Newborn twins plus 18mth old - how can I fit them in?

[BagofHolly]

I'm expecting twins at Christmas and we have 2 maxi cosi seats adn bases, and I also have a toddler, and he has the rearfacing Britax 2way, belted in.

We're trying to find a car which accomodates all three children and it seems that there's hardly anything! The maxi cosis have to go on the outside of the back seat as the bases have a leg which comes down to the floor, but that means that the Britax won't fit in a rearfacing position as it has to be strapped in against the front seats, and I drive further forward than his seat will allow, so currently the Britax is behind my passenger seat. (still with me?)

So, what should we do? I'm determined that all three children should stay rearfacing until they're 4 but I also need to fit them in! My husband has a Jeep Cherokee but I'm due to change my company car and the list is quite restrictive - no ford, citroen, renault, honda, and no MPVs. (they've gone all eco so the list is based on emissions etc.)

Any thoughts? I'm fed up with thinking about it!

I'm pretty sure my instructions for the britax 2 way say that it can be installed rear facing in the middle seat.

I'm not sure where my instructions are but definitely have a look at the instructions before you go worrying about it.

My nephew is in the same position and they just got a Toyota Sienna. We have that as well and have been very happy with it.

Lifesas3plus1, you're right, the two way can in theory be installed in the middle but it has to be gemstones against the front seats. This means that if it's in the middle, both of the front seats have to be set at the se distance and rake from the dash. It also means that the seats have to be pushed right back (so my husband can get his legs in) but then if I pull my drivers seat back to the same position, I can't reach the pedals! This is why we have it currently installed behind he passenger side. So it's a non starter in the central position.
The instruction booklet is here in front of me! I've emailed the Incar safety centre in MK but they just say to come over with the car seats and they'll see what they can do. It's a 4 hour round trip for us and anyway I have to change my car soon so I need to find the right make and model first!

Thanks for your reply Jabberwocky. However, the Sienna isn't a current model and it's an MPV so for both reasons it's not available to me on my company car list. I don't have the option of buying my own car with the money, so I have to stick with this list.

How often will you have an adult passenger in the car? Could one of the rearfacing seats be put on the front seats ( fine so long as no airbag) and any adult go in the backseat in the middle if necessary?

Thandeka, thanks for your reply, I would imagine it'll be a rare thing if I go out at all without either my mum or my husband with me - juggling 3 babies is going to strenous! In the first month I won't be driving at all (c section) so there'll be 2 adults plus 3 babies quite a lot!

Because they're so close in age I need a permanent solution that will work for all of us so that's a car which will take 3 car seats, and this is proving much more difficult than I thought!

I think the best thing to do is go and have a look at the cars you can have and get the one with the best space in the back and then tack the car to the safety centre and buy the seats that work in that car.
You might find putting one of the baby carries in without the base in the middle. or buying a from birth seat to go in the middle might be a option. Or just putting the maxi cosy in without the base in the middle. It is just as safe if strapped in correctly. The other thing you could do is put one of the babies in the front and one carrier in the back it depends whether it is easier to have three children in the back or one in the front and one adult in the back.
If you go on the maxi cosy web site and click on the seat you have it will tell you if it it goes in a particular car. some cars it will go in the middle on the base.

Are you able to take a car allowance instead and then use it to lease a car yourself or ask them to reconsider their policy as it doesn't work for a large family. Having a small car would prevent you going on a cheap camping holiday (just an idea)

I have just ordered a grand scenic and it has a eco2 engine in it so is has very low admissions. It does have 3 issfix fitting as does the c4 gand picasso which might give you more seat options as they get bigger in the c4 you can have seats with legs in the back britax have tested them on their site maxi cosy haven't yet

just found this seat if you read the instructions it does'nt have to lean on the seat in front to be safe so it may be a possibility for you when they are a bit bigger not sure if it is really ok for a new born you would have to look at it

Thanks castleonthehill - that's a very interesting seat! I wish we'd seen it before we bought two Britax 2 ways - one for each of our cars! We might still end up with one so I've saved it to my favorites.

We had a breakthrough today - I saw the Toyota Verso, which will take 3 seats across the back, including putting one of the maxi cosi seats and bases in the middle as there isn't a bump there for the drive shaft like there is on other cars. It also has a third row of seats too! Hurrah!

I'm not allowed to take an allowance as I'm classed as an essential user, and in their eco wisdom, we're now only allowed diesels or hybrids, and then only from a restricted number of manufacturers. And no MPVs or 4x4s. Most annoying - I'm taxed on it all of course, so it's not the perk it first appears, especially if you can't get the kids in! I'm not the only member of staff with 3 children, I'm sure!

bagofholly i have 3 seats in the back of a golf although i can't put the seats right back because of a twe resting on the back of passenger seat. have you looked at the kiss car seats? if you want the twins to rf to 4 then it might be cheaper for you in the long run? i bought one but not until ds was nearly 2 as they had only came out over here!

its a nightmare trying to get a car that you can fit 3 in the back! we are looking at the minute too as i childmind and am due dc2 in dec and dp needs the seat pushed right back. the verso is the one we think we will go for. looked at the touran but it has underfloor storage and the support leg on the kiss didn't reach the bottom of it!

good luck!

:)

We also had 3 children under 2 years and have a Toyota Verso. Now that ours are older (primary school age), the second row of seats in the back has been great for inviting friends home from school etc. Very pleased with it.

sinkingfeeling thats good to know thanks. we're off to look at one tomorrow!

:)

if you can have that car I would get it. I would have classed it as a mpv but if your work don't then that's properly better than a Valhalla zafira. My friend has one and she gets three in it easily as you can always move one seat forward it necessary she has never had three rearward but I think three forward takes up more room.

it may not be cool

fiat multipla would solve your issues.

i have one.

it is not cool

it solves all the issues

when you are in it you do not have to look at it

try to avoid stopping next to plate glass windows though- it kills my self esteem everytime