2 x toddlers + 1x baby in the back of an audi A3???

[jojochanel]

Husband is very distressed about the impending birth of DC3 as it could force a change of car from his beloved Audi A3 sportback. We have two maxi-cosi priori seats in the back at the moment to ferry DS1 (31/2 plus a shortie) and DS2 (1.5).

I've suggested we put the baby in the front without airbag turned on and one of us gets the bus/train if we need to go anywhere until DS1 gets big enough for a narrow booster but he says I'm being tight?

He's been looking at MPV/SUVs on WhatCar with his head in his hands this morning and I thought someone may have managed to get three setas in the back of an A3???? He can't face a picasso/zafira cos he's a car snob.

I'm also reticent to change car cos the current Audi is a company one so it's sort of free....

Don't think it's possible TBH, even some kind of booster seat would be impossible. On the one occassion we had 3 seats (had nephew in car too), we put the baby in front with airbag off and I squeezed in the back between 2 toddler seats - and it was a very tight fit.

Get him to test drive some 5+2 cars, my hubby is a car snob and had an A3, yes it was nice. When we got the kids we went to a very sporty version of a Honda Civic, now we have a Toyota Verso MPV so he has been weaned gradually. When we went for test drives they were much better than he thought they were going to be. The car makers do try and cater to do the car snobs with big engines, trim etc.

lionstar - that is an option cos I'm not that big myself....I think I could cope with that for supermaket trips etc and get train for bigger family trips. Think husband is unduly stressing about something that will only be a temporary problem but he's banging on about boot space too.

I think that Britax seats are supposed to fit together (you would need the rearfacing seat in the middle) but not sure if it would fit in your car.

Are you anywhere near one of the car seat safety centres?

Some ideas here including Multimac car seats.

I have an audi a3 at the moment and it's a squeeze with one highbacked booster and 2 kids sitting one seats, I cannot imagine how it would work with 3 car seats to be honest and then there's the kicking and squabbling as they get older, rather you than me.

Wow that multimac system looks great, expensive though!

The Multimac is less expensive than changing the car.

we had three in the back of an audi
it meant shopping around for boosters for the eldest and was a very tight squeeze but it was doable, wasn't long before two were in high back boosters anyway

bronze - do you mind me asking which boosters you went for? Think I'm going to need a highback one as DS1 is really only size of a 2 year old despite him going to be 3.5 when the next ones comes along. I know alot of them say your kid has to be 4 (or 18KG however much that is?)

We have 3 under 5 and an Audi A3 (DH's work car) and NO WAY could you fit 3 seats in it. TBH I don't think you could even do 2 and a slim booster.

We also have a VW Touran and are test driving the Ford Galaxy for the MN thingy- I would recommend both, depending on how big you want to go!

My 3 are nearly 5, 3.5 and 19mths and they are all still in the big car seats (maxi cosi Tobi x 2 and 1 priori). DS has a high backed booster but feels sick when in it so we have just stuck with the big car seat for now.

My 318kg is 39lbs so 2st 12lbs. I think ds is just about that, maybe lighter (5 in march) and dd is only about 26lbs around 12kg at 3.5. I think we will have to get the high backed boosters with an integral 5 point harness- probably safer anyway.

ooops extra 'my 3' in last paragraph there!

I dont think they were a 'make' as such. I honestly cant remember sorry. I would check but in DHs car. I know I sent him round all the shops with a tape measure

To be honest though I would make him change cares. In the long run its not going to be practical with 3 children anyway. You don't need a huge car/mpv though with three.

We do need something bigger now as we have four and an estate but its just not happening

Sorry meant to say can he change to something slightly bigger on the company? We have an audi avent? estate and we fit 3 of them in that

His work tend to say it's a golf 1.9 or nothing but he got an Audi A3 as it was an ex director car. A golf would be even smaller. If we don't opt for the company car he gets an allowance for a car and we can get what we want but we're both not keen cos we never seem to be out of the garage with the audi and the whole thing seems expensive to me. I just like the fact the whole thing is insured for us and if it breaks they fix it at no cost. Plus he just loves the car. DS1 weighed today and 14KG at 3.5 so he's 'teeny winey' as he calls it so no chace of a highback booster either. I'm thinking the bus is an option for now.....