Middle of March sees the arrival of our 3rd child. His or her elder siblings are aged four and two, and at present sit in a booster seat and a traditional 'car seat'.
Looking at the back seat of the Mondeo (new shape - esate) today with the two car seats in place, number three is going to have a bit of a tight squeeze in their 'travel system' car seat that clips onto the push chair. Specifically, the ability to clip in seat belts with the car seats in place looks 'tricky' at best.
Has anyone else had similar aged children in a Mondeo (or any other non-MPV) vehicle and can recomend 'thin' car seats that will allow all three children to be in the back? Suggestions of either a parent sitting in the back, or changing the car are welcome, but are scenarios that I am keen to avoid!!
Thanks in advance
Jono
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hi i think you should ring the car seat manufactures. they should tell you the width of the seats. my friend had to change her car due to an extra child. she pulled her back trying to fit a seat.i think that did it in the end. my friend has the new c-max and she said its fine for her britax cruisers. plus the kids have room in between. my friend had trouble finding a bigger car due to the middle seat being like a bump and the car seat wobbled about. i dont know if ive been any help...but good luck.
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Is version no 1 (the 4 year old) big enough to use a booster seat? could go in the middle?
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Hi, Well, a Wentworth Volvo 940. Has fold away seets in the rear. It can seat 7. I've got the seat conversion kit for sale on e-bay at the moment because I don't need it. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item...T
Damn good estate car too!!!
Clive.
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Oh, on reading my post........It only fits a 940 or a 740 volvo.
Clive.
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I have both a Mondeo and 3 children, and can confirm that it isn't the greatest for car seats .. the seat belt recepticals (there must be a better term for them) are rather low down and to be honest quite awkward to access. You could almost do with a 6 or 9 inch extender to get them a little higher. (I'm not sure if these exist as products.)
Narrow car seats would be a good idea but in my situation the seats were purchased before the arrival for #3 and hence it wasn't a problem.
We now do all family motoring in our other car, which is a Zafira. While not as wide as the Mondeo, the seat shape is less sculpted and combined with the seat belt adjustment means my eldest sit higher up and can do without seat/booster or we can travel in a 2-1-2 or 2-2-1 configuration. I should mention my elder two are a few years older so the situation is a little different.
If I was approaching this problem again I would definately be shopping for narrow car seats ... a few centimeters here and there would make a big difference.
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I have three childred aged 6, 4 and 20 weeks.
My car (not the 'family' car) is a Subaru Forester, not a big or wide car. However, on short trips we get all three children in the back, with the baby in her car seat, the four-year old on a booster and the six-year old just on the seat. If your 4-year old is big enough, try him/her without a booster.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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A 5 foot tall four year old ? Blimey ! In my opinion and it appears that of others there is no way that a four year old should be using the standard seatbelt without some sort of car seat or booster.
(Ref. www.childcarseats.org.uk/ )
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Thanks all - will update once we have been to Mothercare World (where apparently we can try out different seats together) and update. As someone has said, it appears every inch will count across the back!
Jono
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Britax have an online facility to see what car seats fit your car- and in what postition.
Can't remember if can try several seats- and is limited to Britax range. Will need to register- but is free.
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Should have added
www.britax.co.uk- then click on fit- finder.
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