parents of 3 or more children

[Xena]

how do you fit all your kids into the car!?

I have a skoda fabia estate, and it's a big car, but Alex and Lydia's car seats take up the majority of the back seat. The tiny slither of seat that's left inbetween them is noway going to be big enough to fit a carry-car-seat for the new baby.

Do you think I will have to change my car (I'm not delighted about the thought of having to do that, it will cost money that we just can't afford!) or can you get really narrow carseats?

 

[kellie80]

When my 3rd, Nathan was born we had a Mondeo so quite a large car but we really struggled getting 3 car seats in the back even though one was only a booster seat. We bought a Picasso because it has 3 separate seats in the back they fit in so much easier. So for us, yes we had to change our car.

 

[babynumbertwo]

I sometimes have 3 children in my car and can't get them all in the back. I asked about this when buying the baby seat and was told that providing you can turn off the passenger air bag one of them can go in the front. It's not ideal but it seems to be the only option. If I have another adult with me they have to squeeze in the middle space of the back seat. So yes it is possible to manage but for me this is only for 'babysitting duties'! If all 3 were mine I might find it difficult to manage all the time. When you buy your seat you could ask if it is suitable to go in the front.

 

[hennaly]

we have a Suzuki Grand Vitira XL7 which has a 3rd row of seats, i love it as i can fit everybody in and can even squish the dogs in if needed

 

[Xena]

thanks ladies.

 

[noodle1]

I didn't know you were pregnant!!! Congratulation!!!!

 

[Xena]

thank you

 

[Mik]

When my daughter was born my eldest was just over four and my younger son was 1 and a half so simialr age gaps to what you will have when LO arrives. We had a mondeo and we did fit in 3 seats in the back for 4 years until we updated to a Zafira this summer as we are expecting number four.
What we did was put the eldest in the middle as the booster seat is the one you can get in the narrowest size (of course it depends on if your 4 yr old is tall enough for just a booster as ours was) Hubby found it quite easy to get them all in but I had to pull the two outer seats out a bit to get the seatbelt clicked in and then shove the baby seats back into place. The Zafira is now obviously much easier going but you can manage with a bit of juggling. What I would suggest is you get a friend to come round with her/his kids and car seats and have a play fitting them into your car to see if it is going to work with your car.

Good luck and congratulations

 

[Xena]

thanks Mik that's really reassuring.

 

[kellie80]

What we did was put the eldest in the middle as the booster seat is the one you can get in the narrowest size (of course it depends on if your 4 yr old is tall enough for just a booster as ours was) Hubby found it quite easy to get them all in but I had to pull the two outer seats out a bit to get the seatbelt clicked in and then shove the baby seats back into place.

Thats exactly what we used to do it just drove me mad trying to get that middle seat belt on and she always looked a bit squashed in the middle. Thinking back though, that wasn't our main reason to switch cars, we also struggled to fit out tandem pram in the boot so it was a combination really.

 

[lea m]

We had to get a Ford Galaxy!
But then we only had a Punto to start with!

Congratulations hun!!

 

[Xena]

What we did was put the eldest in the middle as the booster seat is the one you can get in the narrowest size (of course it depends on if your 4 yr old is tall enough for just a booster as ours was) Hubby found it quite easy to get them all in but I had to pull the two outer seats out a bit to get the seatbelt clicked in and then shove the baby seats back into place.

Thats exactly what we used to do it just drove me mad trying to get that middle seat belt on and she always looked a bit squashed in the middle. Thinking back though, that wasn't our main reason to switch cars, we also struggled to fit out tandem pram in the boot so it was a combination really.

ah see we have a massive boot. Enough to fit our tandem in, plus a regular umbrella pushchair, plus some shopping!

I'll have to have a play around and see if I can get some car seats to fit because I'm really not wanting to change cars.

thanks everybody.