Suitable rear car seats for 2 small children and a baby (3 across)

n.d.os · 14-03-2023 10:31am #1

I'm looking for some advice on car seats. We have two toddlers aged 3 and 18 months. Both my wife and I have relatively large cars but with a third child on the horizon, we are thinking about rear car seat space. The two kids are in swivel car seats at the moment, rearward facing with Isofix bases. Putting a third seat in the middle isn't really an option in either car. Neither of us is in a position to change to a 7-seater car and to be honest if we can make the 5-seater work, it's not something we are interested in anyway.

Has anyone any good recommendations for a baby and two toddlers? We would like to keep our kids rearward facing if possible but that may not be an option. I'm doing the research now as we need to buy two new car seats as two of our existing seats will be going to our childminder soon.

RosieJoe · 14-03-2023 10:53am

Where are you based? Tony Kealy in Walkinstown was a great help for us when the kids were babies. Had 3 under 4 that all needed seats and they were able to recommend which ones to use and to try to see if they fit.

Xcellor · 14-03-2023 10:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058288194/suitable-rear-car-seats-for-2-small-children-and-a-baby-3-across

Fitting three child seats in the rear of a 5 seater and even some 7 seaters can be challenging.

We have a 3 year old, 13 month old and another in the oven and I thought i could get a booster seat between the two car seats in my BMW 5 series. No chance - even if I managed to squeeze it in it would be impossible to take the seat belt off.

Maybe this is an option https://www.multimac.com/ if you dont want to change the car.

In our case we just decided to go for a 7 seater - Citroen C4 Grand - 3 ISO fix and 3 individual seats in the rear... The extra boot space is needed for the amount of stuff that kids need.

Bored Accountant · 14-03-2023 11:05am

What type of cars do ye have? You will only be able to squeeze 3 seats across in some cars.

I had Mazda 6, and had 2 minikids & a maxi cosi across the back, and then a jodie stages once little one was 2 big for the infant carrier.

Below facebook page has loads of info for best rear facing car seats, and if you search the posts or look in the files, there is loads of pictures detials of 3 across combinations that work in different cars.

Ireland -Rear Facing Car seats for toddlers and children

n.d.os · 14-03-2023 11:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120356853#Comment_120356853

We have a Volkswagen Id4 as our main car. It's pretty big in the back with a flat floor in the middle. I think we could fit three seats in, it's just which seats to go for as some of them including the swivel Jolie seats we have at the moment are very bulky. Our second car is a Polestar 2 which is slightly smaller in the back. I'll check out that page.

n.d.os · 14-03-2023 11:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120356804#Comment_120356804

We bought most of our current seats online from Tony Kealy. Might be worth dropping into them like you said to get some proper advice. Safety is always the top priority and with three seats in the back there as so many mistakes that might be made if I purchased something unsuitable.

eusap · 14-03-2023 11:30am

I think the ID4 has Iso fix in the front seat? There is also a place in Kerry Extended rear facing somthing or other and she gives great advice on how to do it and don't forget the RSA are very helpful.

n.d.os · 14-03-2023 11:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120356946#Comment_120356946

Yes, the Id4 has Isofix in the front but with my wife or me in the passenger seat, that isn't really an option. We travel a lot as a group to see family. Some great advise so far. Thanks, everyone.

Bored Accountant · 14-03-2023 3:02pm

Although we got 3 seats across in the mazda6, I am quite tall, and leg room for me driving was a bit tighter than I'd like.

We have a jolie swivel seats in our other car, and they are quite bulky so don't think you would get them into a 3 across.

n.d.os · 14-03-2023 3:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120358008#Comment_120358008

Yes, the Jolie swivel seats are very wide. Maybe if we move one of the kids into more of a 3+ toddler seat we will have more room.

Isthisthingon? · 15-03-2023 1:06pm

We bought a multimac for my Insignia estate. We tried every combination of seat but couldn't safely fit 3 across the back, either the seats were crushed against each other, or ended up skew or you couldn't access the seat belt easily.

The multimac was a no brainer and I would recommend it , if a 7 seater isn't an option. Our kids at the time were 6, 3 & newborn.

I Belive there are only a handful of cars left that can accomodate 3 seats across the back but i think they are older wider models.

Arnout · 15-03-2023 2:02pm

Friends of mine were fine with a 2003 Mondeo with similar aged kids (5, 3 and newborn). But that was in 2011 when it wasn't a 20 year old car, not sure if it would work in a newer Mondeo either.

It did cause the 5 year old to announce that when he's old enough to buy a car, he will buy one without a middle. Because he hated having to sit in the middle 😂

kgroarke · 18-03-2024 8:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120361534#Comment_120361534

I would be interested to know how you found the multimac? Would adult's find the seats comfortable??

I am currently trying to decide on whether to buy a skoda superb and fit a multimac or go with a 7 seater

Isthisthingon? · 19-03-2024 10:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121910244#Comment_121910244

Howdy.

Mutimac was really handy. Kids were very comfortable and we had the newborn attachment also. We had the 3 seater type.

Adults cant fit into the seats unless they are (very) small themselves. The seat belts are parachute style buckles so adults cant even strap themselves in. That's not saying adults technically cant sit on the seats, its just very uncomfortable and with no seatbelt obviously - very dangerous.

Funny thing is we ended up getting a 7 seater when my wife changed her car. Ended up selling the multimac - I could have sold it 10 times over.

Depends really if you have your heart set on the skoda or dont mind the 7 seater.

Suitable rear car seats for 2 small children and a baby (3 across)

Comments