Fitting three child seats in back of car?

[Mellors]

Hi, looking for some advice. I have a Vauxhall Zafira, and have only just realised that I don't think I can fit three child seats in the back when my new baby arrives. I'll have 1 x booster set, 1 x toddler seat and 1 x baby seat.

Has anyone got any experience of fitting them in (narrower booster seats maybe?) or know of a car that would.

Am loathe to have one in the boot seat as a) it doesn't look terribly safe and b) I use it for work/carting stuff around.

Any advice appreciated!

[Fuschia]

there is a sort of huge 3 seat car seat thing you can buy that straps into the back of a car

i forget what its called though

costs quite a lot

[nunheadmum]

We've got a Scenic 5/7 seater (chosen over the Zafira so in same league) and we get a toddler seat, a booster seat (with full back) and then a booster cushion - the latter used more for occasional use, when friends are in the car. Is the child in the booster chair able to use just a cushion rather than the full back? I can imagine though that 3 seats with full backs (or combo with baby chair too) might be a bit tight but would have thought it'd be possible.

Other option I guess is one in the front and second adult, if there is one, sits in the middle of the back seat. Not the comfiest option though for the adult.

[kristymac1]

Hi, We have a Zafira and I can get 3 seats in the back of ours (combination of 3 toddler seats - which are the widest - pretty snug, and more comfortably 2 boosters with backs and a toddler seat) - takes a bit of jigging but they fit fine and safe.

[The Nappy Lady]

We have a Volvo Estate 480 (boxy but good, very Dulwich housewife I know), and it has a very clever pull down booster seat in the middle of the back seat....it can be an arm rest like most cars have, but also has a back rest that you can flip up, and then the seat bit goes wider to accommodate a childs bottom! 3 proper 3 point rear seat belts too.

So, normally I have C's rear facing to age 3 seat one side and O's 5 year old booster seat with back rest the other side, but when needed I can flip down the 3rd seat and fit another child in the back without any hassle at all. Actually there is usually quite a bit of negotiating as to who gets to sit on the 'secret or magic seat' as it gets called as they all love it.

[Fuschia]

http://www.multimac.co.uk/3_child_car_seat

[Mellors]

Thanks all, v helpful. I am going to give the task of sorting it all out to OH, so imagine I will be scrabbling round Halfords on my due date.....

[SummerMum]

We had same problem, and managed a rear facing baby seat and two toddler seats in an SMax. It was quite disappointing when touring the car showrooms, as we didn't get much joy from fairly clueless salesmen about why this was a problem. The SMax is a 7 seater, so for long journeys we will move one of the kids seats to the third row, so that they can't attack each other!