Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Car seats

Confused about car seat regulations? Find baby car seat advice here. For Mumsnetter-approved essentials, sign up for Mumsnet Swears By emails here.

whats the smallest car that'll take a proper up to 4yrs rear facing carseat (like the scandanavian ones, the ones with leg room)

55 replies

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 21:44

thanks x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
HaitchJay · 07/07/2012 21:46

We've got one in a 53 Yaris which seems to be the size of a new Aygo Confused

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 21:48

oh and it also has to fit a forward facing tall booster seat, so no slopey low rear windows

what do you have in your Yaris HaitchJay?

OP posts:
HaitchJay · 07/07/2012 21:49

Two way elite. Can also fit dd2 on a booster & dd1 (12) in the middle as long as we don't go far

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 21:52

ah I don't think that's the kinda rear facing seat I'm after, the front and rear ones are smaller I think, its the scandanavian type I want

is it a tall booster with high head rest?

OP posts:
Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 21:56

want to fit this sort of thing for no 2:
www.besafe.com/products/toddlers-car-seat-0-18-kg/izi-kid-x3

and something like this for no 1:
www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplayA_65_10751_-1_14571_119891_10001_

OP posts:
Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:00

and ideally something smaller than a ford focus to put them in Grin

the new micras look like they have a fair bit of head room in the back? or is there anything smaller that'll work?

OP posts:
HaitchJay · 07/07/2012 22:15

TWE rear faces to age 4.

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:20

I want one with the bar at the front that goes against the back of the seat so there's leg room and it doesn't tip up like the forward/rear one I have at the mo

OP posts:
YouBrokeMySmoulder · 07/07/2012 22:22

What about a high car like a Nissan note?

HaitchJay · 07/07/2012 22:23

What have you got at the moment? The TWE is tethered to the seat in front so it couldn't do that.

Have you spoken to the car safety people in Essex? They can advise on which seat to which car so if you've an idea what car you will buy then they can confirm of you can get the seat in IYSWIM

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:28

the type of rear seat I want only fits in the FRONT of an Aygo, but does fit in a Yaris

will the kind of tall booster I want fit too?

OP posts:
HaitchJay · 07/07/2012 22:31

Tall boosters shouldn't be too much of a problem in most cars, it's only if you want a third one in it gets to be a squeeze.

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:31

I like Nissans, I'm getting rid of a nissan only because the rear slopes too much for the height of the seat I want to put DS in next

The type of cars we consider depends on the car seats, other than that, smaller than a focus, or at least with better rear visibility then the newer focuses, I hated driving a focus love my little nissan, BUT it also has to be decent enough for DH's commute on a motorway which often has strong cross winds and is an accident black spot.. so I'm wondering if those tall Nissans would be ruled out because of him?

OP posts:
HaitchJay · 07/07/2012 22:31

Are you after anything else in the small car?

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:33

tall booster only fits in the front of mine - that is why we need a new car (one of the reasons anyway but a big one!), and would also only fit in the front of fiat 500 types I think, I'ld rather put it in the back

no plans for no3 so middle seat not an issue

OP posts:
gallicgirl · 07/07/2012 22:34

Would a Honda jazz be small enough? Mine's pretty roomy but I have a front facing child seat.

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:34

Haitch yes it has to be motorway commute friendly, so no vauxhaul Corsas (which give you back ache after 20 mins, have heavy gears and are terrible in cross winds)

OP posts:
Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:36

hmm not sure a Jazz would be much of an improvement on a focus - they look quite big to me?, I HATE ford foucuses

OP posts:
Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:38

they both fit in a VW golf, but I refuse to drive the same car as my mum Grin

so thats the size I want, just not that!

OP posts:
Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:39

don't fit in a fiesta so that's out..

OP posts:
YouBrokeMySmoulder · 07/07/2012 22:39

Ford fiesta?

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:42

(well the rear one does fit in the fiesta but only in the front, Ideally I want em both in the back)

OP posts:
YouBrokeMySmoulder · 07/07/2012 22:43

Good xpost Grin the only other family hatchbacks are the same size as the focus, the Kia ceed and the Hyundai i30.

Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:46

hmm hoping for a proper small car
really really hope the mum car (golf) isn't the only option Grin
I'll go as big as a new micra but no bigger!

OP posts:
Cheriefroufrou · 07/07/2012 22:49

not sure what happens to the anchor belts if you put the rear facing one in the front of say a fiesta? (usually go round the feet of the seat in front)

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread