How do you get two baby seats and a booster seat into an MPV?

[KristinaM]

We don?t have twins but I hope you multiple mums might be able to help me with this. We will shortly have two babies 13 months apart and a 5 year old. Our present family car won?t take two baby seats and a booster seat in the back, so we are having to look at MPVs ? the kind with two rows of back seats that are supposed to seat seven.

We have looked at several so far and can?t work out the answer to this basic question. You need to put the babies in the middle row, in the outside seats, the ones nearest the doors ? yes? Because otherwise you will break your back trying to lift a baby into the middle seat and strap him in safely. Especially when he is a year old, weighs 30lbs and is having a tantrum.

So?once you have the babies in their car seats, there is no room in between to get a booster seat for your older child, so they have to get into the back row. How do they do this? You can?t slide the whole second row forward as its too heavy with two babies and car seats. You can?t fold back the seat as they have car seats and children in them. You can?t have the older child climb in the boot over the twin buggy and the shopping etc. How can you always put them in the car first, sliding the middle row of seats forward for them while simultaneously stopping two toddlers running into the road?

Sorry if this is a really stupid question but we just can?t work it out.

Like geekgrrl I drive a toyota corrolla verso - I really didn't want to have to get anything bigger because I will need to get into restricted spaces on the school run come August!!

Its fantastic for the built in boosters if your kids are old enough to use them. Mine are covered with stage 2 seats just now and my eldest (4) sits in the middle with normal belt no booster or in the front with me as she's quite tall. I gave up trying to keep my car looking pretty and either pulled the front passenger seat forward to make space for her to pass when the stage 1 seats were in or now let her climb over the driver/passenger seat (yeah, shoes on seats and EVERYTHING!). Nice big boot and its quite low for getting the double buggy in. (The new verso says its a 7 seater but they're not what I'd call seats and it compromises boot space, the five seater is fine). Its also got tons of spaces to keep things. Best of luck.

we have 3 kids, ds1 is 3.5 and twins are 18 months.

we drive a mondeo and twins seats and booster fit well in the back seat

well here's an interesting one. We have a vauxhall Zafira, if we strap car seats on to either end of middle row of seats then you cant slide the seats forward coz the fact the seats are strapped in stops you. Whoever is sitting in the back has to climb in through the boot which is ok unless we been shopping and rest of boot full of shopping. If we put one of the babies on back seat then they don't like it as they basically have no interaction with anyone else.

No easy answer and Zafira definatly not the biggest option. If put two car seats in middle row then not a lot of room for whoever is sitting in the middle and my kids are 11 & 13

looks like i've killed another thread oh well never mind. Or maybe its already all been said.

I have a terrano rather than an MPV, and we don't have any probs.
when we have all four in the car, the twins go on the outside of the middle row, and the older two go throught the boot. When we only have three, the twins go in the same place, and I can jsut tilt them forward a bit and ds can squeeze past into the middle seat. There is plenty of room for three car seats of any kind.
Since one of yours will be 13mnths and forward facing you shouldnt have any probs if you can find one that is wide enough for three seats on the back seat. It is easier to buckle in the middle seated child from the front seat than from the door.

another idea - get a travel system - then u will take the baby's seat out each time anyway, so can get a child in the back before you put it in.

We have a grand espace. Each seat is proper size so fits car seats. I sit my 7yr in the 3rd row with my 4yr old who has a booster seat. In the second row I have a maxi-proiri car seat for my 2yr old & will have a maxi-cosi car seat for baby due in september. I have one seat free and sometimes I have my 4yr old on the second row with her booster seat. No probs to clip everyone in. Very comfortable. To get into the 3rd row my kids go through the door at the back. To clip in my 4yr old I just fold one seat back and then I can reach her seat.

we have a Citroen Berlingo which only has 3 seats across the back but I have fitted child seats in the back often! Baby in carrytot seat can go in the front as the airbag can be switched off if you don't want him/her in the back with big siblings. Also, the Berlingo has slidey doors which are very useful when trying to get children out of carseats.

does any one kknow if the buggy that goes with the britax travel system will fit in the boot of a N reg renault megane hatch back?

We have Toyota Emina which seats 8 in various configurations. We have DS1 (4) and DD1 (3) in car seats with a space between them in the back row and twins (9mths) in the middle row together with space next to the sliding door (back sliding door on one side only). We can swivel the seats around to make them all face each other or just swivel one middle seat around which makes it far easier to get in and out of the back. If we are out, I usually get DS1 and DD1 in front (driver/passenger) seats while getting DTs in (I can lean across to put one baby in and then carry the other in and strapped into the far seat) and then after buggy folded and stowed get DS1 and DD1 strapped in. Easier if I have someone with me. If I'm at home park close to front door and do DTs first then DS/DD1. Will be even more fun when next one appears in March!

We have just got a Kia Seconda too and I have been puzzled with these questions. Bravedgoing shopping and took Mummy with me to help. It took ages. HAd to get DS2 (2) in very back, strap him in. Then put DT's in middle row. DS1 was at school. The whole process if them worse when you are not in the safe environment of your driveway but in the middle of a busy shoppingcentre car park. My Mum stood with babies while I loaded up DS2 and so on and so on with buggies etc. I have decided after that trip that I cannot go out in car to a busy car park by myself. Who watches the babies and buggies etc while I am loading each child up as I can't fit the buggy by the side of the car and cannot trust DS2 or babies to be left far out of reach on the safe path. Will now only venture to friends. How do you all, (after solving how to load the car) manage to know who to leave at kirb etc etc, I can't lift two car seats or two babies while strapping DS2?? Must say thought Kia is good, all proper seats and room enought for a moutain buggy with twin carry cot in boot.