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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I’ll squeeze in...

48 replies

Argeles · 07/05/2018 21:27

and actually be able to sit down between 2 car seats in a BMW 3 series?

One car seat is 0+ size, and the other is size 2 for a 3 year old.

They’ll both be in use, so can’t be removed, and front seats will have adults occupying them.

I’m a size 14, and will only have a small handbag with me to throw on the floor! Passenger in front is larger than me, so we can’t consider swapping seats.

If there would be room for me, would a car trip of 1 hour and 15 minutes be feasible, or will I be very uncomfortable?

The person who owns the car is adamant I’ll fit in, but the available space looks small to me.

OP posts:
ToriaPumpkin · 07/05/2018 21:29

I had a 3 series when I had a newborn and a nearly 3yo. You couldn't have got my slimmest friend in the middle of their carseats even if you had grease and a crowbar.

teaandtoast · 07/05/2018 21:31

They're quite small cars inside, aren't they? I remember a short journey as a passenger in the front seat thinking there wasn't much room.

Shoppingwithmother · 07/05/2018 21:34

Definitely not! I have a bigger BMW and have tried to fit someone in the middle between two car seats before - it cannot be done really unless they were just booster cushions.

There was no way on Earth it was happening with proper car seats, and certainly not for a journey of that length.

ProseccoPoppy · 07/05/2018 21:35

I can get in between two seats that size in the back of a Kia Soul which at a guess I reckon would be a similar width to a three series. I’m a size 14. Note can not should. It is incredibly uncomfortable, and the longest I have had to do that for was 25 mins. But if needs must you would cope. Put your handbag in the front and make sure you wear trousers as you will really have to clamber to get in which is not very dignified...

SomeKnobend · 07/05/2018 21:39

I'm a size 14. I'm gonna say no! Can you try it out now in advance, just in case? If not I'd definitely arrange other transport.

Original poster
Argeles · 07/05/2018 21:39

Thank you for your replies.

It’s very frustrating that you don’t have good news for me, but this is exactly as I expected.

The person who owns the car is trying to do me a favour, and is adamant we’ll all fit in, and isn’t taking no for an answer!

Do you think I could manage a 15 mins journey in there (there’s the option they can collect me from a nearby station and just drive a short distance), or should I just tell the person that I can’t travel with them?

OP posts:
WeWere0nABreak · 07/05/2018 21:41

We have a 4x4 and the same age carseats - the only person who's been able to sit between them is my 6 year old niece, sorry...

It's such a pain! Not least because you can't really see the kids from the front (DP or I sat in the back with the PFB for every journey!).

User467 · 07/05/2018 21:42

I have a mondeo, it's a big car and I wouldn't put someone between my car seats. You might manage a short distance tilted on one cheek but it wouldn't be comfy. Can't imagine trying it in any smaller a car

NeedMoreSleepOrSugar · 07/05/2018 21:42

I have a larger car than that and the same size car seats. I'm a size 8 and can just about squeeze between them but wouldn't travel like that as it wouldn't be safe.

Its possible they have an inch or so extra if neither seat is isofix, but I seriously doubt it!

Centreparcsooheer · 07/05/2018 21:42

For a short journey can you not put a child in the front and 2 adults and 1 car seat in the back? We've done this in the past and It's given more room

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 07/05/2018 21:42

If they want to pick you up they could drop the other passengers at the venue and then collect you from the station?

BellyBean · 07/05/2018 21:44

You've basically got one butt cheek actually on the seat the other wedged mid air.

I'd tolerate it for 20 mins if it made life a lot easier (saved on a cab etc)

Original poster
Argeles · 07/05/2018 21:44

Shit, this isn’t sounding very good!

I wouldn’t be able to practice squeezing in in advance - this is what is really panicking me.

We could move one car seat out and I could slide in the middle, then the other one could be placed next to me (if that would make a difference?).

The seats are not on Isofix bases (don’t know if that makes a difference?).

OP posts:
flumpybear · 07/05/2018 21:44

I've got a 1 series and there's literally enough space to get my tiniest male friend in between and after a 15 min journey he was really seriously uncomfortable - so I'd guess not

ToriaPumpkin · 07/05/2018 21:46

I was going to suggest what Centreparcs did. Put one of the car seats in the front, airbags off and the two adults squidge up in the back. Still not overly comfortable but more comfortable than being between hard plastic and fine for a one off. It's something we've done a couple of times.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 07/05/2018 21:49

Don’t turn the airbag off unless it’s a rear facing seat.

Crimbles · 07/05/2018 21:51

Sorry OP but I don't think even 15 mins would be possible. My 10 year old skinny niece could just fit between the two car seats in our 3 series but she wasn't comfortable. I would only ever squeeze her in if the journey was a short one.

I'm a size 10 and definitely wouldn't fit!

FourForYouGlenCoco · 07/05/2018 21:51

We had that exact set up - I’m a skinny size 10 and could barely, barely wedge myself in and it was extremely painful and almost impossible to get back out again! I would really, really not recommend it. You will be in a lot of pain after that long!

Original poster
Argeles · 07/05/2018 21:52

ZigZagIntoTheBlue - I have suggested this until I’m blue in the face, but I don’t think they want the inconvenience of driving there and back. I’ve even been offering money towards their petrol, but they still want to squeeze me in.

Centreparcsooheer - The driver suggested this, but I wasn’t sure it was legal or safe for a 3 year old to go in the front, so I told them no.

OP posts:
FourForYouGlenCoco · 07/05/2018 21:53

Ooh but yes the car seat in the front/2 adults in the back set-up would work better - would still avoid the 1hr+ journey, but 15mins that way would be ok.

FourForYouGlenCoco · 07/05/2018 21:54

It is legal, not as safe as them being in the back but ok for a little distance IMO. You just have to move the passenger seat as far back as possible (we looked it up when we did it).

44PumpLane · 07/05/2018 21:55

We have a bigger car and I'm a size 10 and managed a 10 minute journey and vowed never again.
I couldn't move, could barely breathe properly and if you have a larger chest (I do) it's like hell on Earth. I had to pretty much have one arm up and one in front.

Don't do it!

Ginnotginger · 07/05/2018 22:01

Until recently we had exactly those car seats in a Rover 75 estate. My size 8 dm and size 10/12 dd would sometimes have to travel wedged in between and they both hated it and this was for 10-15 min trips. Dm would flatly refuse to wear a seatbelt. Dd would wear hers but it was very difficult and trying to fit the carseat and secure it properly when someone's buttock is wedged on the seatbelt fastener takes patience for the person fixing the seat (me) and the person being groped (dd). I hope you and the driver are good pals OP Smile

thegreatbeyond · 07/05/2018 22:01

I have tried this with a group 1 car seat, a size 14 me, and my DNiece aged 10...I don't recommend it!

SequinsOnEverything · 07/05/2018 22:09

Dh squashed in between our car seats in the back of our Kia Rio today. We had to take dd1s high backed booster out, strap dh in, put the seat back, strap dd in and then shut the door very firmly as the car seat was a bit far over. It was a 30 min journey and dh was fairly uncomfortable. I'd say if he were a woman he'd probably be about size 14.