At what point is a 3 door car feasible when you have a toddler

[Bearsinthetrap]

…. In your experience

I am currently driving a five door seat Ibiza which was the car I learned to drive in. It’s a bit of a banger and hoping to swap it out for something newer and tidier now I have held my license for 2 years and am a lot more reliable with spatial awareness and manoeuvres (ie. Not clipping the wall when I reverse into my drive)

however- all of the cars I am interested in are three door

i live on the outskirts of the city centre of a busy city with terrible parking infrastructure and my home has a tricky driveway. I need something small, easy to park, that I’ll be able to get into some narrow spaces. I likely won’t be getting a brand new car, probably a 2015-16ish plate so I can’t rely on there being top spec parking sensors and cameras. I just need something that will be super easy.

i want a Vauxhall Adam, or a AR mito or maybe even a little fiat 500- but all 3 doors.

i have a 2 year old and a 360 seat. When will it be feasible to buy a three door car.

I’d imagine they’d just need to be able to go into their seat and then I’d lean back and clip them in, then rotate back to rear facing?

I know people have babies in three door cars but I’m just asking when it’s the least faff.

I had a three door car with a 6yo and 8yo. It was a nightmare. The seat mechanisms constantly broke because I used them so much! I was so glad when I changed it, the extra doors were a luxury!

what about a 5 door fiesta?

I wouldn’t do it.

I graduated from a 3-door to a 5-door when LO was about 12 months. He was then in a bulky seat in the back and it was a nightmare lifting him out.

Now he‘s 7 I still wouldn’t do it. His seat can slide, obscuring the buckle. Then I have to belt him in - or move the seat. We regularly take the seat out to transport a 2nd child in the bigger car - or just to clean it. Back seat gets messy quickly with children - you also need access to clean.

Even now, if he‘s being moody he might need coaxing in and out of seat.

Fortunately he doesn’t get car sick, but with a child who does back doors are a godsend.

FWIW, I drive a 5-door VW Polo, 2015. Also chosen for its smallness. Skoda does an extremely similar model as belongs to the VW group.

Don't do it! If you have to get him out/into the back seat, you'll have to open the doors all the way, which you won't be able to do in those tight spaces. Keep looking!

I would never do it, it's not worth it IMO! There's lots of small cars with 5 doors.

Don't even think about it. is there any reason why you "want a Vauxhall Adam, or a AR mito or maybe even a little fiat 500"?

Doors are bigger on a 3 door so if your driveway is tricky, accessing the back seat will be really difficult.

I have a three door car with a 360 seat and a 1yo. Biggest pain is I can’t rotate it without unclipping the isofix. It adds a bit of extra faff but it doesn’t really bother me. Will have that car for the foreseeable as I bought it just before I got pregnant 🤣if you don’t mind a bit of faff, just get the car you want!

I have a 4 y o and 1 y o and we are using a three door car. I wouldn't say it's impossible, but no...I would change in a heart beat for a 5 door car... I was looking at Toyota Aygo or Hyundai i10...

I had a 3 door for DSS when he was in mid primary and it was fine but he was only in a booster not a high back booster like modern car seats so he could strap himself in.

Go for a 5 door fiesta, there still pretty small but will be south easier then

Don't do it!!!

Don’t.

My 4 year still needs help getting strapped in car seat. By the time he can hop in car and do own belt safely he will also be able to open door and get in and out. Having to get out front each time is a pain.

You can get small compact cars with rear door

Don't do it.
I had a 3 door and had to change it.
Did my back in getting child in and out the back!

Going against the grain here, but I had a 3 door Polo when my kids were babies, until they were about 8 and 4. It wasn't a problem at all.

I have ALWAYS had a 3 door (fiat 500/mini) and never had a problem (except food shop!) however, now is the hardest I've ever found it. My kids are 16 and 14.

I think it was about 2.5 when my DD became an absolute car set refuser and I found it hard enough to wrestle her into a 360 seat in a five door car. Would have dreaded (and hurt my back) to get her into a three door.

Looking forward DC1 is now in a HBB with the car's seat belt and he's been able to do it himself since turning 5.

FWIW, lots of small cars have five doors, and the rear doors on a five door and actually smaller than a three door so easier to open.

I wouldn't. Imagine how difficult it would be to get a baby in/out of it with almost no space to open a door due to a massive SUV parked next to you. 3 door cars have larger doors than standard cars.

I can only see them as an advantage if you have a child with SEN who keeps opening the doors, but otherwise I just wouldn't do it as your back wouldn't thank you.

How’s your back? Imagine leaning over a big 4-6yr old to belt them in, reaching round the high back booster… my 7 yr old still gets cross with it and asks for help A LOT and it’s a right pain even in a 5 door car.

My mum has a tiny little Toyota Aygo with 5 doors. It's a doddle to drive when I borrow it. Couldn't imagine having to try and get my 2.5 year old in a three door.

I had a 3 door with 2 toddlers and thought it was fine, because I hadn’t known any different. The only thing is that it was a pain fitting the double buggy plus weekly shop in there. That was a space problem more than a door problem though.

However after that I got a 5 door and it was a lot easier, even though the DC weren’t toddlers by then. So given a choice I would def go for a 5 door.