space between car seats

[winterwarmer]

We're going to need three seats (stages 0 and 1, and a high back booster) in the back of our car soon. We can get all three seats in, they don't touch at all and there doesn't sem to be any issues with buckles or seat belts as two are isofix and the HBB goes in the middle where there is a standard three-point seatbelt.

I was wondering if there is a legal or recommended minimum amount of space between seats? Can't find anything anywhere and Mothercare weren't much help tbh.

TIA.

We will have to be doing this soon as well (in a Citroen Picasso). Sorry, don't know about min space, hadn't even thought of that. You have just made me think about the 'which seat goes where' issue, tho. Hadn't occurred to me that the high back booster will have to go in the middle. DS1 will hate that, he won't want to move from his window position, plus he gets car sick. Oh dear!

Can you sell it to your DS about the best view - straight forward! - and he'll be able to see all the lights on the dashboard?!

Forgot to say that we have a C-Max.

That's a good idea, winterwarmer. And very generous of you to reply since I was hijacking your post a bit. Will keep an eye on this thread to see if anyone more knowledgeable than me posts about the space thing.

I have had this mothercare will tell you they can't touch. But this is not possible. I had a c4 grand picasso which has three issofix and I think they would touch. Three kidfix seats do. I decided as long as they were all in correctly I would rather that than 3 cheap seats that would not have such good side impact. I now have a renult grand scienic and the only way to get three across the back is to have the middle child on issofix even if its a kidfix as otherwise a normal seat wouldn't fit between the belt. the kidfix does as it is narrow at the bottom.

If you are putting three alond the back with belted seat it can make a difference which order the seats are in and which one you strap in first. wait for a dry day and have a play with the seats you have and any you can borrow to see what fits.

apparently it's fine to have them touching. i had to get 3 in the back of a golf and had the in car safety centre in belfast fit them for me. even when i had a bigger car (grand scenic) the seats still touched. i was happier that all the kids were in seats than one without so they didn't touch iykwim.

:)

its fine to have them touching so long as the buckles dont touch,
we had to buy a cover thingy from halfords for one of our seats (as the buckles did touch) as it may press in an accident,and release the seat.

Thanks all for the replies, it's reassuring. We were getting worried we'd have to buy a new car!

Oh, and sorry it's taken so long to come back to you - I forgot I'd started this

Am hopefully buying a newer car soon - 7 seater Ford Galaxy new shape and most say they have isofix, what exactly is this and which car seats fit?

Having never had a new car (2007 onwards) would like some makes which would go in my car. Will be minding a 12-13 mth old. I have put in my policy that if parents want to use the car seat solely for their child they have to pay £50 returnable deposit towards the purchase and if they cease their contract they will get this back and I will use it for another child. Doe anyone think this is fair? I have looked at the prices and they are so bloody expensive. I did borrow one before off a cm friend but have given it back as the child grew out of it so she can use it.