Car seats and lap belts?

[nancy10]

Does anyone know if you can fit a rear and forward facing car seat using the lap strap in the middle? My car (Zafira) doesn't have an isofix fitted so this isn't an option. And the seat belt in the middle is a lap strap. I will have 4 children and the idea is that when we all go out as a family, three children will be in the back and one in very back so I have room to put the pushchair!

I'm fairly sure it depends on the type/make of seat, tbh. What ages are your kids, and what seats have you got?
There must be a way to do this, tho - lots of cars only have lap belts in the middle seat

I don't know of a lap belt fitted seat though someone may know more, my carseat knowlege is pretty limited! Also, have you tried fitting 3 seats in it? I only ask as we were car seat shopping the other day and wanted to try to fit 3 seats in the back of our zafira in case of theoretical 3rd child but it wasn't happening! That would have been a high backed booster, rear facing and a forward facing. I suppose you might manage to squeeze them in if it was 2 boosters and one seat.

I suggest you read the manufacturer's instructions. Carseats are specifically designed for specific types of seatbelts so fitting a seat not designed for a lap belt in a lap belt seat would be potentially dangerous.

I believe there are a couple of seats on the market that can be used with lap belts (Britax makes one). However lap belts are becoming scarcer in preference for 3-point belts due to potential injuries. So, the number of seats available on the market that can be used are reduced. When we tried to buy one adapted to lapbelts we couldn't find one.

Here is a useful website that summarises the issues: www.childcarseats.org.uk/index.htm

Hope that helps.

Hum a quick google suggests the britax eclipse can be used with a lap belt.

Thanks for your replies. I have a child who no longer needs a booster seat and two who have the basic booster seats. So it's only the baby (that we are expecting) who would need a proper car seat. The older children aren't allowed to sit in the middle with just a lap belt. I was only thinking this because years ago I can remember my brother being in a car seat in the middle of the car, the seatbelts in the back law had just come in and cars just had a lap belt in the middle then. I know times have changed and so have car seats etc but I thought it might be possible to still be able to use seats in the middle with just a belt. I will look at the link and the Britax car seat.

Your older child could sit in the front, and you or dh could travel in the middle seat in the back :)

Britax freeway works with lap belt, we had an camper that only had lap belts. Halfords went through the seats that can be used (limited choice).
Might be worth a trip there.

WE have a van with a lap strap in the middle.

DS firstly had a Maxi Cosi Cabriofix on the lapstrap. You can also use an Isofix base with a lapstrap, and but the Cabriofix on that. He is now in a Britax Eclipse on a lapstrap.

We will need a new van when he goes into the next stage car seat.

the britax 2 way elite can be fitted with a lapbelt and has the added advantage of being extended rear-facing (up to 25kg)

i think you can also fit it forward facing with the lapbelt too

I had a Britax which fitted in a lapbelt only seat which had a top tethering system which was similar to some of the isofix tethering systems now. I'm sure that there must be some which do this now?