One baby & one dog - surely I don't need a new car????

[Hybrid]

Just wanting some advice please!

We're due on 21 May and finally got our car seat etc fitted into my Nissan Almera (5 door). I was amazed to find that there is really limited leg room in the back which meant that the front seat had to be pushed quite far forward to accommodate it. It meant my DH's knees were right up against the dashboard which always makes me nervous (in case of a crash which I know is morbid!).

We also have a dog which is collie sized and who sits in the boot but I'm worried that if we have our pushchair in the boot with him, he'll come out with broken legs trying to dodge the thing!!

Surely we don't need to invest in an Estate or people carrier already????? It seems a bit OTT considering we'll only have one child!!

Any advice much welcomed!!

I thought it was supposed to be better to be closer to the dash rather than farther back? Need to go look that up, don't take my word for it obviously!

Could you get a doggie seat belt for the dog and put him/her in the front passenger seat (in front of the baby/carseat)? And the other adult sit behind the driver?

When we had our car and newborn DD we managed to get DD + car seat (obviously), X2 dogs in the boot, the pram and DH and myself in our little fiesta.

It is doable, just takes a bit of working out.

If you are worried about your dog, then I would put the dog on the front passenger seat, you or your DH sit in back with your baby while the other one drives. Don't forget the doggy harness/seat belt though.

Thanks for the advice.

I think I'd feel a bit silly driving my dog around in the front of the car whilst DH had to sit in the back all the time - would the doggy harness restrain the dog enough to keep him away from baby if they were both in the back (at opposite sides)?

I guess it's just going to be trial and error - along with everything else !

I'd imagine with both of them in the back that the dog couldn't get close enough to do more than give the baby a lick. Certainly couldn't get on top of the baby.

I seem to remember the harness for my lab X keeping him relatively contained. Could you get one and try to get the dog used to it before the baby comes? Safer for the dog too, in case of a crash. If loose in the back the dog could go flying!

Do you actually go out with baby and dog and pushchair that often?

I say that because my initial response is that I have never put my dog in the boot with anything other than his bedding for the same reasons you are concerned. But I've never found it a problem, and thinking about it, actually the only times we are all in the car including the dog are if we're going away somewhere, and then we have a roof box to put the pushchair and other luggage in.

Otherwise I can't think of a time we've all been in the car at once.

Just wondering how much of an issue it's actually going to be?

I mean will you drive with all of them, not do you!

how big is the pushchair would it fit on floor in back seat?

Thanks for all your suggestions!

The buggy we have is the Quinny which I could probably fit in the back seat with it's wheels off.

Flowery - I think a roof box will probably be the best answer for all those long journeys we'll have to do. For shorter ones, they probably won't be that frequent but maybe once or twice a week.

Think the safety harness will be the best bet initially. I'm sure I'm just fussing over nothing!

Thanks again all!