Best pushchair/car seat to fit in a Fiat 500?

[SJ789]

Hi all

I found a thread on this although it was about 10 years old! I couldn't find anything more recent so thought I would ask again as I'm sure pushchair/car seat models change a lot over 10 years!

We are due our 1st baby in December and as the title suggests I'm looking for advice on the best pushchair/car seat that will fit in my Fiat 500. I haven't done too much research yet but was hoping for some people's recent experiences to steer me in the right direction!

Thank you!

@SJ789 have you got a budget in mind? Do you want a fixed car seat (isofix) or not fussed? What area do you live in - more countryside walks with uneven ground, or town/city area?

Change the car if you can. Not the issue of the pushchair but getting the baby in and out is an absolute pain in the tits, particularly when they are very new and you are still a bit delicate. Even with an isofix bad to click the seat into you have to manhandle it into the back like a fucking ninja lifting weights in a tiny box.

@hulahoopqueen budget wise looking at up to about £800, I live in a city so not too much in the way of uneven ground. Not fussed about isofix, I was hoping maybe for having a car seat that uses adaptors to fit in the pushchair as well but if no models like that will fit in my little car then it's no biggy! There's just so much to look at I feel so lost! Haha

@covidcloser unfortunately I can't afford to buy a new car at the moment :-( my partner has a bigger car but he will need it for work during the week. Luckily I can walk most places I need to so hoping I won't have to struggle too much with the small car, but just want to buy something that will work in it for those rainy days and odd places I can't walk to!

Cant you just get insured on each others cars then whoever has the baby that day has the bigger car?

@SJ789 with that budget I would look at the babyzen yo-yo, which takes up a tiny amount of space in the boot. Pretty sure it takes maxi cosi car seats with adapters fitted but don't quote me on it

@hulahoopqueen thank you I will take a look!

could you just use a sling/carrier for the for the times you go somewhere in the car? then you can pick a pushchair more freely. then when baby gets a bit bigger you can just get an umbrella buggy for the car if you need one.

Do you have a friend with a car seat so you can have a go. They are really not that easy to get into any car never mind a tiny three-door car. I’d be using the bigger car if I were you.

We have a Mini. We have a Cybex Beezy which is lie flat from birth and fits in the boot (cost £260) and Cloud Z i-size (£400 ish including base). You can use adaptors so the carseat attaches to the pushchair.

Bugaboo Bee

Upp

Uppaby Vista fits nicely into the back of the Fiat 500. You could then put the car seat in the back (changing bag on floor of the passenger side) like I did. I used a car seat with 360 base. The I-spin 360 by Joie is great - it’s a bit of a faff fitting it but once it’s in it’s great. I used to put DS into it from the front and turn him around - it was so easy.

Thank you all for the suggestions!

Yoyo, and get a car seat that lives in the car rather than hoiking it in and out with a baby.

@EssentialHummus

Yoyo, and get a car seat that lives in the car rather than hoiking it in and out with a baby.

I can't think of anything worse in a tiny 3 door car than having to climb into the back to get baby into seat

I dunno covid - we've had both sorts and overall I found it easier to shift just the baby into/out of the car, rather than the whole contraption.

@EssentialHummus

I dunno covid - we've had both sorts and overall I found it easier to shift just the baby into/out of the car, rather than the whole contraption.

I did too, but not in a FIAT 500 - just clinging into the back is tricky without holding a baby as well! I'm not the most agile of people though, it may be simply for others

I have a fiat 500, short trips I would put the car seat (maxi cosi cabriofix) in the front seat with airbags off. Longer ones in the back on the isofix base, it is a faff getting it in and out the back!

I have a maxi cosi zelia pram, fits in the boot if you take the back wheels off, really quick to do. Then when daughter was 8 months, got a casatto whoosh xl stroller, all in one fold and fits in great.

If you Google, there is a site that compares prams fitting in the boot, sorry I don't have the link. Hope that helps. Ps second child is due in November, so now I have to get a new car 😭

Thanks everyone

Luckily I'm a short (5'2") person so ducking in the back of the Fiat isn't too tricky for me, although I'm obviously yet to try doing it with a baby/car seat in my arms! Will consider having a fixed car seat in the back and just moving baby in and out! Also good idea on having the seat in the front with the airbags off, most of my journeys will be short so might be a good shout!

@Fuzzbuzz86 thank you and good luck with baby no.2! Sorry you have to say goodbye to the Fiat though! 😭

Jumping on this a little later to offer some Fiat 500 advice from a fellow fiat 500 mum! I have a 9 month old and have had our Fiat the whole time, whilst it obviously isn’t huge I have managed to cope! I have a mamas and papas Ocarro which fits in the boot with the seat on (I just have to remove 1 wheel which takes literally 2 seconds and make sure the seat part is rear facing when collapsing). When my baby was born she was in the carry cot section which obviously doesn’t fit in the boot with the base of the pram but I just utilised the back passenger space for it, behind the drivers side and that worked fine. I also used and still do use the Maxi Cosi Pebble Pro Car seat with an isofix base and this can also be used on the base of the park with adapters that were provided in the bundle I got our pram with from mamas and papas. I hope this restores your confidence in the ability of the Fiat 500! It is possible! :)