What is the law on 3 car seats in the back seat?

[MummyKSA]

Hellloooo! I'm just wondering if anyone knows for sure the rules on having 3 kids in the back seat. I have a 6 year old daughter on a high backed seat, my 8 year old brother on a booster seat and my 5 weeks old daughter in a joie I-size car seat. I'm struggling to get the booster seat in the middle, I've resorted to taking the booster out and letting the 8 year old just sit with the adult seat belt on. It's not an option for one of them to sit in the front as it's usually taken. Can anyone shed any light please? I've tried looking on the direct gov website and this is what I've come across but I'm still not certain that it's allowed? Thanks! Xx

The law is clear that every child should be in an appropriate car seat. You need to put your 8 years old in the front if they car seats don’t all fit in the back.

Why can’t she sit in the front?

It looks like it’s legal for a child to be without a car seat, if there’s not room, but it won’t be as safe. Couldn’t the person taking up the passenger seat take up the middle seat instead?

Hmm that doesn't make it any clearer to me either. How tall is the 8 year old? Am just thinking if he's over 135cm then legally the booster is no longer needed.

I bought one of these to be able to fit three in the back, i would have prefered to use a hhb if there was room www.amazon.co.uk/All-Ride-Booster-Seat-Grey/dp/B00DN71448?tag=mumsnetforum-21

The 8 year old can sit in the back without a booster seat if you can't fit 3 car seats in the back, a child over 3 can sit with just the adult seat belt. It's not as safe but I had to do this previously because I can't switch off the airbags in the front of my car. I didn't feel overly comfortable doing it but it was a short journey and there wasn't really another option.

It is legal for the 8 year old to be in the back with no seat if there is no room for one.
Far less safe though.

What car do you have?

My understanding is it’s safer for them to be in the back in the middle without because they’re protected by the seat either side than in the front (because in a crash impact is more likely to hit the front)

Have you tried a bubble bum booster seat. They are really narrow, not much different to an 8 year old I think.

Try multimac. They do bench seats that fit in to standard sized cars but have 3 or 4 car seats for kids in the back. Perfect for large families and cheaper than buying a bigger car!

https://multimac.co.uk/3childdcarseat

Are you sure your 8 year old still needs a booster? It’s not required over 135 cms.

Put the 8 year old in the front and put the extra adult in the back.

It's not an option for one of them to sit in the front as it's usually taken.

Unless it is taken by another child in a harnessed seat, that person needs to sit in the middle. You are risking the lift of the child in the middle at back for an adult’s comfort in the front.