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Original poster

What car did you have when you had your first baby?

81 replies

daisytumble · 29/01/2023 16:32

We are (extremely lucky) to have 2 cars, DH has a 5 door estate and I have a 3 door Fiat 500. both insured for both cars.

My car hasn’t yet done 40k miles despite being 10 years old, which I’m very happy with. Currently used frequently for commuting so miles will soon add up.

We aren’t TTC just yet but it’s hopefully in the near future. I was curious to know how many people thought ahead and upgraded their small car before having a baby with the view that they’d need more space immediately. I can’t imagine a 3 door car is practical with a little one but love my car, so if I can make it work for more years (especially in this cost of living crisis) I certainly will!

What car did/do you drive at the baby stage?

OP posts:

BasilParsley · 29/01/2023 18:20

A Reliant Robin three-wheeler. 1980. Sat in the passenger seat with babe cradled in my arms with no seatbelt as hubby did the driving.... Totally acceptable in those days!

GlassBunion · 29/01/2023 18:20

We didn't buy a new car when we had either our first or second child. We just used our existing cars. A Laguna and a Sierra.

The Sierra got scrapped when the children were 6 and 3.
We carried on with the Laguna for a while. It was an ordinary saloon car.

tornadoinsideoutfig · 29/01/2023 18:25

I don't have experience with 3 door cars but small is not a problem unless you are trying to fit 3 in the back.

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sanityisamyth · 29/01/2023 18:27

Ford focus. I'd NEVER have a 3 door car with small children in car seats. A friend of mine had a vehicle fire which engulfed the car with almost no warning. She said if she'd had children in the back of her 3 door car she'd never have got them out.

Percypiglover · 29/01/2023 18:28

We have 2 dc and have a Quashqai and a Fiat 500. It's fine we have two car seats in both and when you have a little one you can use a carrier or a lightweight fold up buggy fits in front of the back seats. As long as you have 1 bigger car it work's absolutely fine and it cuts costs.

ItisallPooh · 29/01/2023 18:28

Dh had an Audi A4. I had a Polo. We were both insured on each other's on both cars. For the years with buggies with both DDs I drove the bigger A4. It made sense for space and also the polo was really economical with fuel. DH was travelling further for work than me too.
We changed cars a couple of time and only now that I'm past carting buggies, scooters, bikes etc have I gone back to the smaller car day-to-day.
One DD is still in a car seat but she is totally fine clambering in the back. The other dd is a teen and is often in the front passenger seat now.
I've actually suggested that DH downsizes his car too. I don't think it is necessary... but he likes his Tiguan.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 29/01/2023 18:32

I prefer having front and back doors but like small cars. Had a Daewoo Matiz when DD was a baby and have a Nissan micra now.

GCWorkNightmare · 29/01/2023 18:34

350bhp rally car. Still have it (my daughter is 12).

GCWorkNightmare · 29/01/2023 18:34

Also have a Japanese 4x4 and a Skoda fabia runabout (because neither of the other cars are ULEZ compliant and I travel a lot for work.)

Notjustabrunette · 29/01/2023 18:43

A fiesta. Lived in a city though so I mainly used public transport. We bought a second, larger car when we moved to the suburbs when DC 2 was born.

user1465390476 · 29/01/2023 18:47

I had to swap my funky little sports car for a Vauxhall Vectra. In all honesty it was a great car and so smooth to drive, so great for getting ds1 off to sleep.

Twiggywinkle13 · 29/01/2023 18:49

Currently pregnant with my first baby. Had a sporty mini, unfortunately due to the sport seats the car seat physically doesn’t fit into the back and the base doesn’t fit in the front so that’s been the end of that…

MamaBear1022 · 29/01/2023 18:53

We are a 2 car family but don't drive each others cars. I had a 5 door mini but it was just too small for baby, pram, shopping so traded in for a Nissan Q

110APiccadilly · 29/01/2023 19:01

I had a three door Kia Picanto and that was fine for one child. We did buy a bigger one when expecting child no. 2, but that was partly because we had specific car seat wants (we wanted the baby in a lie flat seat) and the Kia just wouldn't have worked for that.

You do have to get used to twisting and turning a bit to get baby in. I recommend something using an isofix base where the seat spins, as that will make it easier. Also (unless you are going for a lie -flat seat) if anyone's going to be in the passenger seat make sure that all works with your car seat in, some seats don't really fit in a small car with a normal sized passenger in front.

GCWorkNightmare · 29/01/2023 19:03

user1465390476 · 29/01/2023 18:47

I had to swap my funky little sports car for a Vauxhall Vectra. In all honesty it was a great car and so smooth to drive, so great for getting ds1 off to sleep.

Low gear, high revs still gets DD to sleep!

SockQueen · 29/01/2023 19:10

We had an MX-5 (2-seater) when I got pregnant with DS1, so obviously had to get something different. Bought a Mazda 6 and both are still going strong almost 7 years later. We don't have "DH's car" and "my car" - the big one is for the whole family if we're going somewhere together, and the little one if we're going alone.

Giggorata · 29/01/2023 19:16

We had a mini - and I mean the old mini. I had a comparatively tiny pram to the coach built things that were in use then, but even so, it was too big for that teeny car.
I forget what we got next, but whatever it was, once round the block got DS off to sleep. 😴

LynneBenfield · 29/01/2023 19:17

VW Golf (5dr). Boot was too small for the massive Mamas and Papas travel system but we coped

Reptilemummy · 29/01/2023 19:37

I had a Mini 1275 GT (1976)

ColinRobinsonsFart · 29/01/2023 19:47

A cream 1972 VW Beetle then I had a 1979 British Leyland Mini quite soon after DD (now late 30s) was born.
i didn’t have a stereo in either car so I had a tape player sat in the footwell. DD sat in her chair in the passenger seat ( no airbags in those days) and her buggy was behind the driver seat as it didn’t fit in the boot.

i can still smell the mini…

sjxoxo · 29/01/2023 19:52

I had a beetle cabriolet which I replaced pronto after baby arrived as the two doors and tiny boot drove me mad!!! Changed it for a Mitsubishi ASX which has been really practical and comfortable so far. X

Blueisthecolor · 29/01/2023 22:40

I loved my fiat 500 but no way wld I want one with a baby. I don't think u wld get a pram in the boot! Maybe one of those ones u fold up as hand luggage on the plane.

I had a 5door Peugeot 208. I went for a 5 door when I bought it as I knew I wld likely have a baby in a couple of years time. It was fine and cld get the travel system in boot no problem. I couldn't get anything else in the boot once pram was in it. I upgraded when my lease ended and went for a Honda civic. Boot is massive I could get a full shop in boot with the pram. Lots of room inside too. I did manage with the 208 but I certainly wouldn't have went smaller.

Babdoc · 29/01/2023 22:45

Gosh it was over 30 years ago, but if I remember correctly I think DH had a new Fiat Tipo and I had a new Ford Escort, both five door. Both had rear seat belts and it was v easy to put a baby seat in and out of either car.

DuesToTheDirt · 29/01/2023 22:51

We had a 3 door Fiesta, it wasn't ideal but we managed with it for a while.

NaatQ968 · 29/01/2023 23:10

I have a 2015 Citroen c1 and it's doing its job! I have a 3 door, just get a really compact buggy for out and about.... I've seen people have car seats that have wheels coming out the bottom, a doona or something? The prices of cars atm is ridic. My car does the trick for running about etc etc. Fiancé has an electric car, 5 door with massive boot, so on journeys together we go in his car. But for me just visiting family etc, my car is fine:

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