A small car that fits 3 children? The impossible?

[softsummer]

Recently found out I'm expecting dc3. It's a big surprise and I'm currently focusing all my freaking out on the issue of needing a new car because everyone tells me I need a seven-seater.

But is there a small car that can still hold 3 dc in the back? I don't really want to drive a 7-seater SUV or a van as I'm shit at parking anyway. Right now I have a Honda jazz, very happy with it but it's quite old now and I don't think it'll cut it.

DC will be 7, 3 and 0. I am quite tall. Please tell me there's some cheap and tardis-like small car I can fit them all in??

Will you be carrying another adult as well? Will 7yo need an isofix seat? If yes to both, it’s going to be tough.

Yeah ideally DH and I could both be in the car too.

7yo is currently in an isofix high back booster and still 20cm away from being able to do without one unfortunately, although I think there is a legal exemption when it's a third child? But I do also want to be safe as well as legal!

Would a Ford cmax fit? Or an smax?

We have a c-max and there are 2 isofix points in the back but middle seat can hold a car seat as full seat belt and technically wide enough. It's a squeeze though and you need to have the right combination of seats. HBB don't legally need to be isofixed in - the child is held by the seat belt. It's not a huge car but very spacious inside and a good sized boot.

Sorry hope that's helpful!

The only way to know is to try your seats. A mpv might be easier for you to put a baby into but harder for a small child to climb into themselves.
A civic is the next size up from a jazz I think? Try that, or any brand alternative of the 'one up from jazz/focus/Astra' etc . That extra few inches in the width might be enough.

Multimac make a special seat for 3 or 4 children next to each other https://www.multimac.com/

We had three DC in a Ford Focus. One in a hbb and 2 rear-facing. We had to go to a special car seat shop to see what would fit. It was very tight but certainly possible. Once the eldest no longer needs a seat it's much easier.

Citroen C5 Aircross - has three full sized seats at the back and you can fit 3 car seats. Feels like a small to medium sized SUV to drive and a decent sized boot.

Reanault Scenic - again 3 full sized seats in the back row - never had one of these but think these are bigger and more old fashioned that the Aircross.

They are the main options if you don’t want a 7 seater! And most smaller 7 seaters don’t have any boot with back row in action.

Or you get a multimac and use in your existing car. These are controversial but I’ve used them nannying over the years and they are a great solution if you want to keep your existing car.

Multimacs are dubious, safety wise. It wouldn’t be an option I’d consider.

Multimac is great IMHO.

Some great suggestions here thanks. I'm interested in why the multimac is so controversial, I've never heard of it before!

Just looking at the Citroen C5 Aircross and it could be the perfect option. Thanks so much, never would have considered it if you hadn't suggested it!

No extended rear facing I expect. Ideally you’d want your 3 year old still rear facing as well as the baby. The multi mac seems to have a rear facing option for babies (infant carrier) but only up to 12/13kg so most babies will be forward facing from 15 months onwards which is the legal minimum age but is not as safe as staying rear facing.

We have a Skoda Octavia and didn't want to change cars so I'm relegated to the back middle seat at the moment between DC1 and DC2!

So have car seats changed massively over recent years? Our DC is a teenager. Rear facing car seats for 3 year olds were not a thing then. Isofix had only just come in and not many people had them.

Honestly most 5 seaters work. For years our second car was a Nissan micra and my rather tall DP would fit 4 kids in with him. Some very narrow booster seats and child car seats and you can do it. We had a bmw 3 series as a hire car at one point and that was roomy enough too, so honestly yes you could get 3 in the Honda jazz if you wanted. Most regularly I’d let the 7 year old sit in the front but when your DP is with you as long as you have a narrow booster they can sit in the middle of two isofix seats in the back.