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Parenting

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Original poster

3 car seats in the back of a car - do I need to buy a new car? Really? :(

47 replies

McDreamyingofawhiteXmas · 29/12/2008 19:46

DC no 3 is due in 6 weeks. We have a 6 year old and a 3 year old both of whom can go into a high seat booster. So I need to get 2 boosters and an infant carrier across the back seat of our car (BMW). We went to Kiddicare in Peterborough today and they couldn't find a combination that fitted.

Can you get 3 seats across the bak seat of your car? If so which seats have you got? Or do I have to accept we need to buy an MPV?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

popsycal · 29/12/2008 20:37

picasso picasso picassio

a friend has has scenic and picasso and would go for the picaasso every time

whitenoise · 29/12/2008 20:38

we looked at al the people carriers when were getting our car and really did NOT want one. We got a 7 seat estate instead. teeny tiny boot with all the seats down but its HUGE with them up and i can shove 2 of teh DCs in the "boot" if they are rowdy

herbietea · 29/12/2008 20:57

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Original poster

McDreamyingofawhiteXmas · 29/12/2008 20:59

Ok, will take a look at the Picasso's then. I think if we are going to buy a new car I amy as well get a 7 seater rather then a 5.

OP posts:

herbietea · 29/12/2008 21:27

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mumof2andabit · 29/12/2008 21:27

We have a Bmw 318 with no front air bag two 3 point harnesses in the back and a lap belt. So in may when babba comes along either one will go in the front or we will buy the britax Renaissance which can be ussed with a lap belt and will fit inbetween. Good luck!

Original poster

McDreamyingofawhiteXmas · 29/12/2008 21:29

How about the s-max?

OP posts:

chocolateteapot · 29/12/2008 21:41

I've just bought a Corolla Verso today as can't fit two car seats and my Mum in the back of my old corolla so had to sort something out.

Have spent ages looking into and came to the conclusion that the Verso is the best bet as do very well on safety and reliability and my old corolla has been unbelievably reliable so want to stick to Toyota.

They have dropped a lot in price over the last few months. The one I have bought is a diesel and nearly half of what it would have been at the beginning of the year when I thought it was completely out of our reach (and is £4250 cheaper than my friend's which is the same reg as mine, bought 4 months ago - hers is a higher spec but mine is diesel so I think it would have been much the same).

dizzydixies · 29/12/2008 22:55

I would've loved a grand picasso but wasn't in the budget

got a grand scenic with 17k miles on the clock for £4k at auction so it will just need to do

PollyParanoia · 30/12/2008 21:05

we can just get booster, baby seat and stage 2 toddlery seat into back of our ford focus estate. Really not a wide car but it's possible (break my fingers in the process of doing them up mind). My friend had a rover and got her three in. Think there's a conspiracy to make you believe that you need to buy a lorry to do so...

shubiedoo · 30/12/2008 21:11

Have you heard of the Sunshine Kids Radian seat? I think it's American, so I don't know if you can get it easily in the UK, but it would still be cheaper to order one from abroad than upgrade the car.
It's popular with parents of multiples as it's the narrowest going, and also folds for air travel.
I am optimistically ordering one for our 2 year old, hoping it will fit in the back of our Corolla with the regular booster and rear-facing infant seat once #3 arrives in Feb!

lou031205 · 30/12/2008 21:25

We have an N-reg (1997) Ford Mondeo.

We use:

Rear passenger side - 3 point harness - Group 1-3 Britax car seat (forward facing) quite a wide base.

Middle seat - lap belt only - Group 1 Fisher price safe voyager - can secure using lap belt only or 3 point.

Rear driver side - Space for Group 0 rear facing car seat when baby 3 arrives.

By putting the car seats in this order, the two buckles that are next to each other are both for the fixed car seats. We have ensured that they don't get 'crunched' when fitting.

The remaining buckle is on its own for the seat that is taken in and out.

chocolateteapot · 31/12/2008 07:39

Shubiedoo, I do hope you can get the three seats you need in your Corolla and have my fingers crossed. But I have struggled in mine and can't get a booster seat in between two high backed booster seats. The problem is that you have the two bucket like seats on either side then that small flat bit in the middle which isn't good for much once you have the the other seats in because of the dips. If it was all flat it would help. Yours might be newer and wider than mine though I guess.

BucketsofReindeerPoo · 31/12/2008 19:12

Shubiedoo, do you know how wide the Radian actually measures? Couldn't see any info on their website.

OHBollox · 31/12/2008 20:53

If you do buy a Picasso, get a 2nd hand one, the value almost halves after the first 12 months as we learnt the hard way

AlexandraPeppernose · 01/01/2009 11:51

we can fit 3 in the back of our mondeo. Thats a booster, high back booster and infant carrier

whitenoise · 01/01/2009 11:53

UK safety tests are different to american ones (as are UK cars) so i would be a funny about using a Radian - but that is just my opinion of course

whoingodsnameami · 01/01/2009 11:53

It is not illegal to have one child with no carseat and using a lap belt, if they are over i think 3 years old, and if you cant fit a third car seat in.

beautifulgirls · 01/01/2009 20:14

"It is not illegal to have one child with no carseat and using a lap belt, if they are over i think 3 years old, and if you cant fit a third car seat in."

...but is it safe??

BucketsofReindeerPoo · 05/01/2009 18:47

Safer if they're sitting on a firm cushion to make them taller anyway.

NKffffffff88e02a41X11cec99dd47 · 12/01/2009 14:36

I have to have 3 car seats. 8 mo twins and 22 mo ds. We have Peugot Partner car. It looks like a van with windows, we get a lot of grief as it is sooo uncool, but 3 baby seats fit across the back and it has an enourmous boot which is also required for my monster buggy.

weblette · 12/01/2009 14:44

They're much more expensive but the bases on Isofix seats are a lot narrower than conventionally fixed ones and most can be fitted just with a seat belt.

We have a Grand Scenic and it's great - but with 4dcs I don't really have any option

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