might work for very short journeys?

[TeamEponine]

She's just turned 4. I fear this is going to be impossible...

[feesh]

For a 3 minute journey I’d use a Bubblebum or Mifold or Trunki Boostapak. Not ideal for a 4 year old, but people (including me) use them on holidays for much more extended drives.

[Invisimamma]

At just turned 4, I would go for a high backed booster type. Very light and would probably fit in the boot? You can get some with a 5 point harness if you are worried about that aspect.

[redspottydress]

Get her a stage 2 high back booster - comes apart and fits in the boot. Asda do them for £20ish.

[NameChange30]

What about a folding high back booster seat?

I Googled and found this one which looks like it’s from the US but ships to UK.

[redspottydress]

direct.asda.com/george/baby/car-seats/nania-group-23-befix-storm-booster-seat/050279383,default,pd.html?cmpid=ppc--george-------_-dskwid-s92700036520310009_dm&cwd=geo&cwf=pm&cwc=ppc-pla&ds_kid=92700036520310009&gclid=CjwKCAjw8uLcBRACEiwAaL6MSUpGsOGMn2RwB4r0zJtb3O9gt0jg5TFMTCU6mSGMa2Xg5TuWzpPfWBoCVaMQAvD_BwE&dclid=CMHW572Ftd0CFVYQGwodLB4K4w

[Invisimamma]

I wouldn't go for the nania one linked above, that brand had some very bad press on safety a few years ago.

Stick with joie, britax, maxi Cosi etc. The big brands with additional safety ratings. I have a very light britax seat for my nearly 4yr old (110cm and 18.5kg).

[Invisimamma]

www.britax-roemer.co.uk/car-seats/highback-boosters/discovery-sl/CSSFCC001.html

[BertieBotts]

A booster seat. The Maxi Cosi Rodi has good safety ratings and comes apart to store.

Or trunki, mifold or bubblebum are all even more compact.

[BertieBotts]

The US one will be no good as won't meet EU regs. And I agree don't touch Nania with a bargepole.

[NameChange30]

Fair point about the US seat not meeting UK regulations, I hadn’t thought of that.

There must be a few options for high back boosters that fold or can be taken apart to store. How small is the smart car boot, exactly?

I like the look of this one (it won a gold award) but it’s pricey at £180. Probably only worth it if you would use it a lot, eg for holidays if flying and hiring a car when you get there.

[PeterPiperPickedSeaShells]

We have a high backed booster which comes apart for travel (fits in a suitcase). Would a travel high backed booster work?

[TeamEponine]

I'm so confused over the laws surrounding booster seats! An old style booster seat would be the ideal solution in some ways, but I do worry about the safety aspect, even if it is just for a very occasional, short, quiet roads journey.

A high back booster that comes apart might be the solution. Any recommendations? Is the graco junior maxi one that comes apart?

Think we would probably need to go to a halfords to see if it fitted in the boot. Smart car boots are stupid small

[Faintlinesquints]

I just looked on google images of smart car boots, and it’s not as tiny as I’d expected.
A lot of high back booster seats, the back un clips from the base so they can be turned into a ‘cushion booster’ and also store flat, I think that would possibly work. We have graco (I think) ones in our spare car that do this, they are a slight pain to put together if I’m being honest but they are really small and compact when together.
Does the smart car have a parcel shelf? Even if you kept the back in the boot and the base of the booster behind the front seats when the passenger is there?
I think going into Halfords/mothercare would be a good idea.

[NameChange30]

www.madeformums.com/news-and-gossip/booster-seat-law---uk-changes-and-updates/41270.html

[Daisy2990]

I have a similar size car - we have a high back booster that is can be sort of folded in half or laid completely flat. Check in your local Asda, they quite often have cheap ones on display.

[Almostthere15]

At 4 i'd personally be happy for them to face forward but in a high back booster. Our cosatto zoomi 123 comes apart with the back sitting separately from the base once it's used with a belt if that would help.

For short 'emergency' journeys like picking up school friends I do use a old fashioned booster but even with older children they don't always reliably sit straight in the seat which is an issue and is distracting.