We can't have a fourth, can we?

[mrsnegative]

Posted below about dining tables (!) but forgot about one major issue.

The car.

I drive, DP doesn't. If we had a fourth DC, we'd need a 7 seater.. Or would we? I'm wondering if any of you mums think there is any way round not having one. I very much doubt we could get one, for several reasons (current car is on finance in my dad's name, for example!).

Any way round it? I can walk to school, the local shop and nursery, but not the doctors or any friends' houses. And I don't know if I'd want to walk if it was pouring with rain! One DC is in school at the minute.

And we wouldn't be able to go out as a family, ever, would we? Or would we? What do families with no car do?

Hoping someone has an answer, and maybe we can think about a fourth and final child!

Thanks

[BoffinMum]

Renault Grand Scenic with two pop up seats in the back, or a small second car.

[mrsnegative]

Thanks Boffinmum. Couldn't have 2 cars as DP doesn't drive. And I don't think we could have a 7 seater because:

I don't think I'd be able to drive/park it.
Insurance would go up a lot?
Current car is on finance, not sure when that ends but it's only been on a year.
As 7 seaters are quite pricey (second hand), even if the finance finished on current car and I sold it, don't think I'd be able to afford another car.

Ooh :( seems a horrible reason not to be able to have a baby but I'll live with it if we can't :)

[imip]

Me again. We survived for 14 months with a five seater after dd4 was born. We live in london, so it wasn't used all that much. It was a relief to get a second seater, mainly because we could do things together. When we were desperate, I could drive and dh rode his bike to wherever we needed to go. Not nice in winter and I hate parking.

Fwiw, we got an smax and it is the smallest we could get that I felt safe with the dds right in the back. Getting used to parking with the parking sensors, but admittedly I'd rather walk than parallel park. Since we've had the car (this march) we've been camping in France, twice!

I still walk mostly, exercise and all.....

[BoffinMum]

No, our Grand Scenic was around the price and size of our previous 5 seater Scenic and insurance costs very similar.

[mrsnegative]

Thank you imip, that's v interesting. I did actually think about DP going on a bike... He's always been fine about walking!

So you had 4 in a "normal" car? Did that work ok?

Thanks for your help :)

A part of me thinks do it, you both want a baby and you only live once. But then i think I don't want the rest of my life to be bloody hard!

[AppleCrumples]

Hi i have occasionally got my 4 into my fiesta with dp on his motor bike. I don't like doing it though, somehow it just doesn't feel safe.

We have managed some day trips with family taking an extra child in their cars and i also have a family railcard. Day to day though we walk most places and i try to do anything requiring the car (ie weekly shop) whilst older 3 at school so just have the baby with me.

Not.sure when we will get a bigger car. Dd2'was completly unplanned and a bit of a but hard as it somwtimes is i'm glad we have her.

[mrsnegative]

Apple - thanks, that's v helpful. I know what you mean about the "safety" aspect, although that should be ok when they're all older and dont need car seats iykwim?

Never thought about an extra family member coming with us I'm sure in laws would help if it was all organised. Weekly shop I do online thankfully!! But yes one is at school and if we had another one I'd like at least two of them to be in school.

Glad you're over the shock now and enjoying family life :)

[AppleCrumples]

Glad to be of help mrs! It was actually bil idea to take 1 in his car so we could all go out 'en masse' to a theme park. Am pretty shy and have social anxiety so wouls never have thoughy of it myself either!

It does help that my older dc are all at school so it feels hard at the mo when they are all under my feet but after weds it will feel easier as i can get things done during the day.

Whats lovely is that they all adore the baby and are old enough to help.me (5,7, nearly 10)

Good luck whatever you decide

[imip]

Worked fine. We had a volkswagen passat, so a bigger car. It was an arse to put them into to reach around the buckles, but it did feel safe. Baby in the front.

[imip]

Also, we don't have family in the uk, but if we did, having them take one in their car would have been our option too to tide us over...

[damnitdamnit]

I saw a 6 seater the other day that was not too long. I have no idea who or what though. I thought the same if I had another it would be an option!

[mooglet]

Have you thought about a multimac? We have three DCs (5,4 and 2) with another on the way, bought a 4 seat multimac 2 years ago, and manage to fit everybody into a Ford Focus.

[clara85]

wow just googled multimac - looks amazing but not sure how safe it is as the side protection looks non existant compared to stage 1 car seats.... but so far my kids are under 3 so this looks perfect for those with older kids x

[BoffinMum]

That Multimac thing is inspired. I would certainly buy one of those in your position, rather than get a new car.

[Mosman]

I got four kids into a normal car, no DH though so that helped

[mrsnegative]

Apple - with you on the shyness and SA! It's hard isn't it?

Mooglet - wow, how good are they?! Thank you for that, never even knew they existed. But...

Boffinmum - ironically I'd have to sell my car to afford anything in the region of 1300, although could very slowly save I suppose!

And mosman - sounds ideal! Ha. Tbf I do a LOT of stuff just me and the kids (at least I did until DP was made redundant in July!)

Thanks everyone x

[TexMex]

Wow I didn't know the Mumtimac existed! We are thinking about a third but have a car issue, can't wait to show DP that. More investigations to be done but thanks for that. Good luck OP I hope you find a solution that's workable for you.

[mrsnegative]

Well, I think a decision has been made - to have a fourth, hopefully with a due date in Autumn 2015 (organised? Me?).

I don't think we're going to get a 7 seater, at least not at first. If DP is at work it'll just me be and the kids so we can fit in a standard car. DS is t grandma's every weekend.

The only thing I'm worried about is things like 'mini' family days out, eg this Sat we're going to a free fun day at the leisure centre. We'll drive as its a 30 min walk up a big hill. But with 4, we wouldn't have that option. Am I just being a baby and will it be ok to walk everywhere? I've never really walked anywhere . Lived in a tiny village, then learnt to drive.

I know it's something I might have to do. Or we thought DP could get a bus with two and I'll drive with two. Are these ideas just ridiculous? Can't shake the feeling I really do want a final baby.

Also I feel sad that no.3 wouldn't be our "baby" anymore, but I felt like that with no.1 and no.2 as well.

Aahhhh wish I wasn't such a worrier!

[Sleepwhenidie]

We have a multimac (larger size, 4 seater with baby carrier) that we may be up for selling in about a year, so OP, if things go according to plan, look me up then!

[mrsnegative]

Oh I will do, sleepwhenidie!

Do you "install" them yourself?

[Sleepwhenidie]

The company installed ours but I'm sure that you can arrange and pay for that, think it involves bolts being attached to the floor of the car so not something you would DIY

[Thinkingofmyfabfour]

We've got a multimac too- dh installed ours but he is pretty handy with stuff like that. We managed to keep ds2 rearfacing till he was almost 4, (but he is a skinny wee thing,) which was a priority for us. Ds3 is bigger built and I think if we can keep him rearfacing till 3 we'll be doing well. Now we dd has arrived ds1&3 sit in the normal seats, with 2 wee ones rearfacing at each side. Working ok for us at the moment. Had to get a roofbox to go on holiday though!!

[BoffinMum]

You know you can get bikes for multiple children? In Holland they have ones for kindergarten classes that carry one adult and up to 8 children!! (You would end up with thighs like Geoff Capes, I imagine).