New baby 3 under 5

onlyroz

The best value larger family car is probably the Citroen Xsara Picasso. You'll probably find that it's cheaper than the equivalent Renault, Ford or Peugeot car. We've got one of these and there are three full-sized seats in the back, which should fit three child-seats.

http://www.carpages.co.uk/citroen/citroen-xsara-picasso-vtx-10-06-06.asp

Lunar_Eclipse

MERFE wrote: »

We have just found out we are expecting our 3rd child, it'll mean we have 3 under 5s by the time baby is born but we only have a small family car peugeot 206, and live in a small 2 bed terrace with the kids sharing. We can not afford to move or change cars without seriously setting back our dfd, should be about 2 years at this rate. OH thinks we can manage with our car as dd will be in a booster seat in feb but would this fit in the back with two other car seats - i dont think so. So his suggestion is to put baby in the front (passenger airbag can be switched off) and have 2 kids in the back and one of us squeeze in the back with them again I dont think we'll fit. Then again I dont like big cars and what they cost, so what I wanna know is what cars do people with more than 2 children have and does anyone manage with a small car?

Re the house we'll probably manage here until debt free then look to rent 3 bed as to rent a 3 bed for the same we pay now it would be in a very rough area so not good for the kids.

Firstly, congratulations! How exciting.

Re: your car situation, I am fairly certain that you will not be able to get 3 car seats across the back of your car. Unless you think you will all be together in the car often (aka daily), I would 'make do' as opposed to buying a 'new' car for the reasons everyone has stated. There are (legal) options available to you, placing the baby in the front may be the most sensible in the short term. Additionally it will be cheaper to hire a bigger car for those rare occasions when more space is really essential. It will be fine.

We have costed getting a bigger or second car several times and just cannot justify the cost, particularly in terms of what it would mean from a sacrifice/priority point of view to our overall life. It always comes down to a 'it would be nice' conclusion, but not our top priority for how to spend our money. A cheap holiday as opposed to a more convenient car for instance would win in our home. But you may choose differently depending on your priorities. Stick to your frugal guns for as long as you possibly can!:D

anguk

My niece has 3 under 5's and has a Fiat Punto, she gets 2 seats and 1 booster seat in the back, eldest at one side in the booster, baby at the other side and middle one in the middle! She said that the problem is not getting all the car seats in the back but getting the buggys in the boot!

mrskingandthescarecrow

RoxieW wrote: »

They all have to have car seats/boosters now so not an option to use just a lap belt.

Hi, the law is if the third booster cushion won't fit then it won't fit.

I've just swapped my small car for a multipla- best car I've ever had. Three car seats easily fit in the back and it only cost £1600. Bargain!

Chollita

RoxieW wrote: »

It means forking out £2K plus monthly insurance etc for a once a week trip.

Would it work out cheaper to rent a car for these trips instead of owning one?

Chollita

Oops, repeated what Morgan said earlier

You're wise to take a pragmatic view of the house situation, if you will be debt-free in 2 years it'll only mean a year or so of a cot in your room.

Congratulations by the way :j

code-a-holic

I have had 3 under 5's. Currently 3 under 6! When i knew i was expecting my 3rd i bought a scenic....... but it was too small. The seat belt was too short for a baby seat and i couldnt turn the airbag off so no children could go in the front. Renault actually say that you shouldnt have any child seat in the middle as it has not been tested in an accident. The seat is slightly narrower so not a safe fit. Same goes for the picasso.
So we bought a 7 seater and never looked back! My kids like to have friends over so i can pick them up fom school with extras, and many more plus points! My friend has a toyota avensis, that is brilliant for a 3 child family, but child seats are not allowed on the rear 2 folding seats - like the zafira.

Congratulations on the pregnancy. I cant say having 3 so close together isnt hard work but we are thoroughly enjoying it.
Biggest challenge if to find a hotel that we can get us all in one room.... stupid euro rules!

code-a-holic

mrskingandthescarecrow wrote: »

Hi, the law is if the third booster cushion won't fit then it won't fit.

I've just swapped my small car for a multipla- best car I've ever had. Three car seats easily fit in the back and it only cost £1600. Bargain!

Yes the law is the eldest can sit with just the belt if a booster wont fit in the middle. but would you really want a 5 yr old in just a belt...... we all know about the impact this could have in an accident - i went to all lengths to get a car that meant all my children could be strapped in safely. - i would imagine anyone would try and do the same. If it was a 9yr old plus then of course it would be a different story.

ChasingButterflies

Contratulations OP

Just a couple of points... re putting your youngest in the front with the airbag deactivated... There is a lot of mixed opinions about how effective the "deactivate" switches are... so if I need one of them to be in the front it is the eldest with the passenger seat pushed as far back as it will go and the airbag turned off...

Now the next bit won't help much I am afraid... When I fell pregnant with our third we had a scenic... for the 1st 9months it was ok (a bit of a struggle but her car seat was the base type with click in carrier) then when we went on to our youngest being in a 2nd stage seat things ended up being a bit of a nightmare so I ended up with one in the front and 2 in the back (during the week) then at weekends DH was around to "make" the seats fit in the back (I seem to remember the main problem was being able to buckle up the 2 in booster seats)

We had 2 x graco rallysport booster seats and 1x britax renaissance if it is any help to anyone. My best advice is as others have said take the specific car seats you will use and fit them into any car that you are looking at.

It wasn't until we were looking at other cars that we realised that the 3 seats in the back aren't full seats as such (and a car salesman confirmed this) so tbh there is probably the same room in the back as a vectra/mondeo etc although the hight of the scenic/picasso etc is good.

I guess where you live makes a difference and what you need to use your car for if you perhaps try to write a list of journeys which you *have* to use the car for (and how many passengers) and then take it from there? If there are only a few journeys for 5 passengers then it might be worth seeing if an adult can fit in the back of your current car?

I really sympathise with you all... car manufacturer's haven't really got to grips with how much room you need to carry children in car seats... and the car seat manufacturers don't seem to make "narrower" booster cushions... although I do seem to remember something about a "Jane" booster seat being narrower than normal - it might be worth a google?

Sorry there is no easy answer

Things are hectic with 3 but lots of fun too - enjoy

benood

code-a-holic wrote: »

Yes the law is the eldest can sit with just the belt if a booster wont fit in the middle. but would you really want a 5 yr old in just a belt...... we all know about the impact this could have in an accident

I'm not sure that there aren't other ways you could set up the seat belts to be as safe in any case only about 15 years ago people used to merrily travel around with 4 children on the back seat and another couple in the boot:eek: .

Here we go, this adjuster thing might be just what you need: http://www.car-parts-styling.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=427&products_id=1917