5 children, their carseats, a double buggy and one Zafira. My head's in a spin!

[Ceolas]

Please come and talk calmly to me ladies

I'm expecting DC5 in August. Atm we have a Zafira and until this time next year, it really won't be possible for us to get something bigger.

DD3 will be a week or two short of 2 when the baby's born so the first issue is do we get a double buggy? I wondered about using a sling and a single or a buggy board for the first few months but the more I think about it the more I think I'd rather have both of them fastened in! Especially for dashing up and down to school (at the last minute!)

So I went to Mothercare this morning, convinced there would be nothing to fit in the miniscule boot space. It turns out the only double that will fit with all the seats up is the Phil and Teds. After I've removed the second seat and both wheels . Oh, and it's £450! but cheaper than a new car...

A couple of others would fit if I folded a back seat down, meaning DD1 (9.5 years old, 137cm tall) would have to sit in the front, with an airbag.

If anyone's still with me, the options as far as I can see are

1. Get a bigger car - just keep buying the lottery tickets.

2. P&T in the boot and all kids in middle/back seats of car.

3. Cheaper double with DD1 in front.

4. Don't get a double buggy.

Help!!!

Hi,

I had my fifth baby last october and i also have a 1 year old. Like you I can't afford a new car as yet!
I used a sling for the first few months with a single pushchair and when she started getting a bit heavy (lol) I bought a P&T. I make sure the passenger seat is pulled back as far as and put it there. when I have a passenger, I take appart the P&T (wheels and all)and fit it in the boot. At first it'[s a bit of a hassle but if it's all you can do for now, you quickly get the hang of it! I can now get all 5 children and P&T in the car in under 5 mins lol!

Sorrento I don't like the zafira at all from a space perspective but it has been very reliable. If you have 3DC and can fit them all in the middle row it would be great. I don't reckon the 2 back seats are up to being used on a permanent basis though. getting in and out os difficult when their legs grow a bit

Do what I did, get rid of the Zafira and buy a Mazda Bongo, I can get 6 car seats in the back and a double and a single buggy in the boot, everything but the kitchen sink under the seats.

I'd love to get rid of it shoshe. But the £££ don't work out just now. Incidentally, did you ever fit a double buggy in the zafira?

yes, although best I could do was my Marco sky with the wheels off, or a graco duosport bungyed into place behind both back seats up.

Thanks. And either of them any good?

loved the Duo, I have had 4 over the years, I like that they have the front bar, so that when in the winter foot muffs are in them they don't slip down, plus both seats independently lay flat.

marco is brilliant for school run, where it is narrow to get into school, but only the rear reclines and it is 'tall' although I manage and am only 5'1'' I do have to put my foot on the back to get up kerbs.

Duo also has great shopping basket, Marcos is crap.

I have a zafira and a double buggy the maclaren rally twin it just fits in the boot or I push the middle seat back and place in middle section behind front seats if I need the boot space. it does not give anyone much footroom but works if eldest two are in back and smaller three in middle.
having had a 16 month and an 18 month age gap I can count the amount of time i have used the double (10approx) I used a sling at first now I use a framed back carrier to carry ds4 who is 16 months as I find it easier than a sling.

I keep wondering if it would be less hassle with a sling jes. Might try it for a month or two and see.

The double is a nightmare in my experiance, when it comes to zafiras they have no space when both back seats are in use, at least a sling takes up no room, also my daughter is not great in the double she will not leave her brother alone so she walks or goes in a single. Good luck with number 5

I've done the double buggy (P&T - I love it), sling and single buggy (Zapp) and the double buggy (Powertwin - I hate it) and sling. (5dcs aged 1-6).

I have to say by far the easiest is the single buggy and sling. I say that even though I adored my P&T and used it till it fell apart. Once I'd found the right slings for me life changed and got so much easier. Can you get to a sling meet and try a few out? I never thought I'd get along with one but love them and I find it so much quicker then fiddling around getting them in the buggy when they just want to fight you, wish I'd done it sooner though and saved some money. I use my double buggy so little even when dh is around to help.

Car wise, we have a Toyota Estima. I love it, loads of space, we have fitted in double buggy, travel cot etc plus luggage, without much stress. Have to say I have only driven it a few feet (I'm just starting to learn) but dh loves it too.

I say save your money for a new car and just try a couple of slings, but it sounds like you want a double.

I found a very cheap and compact tandem double called Happy Baby - bought in Holland but you might find online. I had 3 dc in the back of a fiat punto and the double buggy fitted into the boot if I took the shelf off the boot. The back seat went totally flat but was not well padded, but fine with a baby nest inside. Front seat not suitable for sleeping but fine for a toddler just to sit in. Only problem we had was it was so compact that when baby could sit up the toddler's hair was pulled constantly by baby sitting behind!

direct.asda.com/Red-Kite-Push-Me-Duo-Twin-Buggy/002689843,default,pd.html?cm_mmc=ad-ppc--ggle-pla--Babies-and-Kids-_-002689843&utm_source=ggle-pla&utm_medium=ppc&utm_term=002689843&utm_content=Babies-and-Kids&utm_campaign=ad

This fits perfectly behind the boot seats of a citrion c4 grand. Zafira similar, I would give it a try, £99 in asda.

Sorry link does not work. Its called the redkite push me duo. £99 in asda. suitable from birth, comes with rain cover and hoods, looks like maclaren twin triumph, much lighter though than mclaren.

£99 in asda,

Do you mainly drive alone or with another adult. Sorry if this has already been suggested I didn't read all responses in detail. If you were to get a MacLaren type double umbrella fold could you put it in the adult passenger seat if you are not using the passenger seat. If you do usually have two adults in the car could you have two sungle umbrella folds as an option and each adult has one buggy to push.

ZOMBIE THREAD I think the dc in the op will be slightly big for a double pushchair now.