Children don’t need car seats?

[IcarusFlies]

Am I completely misunderstanding this? We have DC3 on the way and I’m trying to find a way to have three car seats in the back.

One will be 4.5yo, the other 6.5yo when baby comes. DC1 is over 22kg but under 125cm so, I thought, needs a high backed booster or a booster cushion from before 2017 / after growing to 125cm.

But the Gov website is saying “Children aged 3 or older can sit in the back using an adult belt, if there’s no space for a third seat”?? So I don’t need a third car seat at all, if the whole family of five travels together?

https://www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

NOT debating the safety or wisdom of this, just trying to get my head around the regulations… Surely this can’t be right?

We had the same problem when my youngest was born, it's hard to fit 3 isofix in one car! We ended up buying a Q7 - 5 Isofix points would you believe. Other cars that worked were the XC90 , Discovery, and people carrier type cars (SMax?). There are also narrow car seats available if you shop around.

We have a Defender now, no longer need three car seats but that would fit three. If you don't want to change your vehicle your best bet is googling narrow car seats.

I'd swap cars - there are loads that have three full sized back seats. And when your kids are beyond the car seat stage they will be able to travel in comfort rather than stuffed together on the back seat.

I was told by a police officer that this means if you have two adults and three car seats. One seat must be put in front and car air bags disengaged and the second adult should travel in back with two car seats (whether squashed or not) as the kids are priority. However if you have 1 adult and 4 car seats then the oldest can be seated in a car seat belt in the back if they are over 3. It all makes me pleased I just have the one.

I think that's quite literally true.

The thing is that it's always going to be possible to create a safer car seat, if you have no line that's "safe enough". And if car seat designers need to take up huge amounts of space to design the safer seat, they will. And people will then see this new level of safety as the minimum, if you aren't a horrible child killer, and we will have parents driving around in giant trucks to accommodate the car seats.

I am just waiting for the day people realize the safest thing by far is not to take your child in the car at all, and the best carseat becomes a nanny.

I'm being a little hyperbolic, obviously, but I do think it's appropriate to understand that driving is an inherently risky activity, and that no one is comfortable setting set a line - a real concrete number - about how safe is safe enough, because they feel they have to answer, of course there is no line on my child's safety. We all do in reality though.

Police officer has given duff information, or information that doesn't apply to the UK.
The whole reason for the thread is the 3rd child can legally travel without a carseat in between the other two car seats.

The law is a reflection that most cars have 3 seat belts in the back but the middle seat is very narrow.
You need a fairly big car, and a fairly small adult to have any chance of getting them in between two child car seats.
If you could get a big adult in there, you could get a 3rd carseat or booster cushion in.

My youngest sister had similar issue. They put the oldest in the middle on a boosterseat. That always seemed the safest option to me and also following carsafety rules where we live. (We're not in the UK.)

Yes this is correct so you’re not breaking the law. But honestly unless you’re prepared to get a bigger vehicle that’s one of the reasons you shouldn’t have a third kid. How did you magically think they’d fit?!?

I think it is absolutely ridiculous that the vast majority of modern cars can't fit 3 carseats accross. I was discussing it last week as a o couldn't car less about aerodynamic fancy shape or an engine that can go faster that the 120km/h I will max go. I want flat seats in the back that can easily accommodate 3 car seats and aren't an absolute pain I'm the hole to buckle in. Get some mothers into the design room please!!!!!!
If you check out ireland rearfacing carseats for

For toddlers and children on Facebook they have a list of cars that can take 3 seats accross the back.

Get on the Extended Rear Facing (ERF)… group on facebook. There are so many experts on there who can advice by ages/sizes of children, car and budget. The car seat laws in this country and horrific and outdated.

@IcarusFlies You don’t need to go 7 seater but it would give you more boot space & seating options for expanding family & stuff.
A Renault scenic & Citroen Picasso can & do fit 3 full car seats in the back seats. Potentially a Ford C-Max will too but I’ve jut had experience with that car.
It takes a little squeeze to get seats in & often have to help kids with last seat belt but they fit.
My next car will be a VW Touran or Grand Scenic as I need more space in boot as will as occasional 6th & 7th seat.

Personally I refuse to listen to government guidance on car safety because they are so incompetent they can’t even organise their own house!
My child stayed in a full backed seat until she was too tall for it, age 9 & a booster until she could no-longer sit comfortably in it, age 11. She is now 12yrs old, 5ft 3in & weighs 8.5stone so was well over the height & weight for booster for a while but for me it gave her an added level of protection.
Any friends travelling kids in my car must agree to kids riding in full backed seats until they are too tall for them or booster until that is unsuitable. My car my rules as their safety is my responsibility but the responsibility of statistics.