Three children in a corsa c. Help!

[KittyLilith]

Hi I have to figure out how to fit my three DSs in the back of my car a little more comfortably than at present. My eldest doesn't need a car seat (he's 5'4") but he needs to share a backseat with DS2 (7years) and DS3 (22 months).
I currently have a nania (left over from before I had a car so only had it for occasional trips) and a hard plastic booster seat. DS1 is very uncomfortable crushed between them and DS2 is uncomfortable in the booster.
I need to replace both seats on a tight budget and make everyone as comfortable as possible. I've been looking around but everything I can find is about three seats in a row.
Can any wise mumsnetters help?

Oh and also replacing the car isn't an option for at least 12 months. I've not long passed my test and we can't afford to insure anything bigger.

Could you put your oldest in the front? Or is someone already sitting there?

For the 7yo I'd get a Britax Adventure, they're around £30 and offer side impact protection, which a backless booster won't. My dd1 is in one and seems comfortable, she sleeps in it anyway so must be .

I'm not sure about the group 1 though, I'm not sure what's narrow in that class. I'd replace the Nania though, have you seen the recent thread about them?

Goodness. We use a fiesta and it's just not possible to get three in the back, not with any sort of comfort level. I'd do it in an emergency but still.

Sorry, not sure what to suggest - my 10yo goes in the front, 6yo and 6mo in the back with all the Mcdonalds packets

I meant to say, you can get three in there with a bit of levering without the car seats - but with a baby seat and a booster there's no room in the middle really. Maybe (I hope) the corsa is a bit wider than ours?

Is there a lapbelt? If so look at the possibility of a britax eclipse in that seat.

I would replace the naina seat too.

Whats your budget?

He just about fits in the middle now. I was looking at the adventure for DS2. I thinj its on the narrower side. It's the group 1 I'm struggling with. DS1 goes in the front when Dh isn't with us buy we need to all get in sometimes.

Thanks

Need to know about what seat belts the back has and budget

There are three belts in the back, all three-point ones. Budget is v low. About £150. The adventure is only 30 though so 120 max for a group 1 unless a better combination can be found.
And yes I've seen about the nania. It was only bought for temporary use so was getting replaced anyway but I'm in more of a rush after seeing that.

Ok Im a bit out of the loop on group 1 FF seats as I rearface my daughter but if that isn't a option I think the britax eclipse is good as it has a narrow base- approx. 43cm.

Britax first class is also a good seat - width 45cm - and will fit many cars.

I have a britax adventure as a spare seat- also known as a hi liner (same seat just older name got mine from kiddicare) and am very happy with it. Again its 43cm wide. Nice SIP and head support. Don't pay anymore than £30 for it. One of the two are always on offer somewhere.

The main thing you need to look up is buckle crunch when fitting seats- especially close together.

I would go to Halfords/mothercare or better still an independant and have a play around. You can look at measurements on mothercare etc under spec tab normally.

Before you buy check out prices online-even when buying instore in Halfords its cheaper to do web reserve and collect.
Boots.com have good deals too if you know seat will fit. Eclipse often around £70 and First class £90.

Good luck and well done for passing test!

That's really helpful lagoonhaze thank you. We'll go to halfords and try those seats out.
Thank you everyone.

Could you put the two carseats next to each other rather than leaving the middle space? If you belt in the stage one carseat by the door, then shove it over as far as it will go towards the door, it may well leave room for the hbb in the middle. That gives your ds1 a little more room as he can stretch out by the door a little (as the side seats are a little wider in places than the middle one).

That was actually something I was considering janek.I tthink I'll have to try a few combinations and see what I can work out.

Am looking for a spare group 2/3 carseat and just saw the Britax Adventure mentioned here. I paid £130 for my MaxiCosi group 2/3 and kind of assumed I wouldn't get anything for less than 80 although I haven't done any research. The Adventure sounds like a perfect solution although its so cheap! Is there a reason why?

When we bought ours 2 years ago, in Halfords, the sales advisor said that Britax had stopped producing backless boosters as they are so unsafe and wanted people to but hbbs, so they drastically reduced the price on the condition that Halfords recommended them.

Britax prince is very narrow you could try that for the group 1 seat

The rrp is around 60 on adventure normally though. Just always an offer on somewhere.

Prince is a hard seat to get tight plus its the new name for freeway...a 20 plus year old design. There are better seats within your budget.