0+/1 car seat help for smallish car

[Hibbs126]

I'm struggling to find a car seat that will fit in my car that leaves enough room for a passenger as well. I have a 2012 Seat Ibiza estate which was bought for the larger boot space as have a fairly large dog,
before a child was in the picture. The space in the back is quite tight and I am struggling to find a rear facing car seat that doesn't need the front seat to be so far forward that a passenger can still sit comfortably.

I had ordered a Britax first plus after seeing the depth was 59cm but should have realised this was for when it was upright not rear facing. When fitted my husband can barely get in and out and definitely couldn't sit for a long journey, it also affects what I can see when driving as he is so far forward it blocks my view for turning etc. I can't put the seat behind me as I wouldn't have enough room to sit either.

Can anyone give any recommendations for a smaller rear facing seat or do I need to start looking for a new car as guessing they can't be much smaller as will just be outgrown fairly quickly. Ideally I didn't want an isofix as may have to put it in my husbands car occasionally, the Britax first plus fits fine in his but its not so economical and also tight for the dog!

[BertieBotts]

Is this for a newborn or an older child? The most compact rear facing seats are the ones from 9-25kg, but they aren't suitable from birth. You can use an infant carrier for the first 12 months or so and then move into one of these seats. The reason they're more compact is they sit a lot more upright. The ones from 0-18kg tend to be quite reclined, because they fit with a seatbelt and the seatbelt has to kind of cradle the back of the seat. Isofix ones can have a more upright position, but need space for the isofix base itself so you don't really gain any space back.

[Lavender2021]

Depending on the age of the child the britax romer max way plus is compact apparently but from 9kg.
www.britax-romer.co.uk/car-seats/toddler/max-way-plus/1753.html

It's worth seeing if you have a car seat specialist shop near you, avoid halfords or symths toys as they don't have get training on seats.
We found our local shop really helpful as we could try different seats in the car to test the fit.

[LividLiving]

We always sit the parent who isn’t driving in the back for this reason. God knows how we’d manage with a second baby...

[Hibbs126]

Thanks for the replies, it would be for a newborn so maybe I need to look at just getting a infant carrier for now. I was hoping to get one that they wouldn't grow out of too quickly but makes sense that the ones for older children are more upright. I had been looking at the Britax maxway plus so maybe will try that and find an infant carrier until they are big enough for that.

My husband can't fit in the seat behind me either so that's not an option!

[BertieBotts]

OK so for an infant carrier to fit until the baby is OK in the Max Way Plus, you need one that either isn't i-size, so doesn't have a height limit other than the size of the seat or you want one with a height limit that's more than 80cm.

A lot of the newer Maxi Cosi ones for example only go up to 75cm, which is a bit of a pain as then they're too short to fit into the bigger seat safely.

These are the ones I'd look at:

Joie Juva (budget) or Gemm (budget but fits on pushchairs)
Maxi Cosi Cabriofix / Pebble (from outlet website) but NOT pebble pro/plus as lower height limit.
Britax Babysafe
Britax Babysafe i-size 2 (or the new one they're about to bring out next month) - premium/luxury option!

Ideally make an appointment with a baby stuff shop and see if you can try seats out in your car. You'll get a tiny bit more space if you are happy to fit the baby seat without using a base unit for it.

[Lavender2021]

Depending on your budget and I would definitely want to try it in your car. The Axkid One+ is isofix and will do from birth till 23kg or 125cm, its fixed in the car so wouldn't go on a pushchair. I had it in a Ford fiesta.
Make sure the front seat is sat up as much as comfortable as that can help with space for the front passengers and car seat.

[Hockeyboysmum]

Ive got joie tilt and it doesnt seem too big. Rear faces from birth until 18kg i think

[Hibbs126]

Thank you for the suggestions, will have a look at them online and see what the local independent baby shops stock to see if I can try them in the car

[dottiedaisee]

I do not recommend Britax Romer ..an absolute nightmare to fix in the car ,16 month old looks uncomfortable and it doesn’t recline enough for a comfy snooze ! I really wish I had read the reviews beforehand.
It’s also forward facing which was my mistake. Such a shame that you cannot go and actually look at seats and all online..at least in our part of the country.